Benjani Treble Cures Pompey's Home Woes Benjani hit an impressive hat-trick to end Portsmouth's six-match goal famine at Fratton Park against Derby C

Derby County stunned Portsmouth when their 19-year-old defender Lewin Nyatanga capitalised on a lively start by prodding the ball home after just five minutes.

However, Benjani produced a first-half brace and then sealed victory with a third after the break to complete his own hat-trick and give the home fans something to celebrate again.

Debutant Lassana Diarra made an effective start to his Pompey career after his midweek move from Arsenal, bur it was Derby who started the better, as if determined to get their first win since Paul Jewell was appointed.

Jewell started with all five of his January signings, and they looked lively and purposeful as a team.

And five minutes after the start, ex-Pompey winger Laurent Robert's inviting free-kick to the far post was headed back across goal and keeper David James could only push Emanuel Villa's effort against the bar, for Nyatanga to convert the loose ball from six yards. It was his first Premier League goal.

The game might have had a different outcome if Derby had added a second goal just moments later, but James got the better of Kenny Miller in a one-on-one.

Portsmouth striker Kevin Nugent volleyed over from eight yards, but defensively they looked vulnerable, with Derby looking confident - until the game changed dramatically in four minutes at the end of the first-half.

First Portsmouth equalised when Sylvian Distin's ball into the penalty area allowed Nugent and Pedro Mendes to set up Benjani, who with his back to goal, swivelled and fired into the top corner in a deft and decisive movement.

And then, just seconds after they levelled, Pompey took the lead. Again it was Benjani who did the damage to Derby, rising unmarked to head Hermann Hreidarsson's cross past Derby goalkeeper Lewis Price.

Ten minutes into the second-half, Pompey put the game beyond Derby's reach as Benjani completed his treble.

The Zimbabwe international linked with Mendes in a one-two on a swift counter-attack before planting the ball beyond the diving Price and into the far corner.

It could have been worse for the Rams in the end, the impressive Nico Kranjcar going close on two occasions.

But as it is, Derby find themselves 13 points from safety with only 14 games left in which to save themselves.