Portsmouth opened their new era of co-ownership with a workmanlike 1-0 victory over Ipswich to book their place in Monday's FA Cup fourth round draw.
But it did not need the millions of businessman Alexandre Gaydamak, nor even his presence at Portman Road, for Portsmouth to secure safe passage today.
Gaydamak decided against travelling to frozen Suffolk while both the strikers his investment has funded - the Poland international Emmanuel Olisadebe and the £4.1million club-record signing Benjani Mwaruwari - were unavailable after failing to receive their international clearance in time.
So it was left to the old guard and Gaydamak will have been heartened to hear Dario Silva's header had been enough to secure Portsmouth safe passage.
Silva, who would not have started had Olisadebe been available, partnered Lomana LuaLua up front.
LuaLua's movement and trickery proved a constant menace for Ipswich, who hold the worst defensive record in the Championship outside of the relegation zone.
Jim Magilton presented him with a chance inside the opening minute but LuaLua's curled effort coasted harmlessly wide.
Injuries had left Ipswich with 17-year-old Danny Haynes as their only recognised striker and they were restricted in the early stages to long-range drives from Darren Currie, who had pushed forward in support, and Ian Westlake, both of which failed to trouble Sander Westerveld.
Gary O'Neil, whose impressive recent form has coincided with Harry Redknapp's return and Portsmouth's change in fortunes, then squandered a chance by firing over after Brian Priske has played him into space 25 yards out.
Priske blocked a drive from Gavin Williams, the Wales international who completed a permanent move from West Ham this week, before Portsmouth and LuaLua surged forward again.
Portsmouth were looking to use LuaLua as their attacking fulcrum and he was keeping Ipswich, aware how potent he can be from distance, on their toes.
Richard Naylor was struggling to keep him in check and Fabian Wilnis had already been forced to fly in with a risky cover tackle in his own box after LuaLua had tricked his way into space.
On this occasion LuaLua beat the offside trap with a neat turn 35 yards out, but Naylor raced back well to block his shot with a timely challenge.
But Ipswich were growing increasingly assured and just before the half-hour they worked space cleverly down the left flank with a neat back-heel from Currie and a great step-over from Scott Barron.
The full-back's cross was just out of Haynes' reach but when Dejan Stefanovic's clearance fell invitingly for Williams 14 yards out the Welshman rifled his shot just wide of the post.
It was a golden chance - and only minutes later Ipswich were punished for wasting it.
Portsmouth swept forward and Silva rose at the far post to head Matthew Taylor's arcing cross under Ipswich goalkeeper Shane Supple.
Portsmouth almost doubled their lead a minute later when LuaLua turned Naylor inside out, but his curling shot crept just wide of the far post.
Supple was then forced to make a smart save from Taylor just a minute before the interval after the Portsmouth winger had robbed Jason de Vos of possession on the right of the Ipswich box.
Wilnis opened the second half with two superb challenges to halt LuaLua. The first was a clever block as the Portsmouth striker attempted to trick his way into space in the Ipswich box.
The second was even better. LuaLua had escaped clear of the Ipswich defence and was bearing down on goal when Wilnis lunged in and nicked the ball away from him perfectly.
Ipswich's lack of options up front forced Joe Royle to gamble. Magilton was replaced by Sito Castro and Naylor was pushed forward as an emergency striker.
The move gave Ipswich a genuine target up front for the first time in the game and it so very nearly paid immediate dividends.
He almost got a boot to Williams' header at the far post and then, on the hour, Ipswich came within a whisker of levelling the scores.
Haynes found space in the Portsmouth box and his angled drive beat Westerveld but flew agonisingly wide of the far post.
There was further frustration to come when De Vos deflected Currie's free-kick onto his own post and Stefanovic blocked the follow-up shot as Portsmouth scuffed the ball clear.
