Dave Jones's return to the South Coast may have re-opened old sores last night as he was reminded of an unhappy departure from Southampton, but it ended sweetly for the Wolves manager with yet another Dean Sturridge goal hoisting them back into second place.

Sturridge struck with just five minutes remaining for his ninth goal in 12 appearances since Leicester decided he would never score the numbers to keep them in the Premiership. And it silenced a home crowd that only six minutes before had rapturously acclaimed Robert Prosineski's equaliser.

If that was Prosineski's farewell gift to Fratton Park it will not be easily forgotten. Rumour has it ­ and Portsmouth is awash with rumour at the moment ­ that the Croatian international will soon be on his way out of his demoralised club as he seeks to protect his World Cup prospects with a move to more glamourous surroundings.

When Prosinecki dummied two defenders to win enough space outside the penalty area before dispatching a glorious shot in off the far post, the Pompey faithful believed their luck was about to turn at last.

With a run of seven defeats in their previous eight outings and their manager Graham Rix's position attracting increasing scrutiny, Portsmouth needed a break and it came in a positive start and an 11th-minute goal. Nigel Quashie and Paul Butler met head on and out of their collision the ball spooned up to defeat Michael Oakes.

Pompey needed to protect their advantage for longer than four minutes and thereby build confidence. Instead what should have been a routine take for Dave Beasant turned into another bizarre goal as he allowed Alex Rae's free-kick to slip through his grasp.

It was a calamity for the 42-year-old who had only returned to the side last week as Japan's Yoshikatsu Kauaguchi was removed from the firing line to spare him further punishment. Rix was unhappy with all three goals saying: "They were all sucker punches."

To be fair Beasant pulled off some redeeming saves in the second half, but by then Wolves were looking strong. Just past the hour Nathan Blake hooked home following a corner and victory was firmly in their sights.

"We've had a stinking run but I'm no quitter and the boys have run their legs off for me," added Rix. "I wanted to say well done to them but I couldn't because we have given three bad goals away."

Portsmouth (5-3-2): Beasant; Crowe, Hiley (Lovell, 89), Primus, Buxton, Vincent; Prosinecki, Derry, Quashie; Crouch, Harper (O'Neill, 89). Substitutes not used: Tardif (gk), Zamperini, Pitt.

Wolverhampton Wanderers (4-4-2): Oakes; Muscat, Lescott, Butler, Camara; Newton, Cameron, Rae, Kennedy (Ndah, 84); Sturridge, Blake. Substitutes not used: Murray (gk), Naylor, Andrews, Miller.

Referee: M Dean (Merseyside).