Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp predicted that Manchester United and Chelsea will again fight it out for the English Premier League title after his side lost 1-0 at home to Sir Alex Ferguson's team.
Darren Fletcher's deflected effort before the break sealed Pompey's fate at Fratton Park, and the result followed a 4-0 thrashing at Stamford Bridge nine days ago.
It means Redknapp's team is still looking for its first goal and point of the season.
"It's been a tough start and the only consolation is that we've played the two teams who I am sure are going to slug out the championship again," he said.
"I think United will get (Dimitar) Berbatov (from Tottenham) in the next few days and they will be even stronger than they already are."
"But Chelsea are really strong too, and Arsenal and Liverpool have got it all to do to finish above those two."
Redknapp admitted his team had failed to pressurise United after the interval.
"We showed some promise in the first half but then we ran out of steam," he said.
"I was a bit afraid because I took a chance with a few players. Sean Davis has hardly kicked a ball in pre-season because of injury, Younes Kaboul has missed a complete pre-season, and Armand Traore was out with a knock at Arsenal before he came here."
"We did OK and I came in at half-time feeling pleased, but when the pace went out of the game in the second half people like (Carlos) Tevez and (Wayne) Rooney popped the ball about and we couldn't deal with it."
"We've been a decent team over the last two seasons and I believe we'll still be a good team this season, but United's touch and movement was a bit too much for us."
"We've got to provide quicker service for Peter Crouch. He's a bit disappointed but he's also got to help us out by winning a few more headers."