Match Report

Portsmouth v Fulham 26 October 2008

Pompey pegged back by Fulham

Fulham denied Portsmouth a post-Harry Redknapp win after battling back for a 1-1 draw at Fratton Park.

Pompey had been stunned by Redknapp's departure for Tottenham overnight and that left Tony Adams and Joe Jordan to pick up the pieces for Fulham's visit.

Redknapp's former assistants came close to celebrating a fourth successive home win in the Premier League only for substitute Clint Dempsey to steer in an 87th minute equaliser.

Peter Crouch had given Pompey the lead just past the hour mark with a composed finish after being set up by strike partner Jermain Defoe.

However, Pompey left Dempsey unmarked three minutes from time and the American guided fellow substitute Erik Nevland's cross beyond an exposed David James.

Younes Kaboul had a header hacked off the line from an early corner from Diarra and Richard Hughes, Crouch and Armand Traore kept Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer busy.

Schwarzer saviour

Schwarzer was Fulham's saviour again just after the half-hour mark when Pompey left-back Nadir Belhadj came dancing through in a superb solo run to hit a shot which the goalkeeper clung onto as Defoe closed in.

It would have been a spectacular solo effort by the on-loan Algerian, who left at least four defenders gasping in his wake.

Jimmy Bullard, who frightened Pompey with a free-kick which flew inches wide from 30 yards in the opening minute, was desperately close again with another effort from distance in the 34th minute.

It would have been tough on Pompey if Fulham had taken the lead in the 40th minute but an eagle-eyed linesman spotted Zoltan Gera was offside when he headed a high through-ball across the area for Andrew Johnson to nod in.

But Danny Murphy was unlucky when he caught a firm drive full on the volley and saw it swerve away from the top corner right at the last second.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson, with fond memories of Fratton Park where the Cottagers scored a surprise win to avoid relegation last May, had professed himself happy with his team's recent performances despite four defeats and a draw in the last five.

And he may have been justified in believing they deserved to be level at the break this time.

Diarra industry

But the Defoe-Crouch partnership and Diarra's non-stop industry looked the major differences between the two sides in the second half and, eventually, was bound to pay dividends.

Defoe, maybe slightly subdued in the first period when some may have wondered if he was missing Redknapp's influence, left no doubts about his determination.

Five minutes after the break his scintillating run down the right finished with a searing shot just wide of the far post. Then he demanded yet another fine save from Schwarzer with a cracking effort from a more central position six minutes later.

With Diarra winning all the major battles in midfield, Pompey always looked likely to break through.

Just after the hour Diarra, back from three games out through suspension and a bad knee, just would not give up when foiled in a solo burst through the centre.

He won back possession, fed Defoe and he laid off the perfect pass for Crouch to drill home and join his partner on six goals for the season.

It seemed a good way to come back from a 3-0 beating in Braga in the UEFA Cup but victory was denied through Dempsey's late strike and referee Mark Halsey confounded Pompey by denying a late shout for a penalty on substitute Niko Kranjcar in stoppage time.

Portsmouth	Team Statistics	Fulham
1	Goals	1
0	1st Half Goals	0
7	Shots on Target	5
10	Shots off Target	5
8	Blocked Shots	1
8	Corners	6
10	Fouls	7
3	Offsides	2
0	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
77	Passing Success	74.8
19	Tackles	23
84.2	Tackles Success	47.8
51.5	Possession	48.5
44.9	Territorial Advantage	55.1

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