There are many cliches in football and the 'six-pointer' and 'it's more important we got the points' are just two of them.

This then was a...errr... six-pointer and, poor thought the display was, it was more important we got the points (I'll try to improve in 2010, honestly!). The win came courtesy of a penalty from Diamanti when Mark Noble was hacked down by returning former Hammer Hayden Mullins; a man who impressed during his spell with the Irons and who would surely now be holding a Cup winner's medal had he not cruelly missed out on the 2006 FA Cup Final (Had Mullins been playing Gerrard would have been better marked, is my theory). Hayden was given an excellent reception which does prove that Hammers fans do treat ex-players kindly when we think they have given good service. Mind you, his tackle here would also have done him favours.

Kovac sealed the victory minutes from the end with a bullet header from a Juminez free-kick to ease fears that Portsmouth might strike back late although, in truth, the south coast side rarely threatened and, with the superb Scott Parker marshalling the midfield, the visitors chances were limited. When Portsmouth, who had never lost at Upton Park since their return to the top flight, did push for an equaliser late on, Zola was quick to spot the danger, bringing on Behrami and switching Collison to the other wing to defuse the situation although the crowd did hold their breath when Piquionne shot straight at Green with a powerful shot.

In between, there were few scoring chances although Diamanti - a player for whom the term 'mercurial' might have been coined - nearly scored a second from open play when a looping shot was superbly saved by Bergovic in the Pompey goal.

I must admit to having been worried about this game; it's the type of crucial match that West Ham are prone to lose against a battling side, but it has to be said it was the Hammers who displayed the spirit and determination, if little else, in this game and if they can keep this up over the holiday period and January then this turn of year may mirror the last.

I've long maintained that the fixture list has given West Ham's season a crooked look and the long run into Spring does give a home fixture list that could see the Irons to safety long before the daffodils come up (and there are already shoots in the grounds of Blagg Acres!). But we musn't forget the hoopla of the transfer window is nearly upon us and it remains to be seen just where the burden of truth lies; the journalists or the board. That, more than anything, will decide the rest of West Ham's season.