Chaos reigns as Pompey wait for the man in white

Portsmouth 0 Fulham 1

"I dress," Marlene Dietrich said, "for the image. Not for myself, not for the public, not for fashion." So what image was Sulaiman Al-Fahim, the prospective owner of Portsmouth, trying to project when he turned up to the first game of the season – his first game as non-executive chairman – wearing a white jacket? And, perhaps more significantly, what image was he actually projecting?

"The white coat was a statement of intent," Al Fahim's spokesman Ivo Gabara said yesterday, Al Fahim himself having refused to speak publicly after the game. Which would be all very well, had Paul Hart, the Portsmouth manager, not described the situation at the club as "getting a bit like Fawlty Towers". Immediately Al Fahim was cast as Manuel, flapping ineffectually as chaos reigns all around.

It is three months now since Al Fahim's attempt to buy the club from Sacha Gaydamak was first announced, but although the deal is yet to be concluded, and although several doubts have been raised about his capacity to raise the necessary funds, Gabaro insists it will go through. "Sulaiman was encouraged by what he saw, and enjoyed the game," he said. "There was a good atmosphere, and he is looking forward to attending many more games as chairman. The takeover is still on course, and in fact has never strayed off course."

What Al Fahim saw, though, was a limited side battling unsuccessfully but industriously, despite their uncertainty about the club's future. ''We will never use it as an excuse," said the midfielder Aaron Mokoena. "It is difficult to deal with, but our job is to do the business on the field."

At Fulham, meanwhile, all proceeds with characteristic calm. They were functional rather than exceptional, perhaps fortunate in that the goal deflected in off Bobby Zamora's backside, but deserved to win. The probable arrival of Damien Duff should add an extra spark on the left. A fee of around £4m has been agreed with Newcastle United and Hodgson hopes personal terms will be settled this morning.

Portsmouth (4-1-2-3): James; Kaboul, Wilson, Distin, Belhadj; Mokoena; Diop (Kanu, 76), Mullins; Utaka (Nugent, 86), Piquionne, Kranjcar. Substitutes not used: Begovic (gk), Hughes, Basinas, Ward, Ritchie.

Fulham (4-4-2): Schwarzer; Paintsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Konchesky; Gera (Seol, 87), Etuhu, Murphy, Dempsey; Johnson, Zamora (Nevland, 79). Substitutes not used: Zuberbuhler (gk), Kelly, Baird, Kamara, Riise.

Referee: M Atkinson (West Yorkshire).

Booked: Portsmouth Mullins, Diop, Mokoena; Fulham Murphy, Hughes.

Man of the match: Etuhu.

Attendance: 17,510.