Fletcher steers Man Utd to first victory

(CNN) -- Manchester United pocketed the first win of their Premier League title defense and only the second in the last six visits to Fratton Park with a 1-0 victory at Portsmouth.

Darren Fletcher claimed the scrambled 33rd-minute effort that separated the sides and left Pompey rooted to the foot of the table still seeking their first point and goal of the campaign.

Patrice Evra's cross from the left struck both Sol Campbell and Fletcher -- United's scorer in the opening 1-1 draw with Newcastle last week -- and was rolling beyond stranded David James when Sylvain Distin's frantic attempt to clear sent the ball shooting into the roof of the net.

Pompey were a little unlucky with a few near-misses but failed to really test goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

United had Carlos Tevez back in the starting side after the Argentine missed the Newcastle game following a family bereavement.

"We played some excellent football," manager Alex he told Sky Sports 1. "It's a difficult place to come. Last year we drew here, the year before we lost - so it's a bonus."

Of his simple recipe for tonight's success, the Scot added: "We tried to get a system where the players were comfortable in their positions. We used the players in the right way."

United continue to be linked to Tottenham's rebel striker Dimitar Berbatov, and Ferguson admitted he was conscious of time running out as the transfer window shuts on September 1.

"There's only a week and you start to concern yourself, but we've shown tonight we've got a good quality of player here," he added. "We would like to add but we'll have to see what happens."

United were still missing key injured players like Ryan Giggs, Michael Carrick, Owen Hargreaves and Cristiano Ronaldo and had Nani suspended, but their midfield coped comfortably enough.