Three welcome away points continued the Cardiff City unbeaten league run on Saturday at Fratton Park, seeing Dave Jones' squad share the npower Championship summit with Queens Park Rangers and Ipswich Town.
But while the 'City manager was impressed with the early signs from his new look Bluebirds, feet were kept firmly on terra firma in Dave's post match appraisal.
"It's three more points but we've got to stay focused and not get carried away," said Jones. "You'd be foolish to look at the league table right now and think that it meant anything other than a good start, and we're certainly not going to be losing our heads at this stage. The hard work and focus will continue.
"We have got new players coming in and it takes a little bit of time to get it right but it was a professional performance from us. I'm pleased with the players we've brought in. I've had some of them before and know what they're like. Some moved onto bigger things after they left me and I'm fortunate to get them back.
"Portsmouth still have Premier League players and we knew we would have to work for the victory. I thought the Seyi was awesome, he makes a massive difference to us. Craig did superb for the second goal and after that it was all about not making a mistake. Andy coming on also gives us something different and I haven't had that since I've been here. We're changing the culture within the club, we've kept our best players and raised the bar. That's what you do when you bring good players in.
"You can have all the ability in the world but you've got to have the work-rate and we didn't have that on Tuesday. I wouldn't say the win here was comfortable, but we worked hard and that's where the goals came from. We hounded them down. The goals didn't come from mistakes, they came from putting them under pressure. We defended very well at the back and it was a professional performance. We were solid and looked a threat every time we went forward.
"I've had success wherever I have been and I have had success here. I am just trying to do my job. The fans have had some good times here and hopefully I can make this another successful season for them. There's a lot more to come from us and I think we'll get better as the season goes on."
Talk from the press pack then turned to speculation that Dave's achievements may see the manager in the frame for the vacant post at Aston Villa, as had been the case when the Fulham vacancy arose.
On the subject Dave said, "Speculation will happen and I'm not going to lie and say that when people bandy your name around it's a really nice feeling. But I'm just getting on with my job and what will be, will be. You never say never in football. I might do well or results might go against me. I'm not supposed to be liked but I'm there to do a job. If you like me, fantastic, if you don't I won't lose sleep over it.
"I've got myself into a situation with this group of people with the fans right behind us. They deserve nothing but the best and I'm trying to give them that."
