The tireless Johnson scored a wonderful solo goal after 70 minutes, with Hreidarsson adding a headed second five minutes later.

David James, celebrating a record 536th Premier League appearance, was able to cap his landmark with a clean sheet, saving well from City’s only real chance in the closing minutes.

Caretaker manager Paul Hart handed James the chance to overtake Gary Speed’s previous mark, while at the other end of the spectrum City boss Mark Hughes gave 20-year-old defender Shaleum Logan his first league start for the club.

Portsmouth started well, with on-loan winger Jermaine Pennant looking bright in possession.

The Liverpool man’s measured pass freed David Nugent on the left flank inside two minutes but City recovered well to close him down.

After eight minutes Portsmouth nearly drew first blood, Peter Crouch snatching slightly at a fine chance.

Pennant cut in at pace from the right, leaving Wayne Bridge in his wake, before a ricochet found its way to Crouch eight yards out. The striker made firm contact but Shay Given did not have to move to collect the shot.

Two minutes later there was another scare for a City side clearly missing Richard Dunne’s leadership at the back, with Nugent breaching the defensive line before running the ball too far.

Given left his line to collect and although he did not succeed in smothering the shot, the angle was too tight and the danger passed.

The visitors were struggling for a foothold in the game but survived again when Niko Kranjcar waited a fraction too long for the ball to drop and blazed over on the turn after 16 minutes.

City’s first chance of note came 22 minutes in, Craig Bellamy combining with Bridge to tee up Robinho, whose shot curled over the crossbar.

Given was in action just a minute later, again leaving his line to claw the ball away from the on-rushing Nugent’s boot.

Portsmouth continued to press and Crouch was again close to opening the scoring, this time just losing out to Vincent Kompany when one touch would have deflected Kranjcar’s whipped cross goalwards.

The chances kept piling up for the hosts, with Nugent heading wide at the far post from Johnson’s hanging cross.

City’s enviable talent finally started to show signs of life, Bellamy and Stephen Ireland moving the ball quickly, but there were too many long balls to make the best of the Brazilian duo of Elano and Robinho.

Seven minutes into the second period Johnson almost showed his side’s attackers how it was done, neatly turning Nigel De Jong inside the City area before sending a low shot towards the near post. But Given saved comfortably.

The Irishman was not needed after 54 minutes when Nugent, set loose by Kranjcar’s exquisite pass, fluffed his shot when one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

As bright as he was in the the build-up, Nugent’s lack of composure in front of goal was becoming a worry.

Ireland, although not at his best, appeared to be City’s best hope of creating something a deft back-heel to Robinho particularly catching the eye.

The Irishman played in Bellamy in on the hour and though the Wales captain did well to break free from Sylvain Distin, his shot was wild.

Crouch and Johnson, meanwhile, peppered the City goal with hopeful efforts in reply.

It was unfortunate that the better chances should continue to fall Nugent’s way, though, the former Preston man sending Pennant’s corner wide of the post after winning his header eight yards out.

Then, with 20 minutes to play, Johnson finally broke the deadlock with a goal that was in equal parts panache and perseverance.

First the England full-back scrapped his way down the right wing before cutting inside and drilling the ball towards Given’s near post.

The former Newcastle man got down well to beat the shot away but it was Johnson, following up his initial effort, who collected the rebound and dispatched it coolly into the top corner.

Five minutes later Pompey were two up.

Pennant won and took a corner on the right, with Logan failing to challenge the leaping Hermann Hreidarsson, who powered his header home.

James then ensured he would mark his day with a clean sheet, saving at full stretch from Ched Evans’ late header.

Johnson almost capped a remarkable display with a second goal almost identical to his first, only to see his effort cleared off the line with two minutes to play.