Pompey hauled themselves off the foot of the npower Championship with their first victory of the season against the 10-man Foxes.

Liam Lawrence and Dave Kitson scored two goals apiece and David Nugent and Michael Brown were also on target as the south-coast club, still reeling from relegation and administration and unable to fill their substitutes' bench, finally got their season up and running.

"We have got some great players but we have had a lot to deal with at this football club," said Cotterill.

"We have had players who are low in confidence, are not fully fit or have not been playing regularly. We have all suffered.

"But our performances have warranted a scoreline like that and that has been coming for a good week or so.

"We are still down there in the lower reaches of this division and we do not want to be there so we have to kick on now.

"We have two big games next week against Bristol City at home and Middlesbrough away so it is important we take it on."

Lawrence opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Michael Morrison's clumsy handball and the winger doubled the lead on the half-hour with a deflected free-kick after Miguel Vitor was sent off for a foul on Nugent.

Referee Keith Hill's decision looked harsh as there were other defenders on hand but Cotterill felt it was justified.

He was also thrilled to see the tireless Nugent finally get off the mark in the league this term before Kitson and Brown finished off the Foxes.

"I am delighted for David Nugent," added Cotterill. "I had a chat with him before the game and he would be the first to admit that sometimes when he goes through on goal at home he gets the jitters.

"I am really pleased for him because he is a nice lad and works his socks off.

"We will enjoy this win but we will not gloat because I thought Leicester's 10 men were magnificent for them.

"I do not advocate red cards but it was a sending-off because he was the last man and it was a clear penalty too. They were not contentious decisions."

Steve Howard grabbed a consolation for the Foxes but manager Paulo Sousa had little to smile about.

"Everyone is sad," Sousa said. "It is not the start we would like to have but when you make individual mistakes it costs you. We made a lot of mistakes today.

"To play with 10 men for 70 minutes is hard and when you are trying to change the game you leave yourself open to the counter-attack.

"It is a difficult result for us but we want to put it right in the next game.

"The handball and the sending-off cost us the game."