Benjani Mwaruwari and Hermann Hreidarsson's deflected strikes early in the second half did the damage as Pompey moved up to fifth.

Sanchez said: "Obviously, I can understand the fans' frustration. They have seen us play well in the first half - and they have seen us play some good stuff this season but number one for them is results and we are just not getting them.

"The perfect way is getting wins and entertaining along the way but for those fans who pay good money, entertaining comes second."

After Pompey's goals in a two-minute spell, Fulham could find no way back into a match they had dominated in the first 45 minutes.

They are left still looking for their second win of the season having beaten Bolton in August but once more Sanchez did not give his top £6million signing Diomansy Kamara a run until the last half-hour when he made a triple substitution.

Sanchez said: "I was pleased with some of our players and not so much others but I don't feel let down. The investment we've made here is for the longer term and two wins could still put us back in the middle of the table.

"We've had some tough away matches against the likes of Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea and today we played a team who are definitely going to be in the running for a European place.

"They are strong and muscular and once they got ahead it was a tough task for us to get back. Both goals were deflected but to be fair a goal is a goal. It is stopping people getting the shots in which matters and we didn't do that."

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp saluted goal hero Benjani who followed up last week's hat-trick against Reading with the vital opening strike as Pompey secured a fourth successive win in all competitions.

Redknapp said: "Benji is a very good player, always has been. The season we made a great escape from relegation he was superb with his work rate and the fans idolised him even though he scored only a very few goals.

"Kanu has done really well for us, too, but he's going to have to try and get his place back now after injury.

"We're on a good little run and it's been a fantastic start to the season. We have just got to keep going.

"It was not our best performance today in the first half but I just said to the players 'keep passing that ball, keep getting it to Sean Davis who is the spare man in midfield'.

"And they did it well after that. Of course it is possible we will challenge for Europe again this season but so will Newcastle, West Ham and many others.

"I'm not getting too carried away. Last week the 7-4 against Reading was a bit weird. A one-off probably but it's another good result today and I'm still happy to think we might finish in the top half of the table."