Redknapp relieved he kept Benjani out of Africa

An audience with Harry Redknapp is like watching your favourite clips of Eric Morecambe and behind the engaging smile lurks a genuine entertainer.

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He had plenty to smile about as he conjured an end to Portsmouth's miserable home run thanks to a brilliant hattrick from Benjani, one player he did not lose to the Africa Cup of Nations.

Benjani's Zimbabwe did not make the finals in Ghana, but he put that disappointment behind him by ending a Pompey run of 578 minutes without a home goal.

"I told Benjani we needed a big performance from him because we are missing our African boys," said Redknapp. "I still want another front man to give us competition, but they are hard to find."

Without Kanu, Sulley Muntari, Papa Bouba Diop and John Utaka, Portsmouth fell behind to a fourth-minute goal from Lewin Nyatanga after Emanuel Villa's header had come off the bar. They were nearly two down when Kenny Miller broke clear but was frustrated by a superb David James save.

Given Pompey's hopeless home form, a shock was on the cards, but seven minutes from the break Benjani showed great control to turn and lash a shot high into the net.

Just four minutes later he was unmarked to thump a header past Lewis Price from a cross by Hermann Hreidarsson, and the Zimbabwean completed his treble in style on 55 minutes after a long onetwo with Pedro Mendes.

Benjani has 12 League goals for the season, but Redknapp was just as pleased by a superb show from debutant Lassana Diarra, a player he prised away from Arsenal despite hot competition.

Redknapp said: "I met him and got on well with him. He could have gone to a bigger club but, if I'm honest, if I'd gone to Newcastle he would have chosen them.

"I spoke to Frank Lampard and he told me he was different class. With him in midfield when Muntari, Diop and Utaka return, we will look strong."

As for Derby, the loss of that early lead means even manager Paul Jewell is accepting there is no miracle way out.

"We are trying to fight above our weight," he said. "It is not easy to stand here and say we are down. I won't accept that, but I am a realist.

"The signings I made will be good for next season but confidence is low and some of them might have an immediate effect."

As for Redknapp, having rejected the chance to take over at Newcastle's upmarket facilities, he will be back to scratching around for Portsmouth.

Their rented pitches wereunderwater last week and Redknapp said: "We found an Astroturf pitch up the road for a day, but when I rang to use it again, they were playing hockey on it."