The Pompey chimes were dulled to silence as Newcastle called the tune with an impressive fifth successive win against the Premiership new boys.
Four league wins in a row have now seen Sir Bobby Robson's side rightly haul themselves up the table into eighth position.
And with Sir Bobby the only Premiership manager able to boast a 100 per cent league record during October, it looks odds-on that the veteran campaigner will pick up the Manager of the Month award when it is announced next week.
United's boss was understandably delighted with his side's latest success as Pompey were brushed aside with little trouble.
The seal was set inside the opening 90 seconds when Shola Ameobi was denied by the long legs of Shaka Hislop.
The overworked former United keeper had to be at his best on several occasions as United swarmed all over Pompey.
A goal was inevitable and it arrived after 17 minutes following a stunning build-up that was started and finished by the outstanding Gary Speed.
The Wales skipper fed Ameobi on the left who skipped beyond Sebastien Schemmel and crossed for Lee Bowyer to cleverly flick the ball to Jermaine Jenas who teed up Speed 20 yards from goal and the drive was perfection.
The game was then as good as over on 27 minutes when Bowyer's low drive was handled by Dejan Stefanovic and Alan Shearer rifled in from the penalty spot for his 155th United goal.
Pompey disputed Paul Durkin's decision and Teddy Sheringham was booked for voicing his opinion though this could easily have been a second United spot-kick as Shearer had earlier been sent sprawling by Stefanovic.
"This was our biggest win and the first 35 minutes were our best of the season," enthused Sir Bobby afterwards.
"This was our fourth match in the last 11 days and we looked jaded the final ten minutes of the first half. I told the lads at the interval that the next goal was crucial and it went our way."
That goal came on 61 minutes when the influential Speed crossed from the right and Ameobi got in front of Stefanovic to loop his header over Hislop and into the net off the underside of the bar.
"Shola had a fine match and I thought Speed and Jenas were wonderful in the centre of midfield," added Sir Bobby.