Paul Merson must be savouring a rapid return to the Premiership after leading Portsmouth to the top of the First Division with a 1-0 win.

Merson was like a Rolls-Royce in first gear as he tormented a Grimsby side struggling for their life.

A late strike from substitute Mark Burchill five minutes from time sent Pompey two points clear.

"We could not have hoped for a better start to the season," said Merson. "It's certainly better than being at the bottom.

"It was not a great game, it's hard place to get three points at places like Grimsby, but we created enough chances to have won the game quite comfortably. We showed great desire and team spirit."

Manager Harry Redknapp said it was important to get points on the board early in the season.

"I was so pleased with the way we played," he said. "I'm looking forward to the south coast derby with Brighton.

"Portsmouth have the best fans in the division and they will be right behind us."

Grimsby boss Paul Groves was bitterly disappointed to concede such a late goal.

"I thought we matched them, there was not a great deal in it," said Groves.

He defended his tactics of playing just one striker and using an extra midfielder to man-mark Merson.

"We had had them watched and he has a great influence on the way they play," he said.

"If I am being critical I would say we got pushed back in the second half and found it difficult to get out. We needed to get behind them more."

Grimsby could have been a goal down after just 11 seconds.

Jason Crowe found himself one-on-one with Danny Coyne but the m'keeper went in bravely at the full-back's feet.

A quick break from Grimsby's on-loan Crystal Palace striker Steven Kabba created a crossing opportunity for Tony Gallimore, with Groves meeting the ball first time but seeing his shot bounce into the arms of Shaka Hislop.

Then Stuart Campbell tried a right-foot shot on the run which was held under the bar by the 'keeper.

Prompted well by Merson, Pompey came into the game in the last ten minutes of the first half and Deon Burton went close to breaking the deadlock but his 20-yard cross-shot was finger-tipped around the post by Coyne.

Coyne then knew little about a volley from Matthew Taylor which cannoned off the 'keeper's body.

Hayden Foxe, up for a corner, met a Merson delivery and back-heeled just wide.

Crowe fired past the far post early in the second half and then Gallimore came in with last-ditch block to deny Burton from a cross by Svetoslav Todorov.

Striker Kabba then went down in the box under a challenge from Gianluca Festa, making his Portsmouth debut, but referee Matt Messias waved away Grimsby's penalty appeals and instead booked the striker for diving.

Merson then teed up Nigel Quashie whose dipping left-foot shot from the edge of the box flew just wide with Coyne struggling to make his ground.

Pompey finally broke through in the 85th minute with Burchill the hero.

A free-kick from deep in the Portsmouth half was nodded on by Todorov and fell perfectly for the striker to fire home a left- foot shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Groves and Portsmouth substitute Kevin Harper were booked for an off-the-ball incident in added time.

Then keeper Hislop was also booked for wasting time.