Kranjcar clinches win for Portsmouth

LONDON, England -- Croatian striker Niko Kranjcar gave FA Cup finalists Portsmouth a 1-0 Premier League victory at West Ham on Tuesday

Manager Harry Redknapp promised to keep chasing Everton for fifth place after his team's ninth away win of the season sank his former club.

Pompey will make the UEFA Cup for the first time if they win against Cardiff at Wembley in six weeks' time.

But Redknapp said after Kranjcar's goal proved decisive on Tuesday: "We're just going to try and win all our games and there are some decent fixtures left.

"There's certainly no let-up after reaching the Cup final on Saturday. I didn't have to do a lot with the boys to keep them going tonight."

Redknapp left out playmaker Lassana Diarra, Wembley goal hero Kanu -- who came on as a late sub -- and injured striker Milan Baros.

But Pompey survived West Ham's early pressure and Kranjcar struck from an Arnold Mvuemba pass in the 61st minute after going close six minutes earlier.

Redknapp, who celebrated Pompey's 21st clean sheet of the season, added: "Niko's an outstanding footballer, real class. You all saw the goals he scored against England and Scotland for Croatia."

West Ham manager Alan Curbishley admitted: "We thought this was winnable tonight but Portsmouth did all the threatening in the second half.

"We are stuck in 10th but we won't finish there if we don't win any more games and there are five left in which we must do better than tonight."

Curbishley reported that 12 players were still out of action before the game and had to add midfielder Mark Noble who was missing with a hamstring problem.

To make matters even worse, skipper Lucas Neill twisted an ankle and is "struggling" for Saturday's trip to Bolton. E-mail to a friend