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Louis Saha condemned Portsmouth to a seventh successive Barclays Premier League defeat as the France striker’s clinical finish gave Everton a 1-0 victory at Fratton Park.

Saha’s seventh goal of the season in all competitions came following an error by Younes Kaboul that summed up Portsmouth’s dismal start to the campaign.

Paul Hart’s team had already made their worst opening to a Premier League season and their fortunes show no signs of improving despite a spirited second-half showing against Everton, who have now won four games in a row.

Everton striker Ayegbeni Yakubu was left on the bench as the Nigerian struggled with a groin strain picked up in the midweek League Cup win at Hull.

South African midfielder Steven Pienaar and Nigerian defender Joseph Yobo both passed fitness tests and were able to start.

Saha led the Everton assault from the start and drove a long-range effort just wide. Then Pienaar crossed for Tim Cahill but the Australian glanced his header over the crossbar.

Portsmouth finally threatened when Tommy Smith threaded a perfectly-weighted pass to Aruna Dindane. The Ivory Coast forward pulled the trigger only for Tim Howard to produce a fine save.

But Everton were back in the ascendancy when Marouane Fellaini’s header forced David James to save.

David Moyes’ team made the breakthrough in the 42nd minute. A high ball into the penalty area was completely misjudged by Kaboul and Saha pounced to lash past James from close range.

David Dunn’s last minute penalty gave 10-man Blackburn a 2-1 win over Aston Villa in their Barclays Premier League match at Ewood Park. Sam Allardyce’s side had fallen behind to an early strike from Gabriel Agbonlahor before Christopher Samba levelled for the hosts.

The match seemed to have swung Villa’s way when Vince Grella, Blackburn’s Australia midfielder, was sent off in the second half. But Dunn stole the points, and lifted Blackburn out of the relegation zone, after Villa defender Richard Dunne handled.

Villa had made the perfect start as England international Agbonlahor scored his fourth league goal of the season in the third minute. James Milner headed the ball into the box where Agbonlahor was granted too much space by the Rovers defence and took full advantage to slot a low shot in off the post.

Blackburn responded well with Morten Gamst Pedersen crashing a rising effort over the bar. Villa came close to adding a second in the 25th minute when Ashley Young beat Lars Jacobsen down the right and sent in a cross which was just too high for John Carew.

But Rovers snatched an equaliser in the 24th minute when Franco Di Santo chased down Ryan Nelsen’s long punt into the box and fed Samba, who slotted past former Blackburn keeper Brad Friedel. Friedel reminded Rovers of his qualities when he pulled off a superb save to tip away Dunn’s close-range overhead kick.

Pascal Chimbonda almost handed Villa the lead before half-time when he carelessly gave the ball away to Milner but his shot from a tight angle was saved by Paul Robinson. Blackburn started the second half in positive fashion and came close within two minutes of the restart when Di Santo headed wide from a cross by El Hadji Diouf.

Rovers’ hopes of pressing on to claim the three points were hit by the dismissal of Grella in the 68th minute for a second bookable offence after an unnecessary foul on Milner. But Allardyce’s side were awarded a spot-kick in the 87th minute after Di Santo’s attempted overhead kick was handled by Richard Dunne and David Dunn stepped up to send Friedel the wrong way.

South Korea midfielder Lee Chung-Yong eased the pressure on under-fire Bolton manager Gary Megson as his late goal secured a 2-1 win at Birmingham.

Lee came on as a second-half substitute for his fifth Bolton appearance since his move from FC Seoul in August and made a dramatic impact.

Tamir Cohen’s first-half strike had given Bolton the lead but Birmingham looked to have rescued a draw through Kevin Phillips’ 84th minute goal.

However, Lee, 21, had the last word as his first Barclays Premier League strike stole the points and gave Megson just his second league win of the season.

The beleaguered Wanderers manager saw his team get off to the perfect start with the type of goal which established Bolton reputation as a Premier League nuisance.