Goalscorer Darius Vassell admitted Manchester City's 3-1 victory in the Premier League over Portsmouth at Eastlands was a timely boost.Vassell and Martin Petrov struck within three first-half minutes of each other before Benjani Mwaruwari's first City goal on home soil finally finished off 10-man Portsmouth and probably killed off their hopes of overhauling fifth-placed Everton in the process.

Pompey had Hermann Hreidarsson sent off for a cynical block on Vassell after John Utaka had halved the early deficit.

Asked about the importance of the win after a period of poor form since Christmas, Vassell said on Sky Sports 1: "We've been looking for a result like that, especially at home, to lift the fans, lift the team and lift the players."

The former England striker admitted he gambled for the goal when David James was caught out.

"I think we caught the keeper out a little bit and I thought if I got to the back stick I'd have a chance.

"I was in the right place - I may have been offside - but they all count."

Vassell admitted Hreidarsson may have been unlucky to see red.

"To be honest, I don't think I was going to get to the ball.

"I think it was a foul but maybe not a sending off."

Benjani insisted he was never tempted to celebrate his goal against the team he was reluctant to leave in January.

"I knew already that I wouldn't celebrate if I scored so it was easy not to.

"It means a lot against an old team. I respect them and it's nice to score against them."

City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson was pleased with his side's efforts - and was particularly heartened by Benjani's display leading the line.

"I think we played a very good match," Eriksson said.

"Benjani was working very, very hard and missed some chances but at the end he scored an important goal for us, he deserved that. I think it's great for him to score against Portsmouth as well."

Eriksson admitted he would be unable to turn down the chance to coach Ronaldinho - while confirming he will talk to outspoken owner Thaksin Shinawatra soon.

Asked on Sky Sports 1 if the win was important because of Thaksin's recent criticism of him, he said: "Not for that reason.

"He said something, if he means it or not I don't know, I will see him next week. This was important for the team, the club, the fans and with three games to play, we still have a small possibility to play in Europe so that's good."

Eriksson warned any possibility of signing Ronaldinho is remote at this stage.

"I don't think many managers in the world would say no to Ronaldinho," he said.

"I think it's very far away and I don't think it's the right time to talk about it, I will have a meeting with the owner in one week's time."

Redknapp lamented the two "terrible" early goals his side conceded. "It was an unbelievable game, considering the way both sides were set up to play. There were chances at both ends.

"We gave two terrible goals away and had a mountain to climb. We got a goal back to get back into the game then had a man sent off, and even then we had chances.

"I felt we should have had a penalty when Defoe was fouled. Then we hit the post. There were chances galore, and we gave a poor third goal away."

As for the calamitous opening goal when goalkeeper David James and captain Sol Campbell both failed to clear the ball, Redknapp told Sky Sports 1: "You have to deal with that ball.

"Someone has got to take responsibility, they are two fantastic players but one has got to open their mouth and clear it, put it in row Z.

"It's one of those things. They have been fantastic at the back but today we allowed them plenty of chances."

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