Pompey paid the perfect tribute to Alan Knight with a high-energy win over Cardiff City.

A goal in each half did the damage on a poignant afternoon as Fratton Park, as the Blues family paid respect to The Legend after his passing this week.

A moving and impeccably-observed minute’s silence took place before kick-off with a wreath laid as emotions ran high at PO4.

When the action got underway Pompey came through a shaky start harness to Fratton’s energy and deliver victory through goals from Conor Shaughnessy and Marezi.

There was controversy too, as Cardiff defender Krystian Bielik appeared to grab a Pompey fan with Perry Ng hit by the ball as it was thrown from the crowd.

Cardiff were inches away from taking the lead in the third minute, as Krystian Bielik headed a free-kick just wide.

Daniel Bielica was then beaten by Chris Willock as he raced from his goal, but Shaughnessy headed his cross wide.

Pompey were struggling but burst into life as new boy Tyrese Shade’s 45 yarder was heading in until Nathan Trott pushed his effort wide, as the keeper cleared to the deadline-day signing under pressure from Adrian Segecic.

Abu Kamara and Marezi then had shots blocked, before Pompey’s No9 somehow headed wide from a tight angle from Kamara’s ball in. Devlin then couldn’t guide his header on target from Segecic’s free-kick.

The goal Pompey were threatening came in the 31st minute, as Shade launched a long throw into the box and Shaughnessy looped his header beyond Trott.

Marezi slashed at his shot as Pompey broke three on three through Shein six minutes before the break.

Pompey extended their lead seven minutes into the second half thanks to the positive running and crossing quality of Segecic, with Marezi feasting on the ball from close range in front of the Fratton End.

Cardiff pressured in response, however, with Pompey creaking as Rocco Shein lost the ball and Bielica saved well from Tanner - before denying Youssef Salech moments later.

Pompey were denied a third by the offside flag after the hour mark, as Marezi rose majestically to head home Meghoma’s pinpoint cross.

Controversy then followed as Bielik appeared to grab a Pompey supporter in the South Stand, with the ball being thrown back on the pitch and hitting Ng.

A moment of wonderful quality arrived from Kamara with eight minutes left, as he danced through Cardiff with four players around him and cracked a drive off the bar from the edge of the box.

Daniel Bielica brilliantly denied Ng’s drive late on, as Pompey saw out the win through seven minutes of stoppage time.