Portsmouth hit the top of the league again . . . and kept their perfect devensive record intact . . . with substitute Lomana LuaLua's 73rdminute winner in a 1-0 victory at Charlton.

LuaLua, who has not started a game since damaging an ankle in April, had been on the field only 10 minutes when he picked up a Sean Davis pass, powered past Matt Holland and beat Scott Carson with a low drive which the keeper should have saved.

It was another deserved success for Harry Redknapp's side . . . who had just too much for Charlton, even though the London side started superbly.

Marcus Bent outjumped Glen Johnson to head against the bar and Darren Bent hit a post from the rebound.

But Portsmouth came back strongly and there were cries for a penalty from their fans when Gary O'Neil's cross hit Amdy Faye and bounced away for what referee Phil Down decided was a corner.

Charlton regained control towards the end of the first half but despite Talal El Kharkouri, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Darren Bent, again, going close, Iain Dowie's side always looked vulnerable to a breakaway . . . a weakness that was finally exploited when LuaLua replaced Benjani Mwaruwari.