PORTSMOUTH 0, MAN UNITED 1: Title already a two-horse race, insists Harry

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp insists the Barclays Premier League title race is already a two–horse affair again – and believes that could apply to the Champions League as well.

Redknapp can’t see beyond the ‘big two’ of Manchester United and Chelsea – last season’s winners and runners–up respectively.

United pulled off a 1–0 victory at Fratton Park last night to heap the agony on Pompey following their 4–0 thrashing at Stamford Bridge nine days ago.

The difference between United, the European champions, and last season’s unlikely FA Cup winners was just a scruffy 33rd–minute goal which arrived when Darren Fletcher’s half–hit shot was helped into the net by French defender Sylvain Distin’s frantic swipe on the line.

But United were without Ronaldo, Giggs, Carrick and Hargreaves – all injured – and Redknapp admitted: “They are still so strong that I can see them and Chelsea being the two slugging it out again for the title.

“United will be even stronger than they are now if they sign Dimitar Berbatov (from Tottenham), as I think they will, in the next few days.”

United play for the European Super Cup on Friday (against Zenit St Petersburg). Then it’s Liverpool and Chelsea back–to–back.