Linvoy Primus provided the knock-out blow as Portsmouth condemned Crystal Palace to a Boxing Day defeat at Selhurst Park and celebrated the appointment of Velimir Zajec as full-time boss in style.

Portsmouth withstood everything Palace could muster - often more by luck than judgement - and then stung the struggling Londoners with a 63rd-minute header from Primus.

Pompey managed successive wins after Zajec took caretaker charge but after two draws and a defeat the travelling supporters were left chanting "Who is Harry Redknapp" as their side returned to winning ways.

Palace supporters, though, returned home drained of all festive cheer as they remain without a Barclays Premiership win since October and have now managed just two points from their last 21.

Selhurst Park has no undersoil heating and, as a result, the kick-off was delayed by 40 minutes as groundstaff worked to shovel ice off a giant tarpaulin which had been laid to the protect the pitch from a night of heavy frost.

Although referee Neale Barry passed the pitch fit, the Portsmouth defence remained frozen - at least for the opening minutes as Primus was twice caught in possession and had goalkeeper Shaka Hislop to thank for sparing his blushes.

Hislop returned to the Portsmouth side as one of four changes as Zajec, in his first game since officially being appointed manager, opted for a 4-5-1 system.

Aiyegbeni Yakubu was the lone striker, supported by a five-man midfield which included Nigel Quashie and Frenchman Valery Mezague, who made only his second Barclays Premiership start since arriving on loan from Montpellier.

After a slow start, Quashie began to assert some authority in midfield but Mezague missed one gilt-edged chance in a first half dominated by a Palace side desperate to haul themselves out of the relegation zone.

In the return fixture at Fratton Park, Palace had been stung by Ricardo Fuller after only 172 seconds. Today they set about seeking revenge and almost got it.

Joonas Kolkka nicked the ball off Primus and after Andrew Johnson had stolen half a yard in the box, Hislop spread himself well to block the shot.

Gonzalo Sorondo then fired over from 30 yards, Aki Riihilahti's cross floated inches over Johnson's head and Portsmouth were fortunate not to concede a penalty when Primus seemed to check Riihilahti in the box.

Portsmouth slowly began to thaw out and the first time they really tested Palace, Mezague found himself unmarked only to spoon his shot high over the crossbar.

However, Palace's defence was caught dozing just after half-time and were saved by the alert reactions and wonderful agility of keeper Kiraly.

The Hungarian blocked Stone's effort after the former England midfielder had escaped a static defence and then produced a wonderful diving save to tip Yakubu's header over from the resulting corner.

When Arjen de Zeeuw scuffed a shot from 12 yards straight at Kiraly the Palace crowd, which has been so patient with their side this season, began to get restless.

Their fears were almost allayed within seconds but once again Palace were denied by the bounce of ball and a large slice of ill-luck.

Johnson was fouled on the edge of the area and Hislop blocked Danny Granville's curling free-kick but in the melee which followed the ball was cleared off the line.

Palace's profligacy cost them as, after 63 minutes, Portsmouth nailed the goal they had been threatening when Primus rose to head an inswinging corner down past Kiraly's dive.

Berger then curled a left-footed free-kick just wide and Ricardo Fuller, on for Yakubu, saw a shot rebound off the far post as Palace began to look frail at the back.

Hislop preserved the points for Portsmouth with a reaction save from Sorondo's point-blank header.

Teams

Crystal Palace: Kiraly, Butterfield, Sorondo, Hall, Granville, Routledge (Freedman 70), Riihilahti (Andrews 84), Watson (Soares 63), Hughes, Kolkka, Johnson.

Subs Not Used: Speroni, Popovic.

Portsmouth: Hislop, Griffin, De Zeeuw, Primus, Taylor, Mezague (Kamara 56), Stone, Faye, Quashie, Berger, Yakubu (Fuller 56).

Subs Not Used: Berkovic, Cisse, Ashdown.

Booked: Fuller, Griffin.

Goals: Primus 69.

Att: 25,238

Ref: N Barry (N Lincolnshire).