Managerless Pompey struggled to cope with Chelsea's cutting edge as goals in either half from Hernan Crespo and Frank Lampard were enough.

Caretaker boss Joe Jordan made a couple of changes for the home side, but they just could not find a way through and once Crespo had poked home midway through the opening half there was little doubt as to the outcome.

Once in the lead Chelsea were never in any real danger of being pegged back and a Lampard penalty - awarded after good work form the ubiquitous Joe Cole - sealed a straightforward if unspectacular victory.

Pompey began the game brightly with Tresor Lomana Lua Lua looking in fine fettle after shaking off his recent bout of malaria.

He had two decent chances, both self-created, but neither troubled Petr Cech as he fired wide.

Damien Duff had Chelsea's first shot some 15 minutes in, but Jamie Ashdown was down well to take the Irishman's right footed effort.

Lua Lua had previously failed to trouble Cech, but the Czech had to be at his best to keep the Pompey star at bay as he pulled off a sensational save to tip over a rasping, dipping shot from the edge of the area.

Chelsea were struggling to get going and were obviously missing Claude Makelele's presence - but despite their disjointed play they managed to take the lead.

The goal was pure striking instinct from Crespo as he ghosted into the area and flicked Paulo Ferreira's thumping long-range drive past Ashdown - who had already dived for the Portuguese defender's shot.

That proved the only real contribution of the game from Crespo as he limped off just minutes later.

Portsmouth continued to play some neat football, but there was no cutting edge and Chelsea's backline was rarely asked to do more than the bare minimum.

Cole, in fine form of late, then almost single-handedly took the game to Pompey. A string of fine runs from deep had the home side floundering and it was from one of these that Chelsea's second goal arrived.

He jinked his way along the edge of the area, before beckoning a challenge from Stefanovic - which duly arrived. Referee Phil Dowd had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, much to the annoyance of the home fans and players alike - but there was little doubt over the validity of the award.

Lampard - breaking the Premiership record for the most consecutive games with 160 now to his name - stepped up and dispatched the kick with consummate ease.

Moments later, and with his every touch now being booed, Cole could and should have had another penalty. Once again the now calamitous Stefanovic was coaxed into a challenge on the edge of the box - but this time Dowd awarded a free kick on the edge, when another penalty looked to be the correct decision.

Portsmouth were left frustrated by the result with perceived injustices the root cause of their loss, but in truth they threatened little and created even less - with only Lua Lua and Gary O'Neill looking anything like up to standard.

On this performance, it will be a brave man that steps into the hot-seat vacated by Alain Perrin earlier this week - while for Jose Mourinho, once again not great, but more than enough for their opposition.