Paul Devlin brought silent Bramall Lane to life as Neil Warnock got off to the perfect start as manager of Sheffield United.
The South Yorkshire crisis club wrapped up only their fifth win of the season to move level with vanquished visitors Portsmouth.
Warnock had promised spilled blood and hearts as big as dustbin lids as his manifesto for the Blades job - but he could not have expected his side's work ethic to be supplemented with a goal of the quality Devlin settled this game with.
The midfielder capitalised on a fluffed Pompey corner routine to break away with the ball and launch into a 60-yard run before despatching the ball past stunned keeper Aaron Flahavan midway through the first half.
The goal gave United a much needed dose of confidence as they poured forward with increased vigour.
Bruno Ribeiro made a probing run into the box but could only poke a weak shot at the goalkeeper while Martin Smith and Marcus Bent also showed good early touches.
Portsmouth seemed content to sit back and soak up whatever United could throw at them, hoping to catch the home side on the break.
The little cutting edge the visitors' possessed was blunted yet further when striker Rory Allen fell victim to a crunching challenge and was replaced by workaday veteran Steve Claridge.
However, after the goal Portsmouth were forced to show some ambition and the impressive Brown hit an upright while Stefano Miglioranzi spurned a glorious chance heading over from just two yards after Matthew Robinson's perfect centre.
Another disappointing home crowd witnessed a game devoid of any real inspiration, characterised by the hard running but headless Claridge.
Portsmouth came out with renewed intent after the interval thanks presumably to a half-time roasting from under-pressure boss Alan Ball, but United withstood the onslaught as the visitors carved out a number of chances but were guilty of being too intricate in their build-up.
Seven minutes after the break Pompey's Jason Cundy found himself in all sorts of trouble with a header which he despatched over his own bar. The resulting corner from Bobby Ford was blazed over by captain Lee Sandford when it looked easier to score.
United were well in control until a frantic last few minutes when Portsmouth desperately threw everyone forward in a last ditch attempt to snatch a point. Sandford was forced to head Sammy Igoe's shot off the line as the visitors came within a whisker of snatching an undeserved equaliser.
At the death Cundy inexplicably failed to connect, later telling his manager he thought the ball was going in.
Despite the win Warnock will be aware of the task facing his side as they failed to kill off one of the most insipid opponents they will face this season.
The visitors' lost ambition and boss Ball will be feeling the pressure as his men failed to ever put their struggling hosts under any pressure for any period of time.
In truth Devlin's magnificent solo effort was worthy of the Bernabeu, never mind Bramall Lane, and provided the only moment of genuine class in a tense, nervy contest.