An entertaining game at a foggy Fratton Park ended 1-1 after Pompey went one-up in the first half through Svetoslav Todorov before Thomas Gaardsøe headed an equaliser in the second period. Town did well enough to win the game a plethora of chances were wasted, particularly by Pablo Couñago while Chris Makin saw a red card late on.
Town lined-up with Andy Marshall between the sticks and a back three of Thomas Gaardsøe, Matt Holland and Chris Makin. Hermann Hreidarsson and Fabian Wilnis were the wing-backs with Tommy Miller, Jim Magilton and Jamie Clapham in the centre of midfield. Unusually for an away game Joe Royle decided to start with Pablo Couñago up front, Richard Naylor alongside him.
The first action of the half saw Tommy Miller get his name in the book within a minute. It seemed a harsh decision from Graham Barber and didn't appear to take into consideration the wet and slippery conditions.
The early chances fell to Portsmouth with Diabate's shot going over the bar and a Paul Merson freekick deflected over. Soon after Steve Stone got on the end of a deep freekick but Thomas Gaardsøe cut the low cross out before Andy Marshall could claim.
Portsmouth's first booking came in the 12th minute when Lassina Diabate fouled Jamie Clapham in the centre of the park. Five minutes later Andy Marshall saved a Todorov effort.
Town had failed to settle in the early stages and on 18 Porsmouth were rewarded with a goal, one that the Blues will not be happy to have conceded. Matthew Taylor got in a low cross from the left which Andy Marshall looked to have claimed with little trouble. However, he spilled the ball at Todorov's feet and the ex-West Ham player stabbed home from about a yard out.
The goal was just what Town, and particularly Marshall, didn't need as the Christmas period began.
All too often lately conceding a goal has rocked the Blues, but on this occasion they were spurred into action. In the 22nd minute good work on the left from Hermann Hreidarsson ended with him playing the ball into the path of Pablo Couñago who sent the ball off the bar from only a few yards out with Shaka Hislop rushing out to him.
A minute later Tommy Miller hit a shot which Hislop saved without too much trouble, and shortly afterwards Jim Magilton went close to a goal when he picked up a ball practically played to him by Paul Merson and hit a shot which deflected towards the corner of the net where Hislop saved it.
Hermann Hreidarsson received a yellow card on 28 when he went in late on Todorov who was appearing to be somewhat easy to bring to ground.
On the half hour Town had another good chance to score after Hermann Hreidarsson played in a low ball which Couñago stepped over. Richard Naylor behind him scuffed his shot and Hislop wasn't as tested as he ought to have been.
Town were starting to dominate and on 34 Hreidarsson broke through on the left after a Magilton ball forward and with Steve Stone appearing to pull him back. The ball eventually fell to Tommy Miller who hit a shot which was deflected into Richard Naylor who hit a shot on the turn which again hit the bar.
A Town goal looked very much on the cards, but Magilton's freekick came no closer than the earlier efforts, the ball cannoning off the wall.
With six minutes of the half left, Miller was the victim of a wild challenge from Hayden Foxe who received a yellow card. With a minute to go Andy Marshall went some way to making up for his earlier error when he saved well from Stone as the former England player got on the end of a cross at the far post.
Town had probably had the better of an entertaining half but as so often chances hadn't been taken. The fog was beginning to increase in density and vision was hardly helped by the rather dim floodlights. Town supporters in the open Milton End were continuing to hope that the rain would stay away.
Tommy Miller was to take the first shot of the second period, but it was easy for Hislop. But there was a scare for the Blues on 47 when a Matthew Taylor cross from the left evaded everyone and came off Andy Marshall's post.
The chances were starting to come fairly regularly and in the 50th minute Richard Naylor sent the ball wide after good work from Fabian Wilnis and Thomas Gaardsøe.
The central defender would be in goal action just two minutes later as he rose to head Jim Magilton's right-sided corner into Hislop's net at the far post to put the Blues back on terms.
Town began to take complete control and Jamie Clapham almost got on the end of a one-two with Pablo Couñago but Hislop rushed out to claim, although none-too-cleanly and for a few seconds thoughts of a goal similar to Todorov's came into Town supporting minds.
On 56 Marshall did well to tip a Foxe header over the bar but the linesman's flag had already been raised earlier in the move. Joe Royle decided that Marcus Bent could manage 33 minutes of the game, Richard Naylor being replaced.
The Blues continued to have the best of the game and were passing the ball around for fun. Several minutes of Blues' possession ended with Couñago having a shot saved. At the other end Taylor hit a low shot which deflected by the post.
Couñago was getting the best of the Town chances and in he 66th minute he had the best of the lot. Marcus Bent ran onto a long Wilnis ball down the right and sent in an inch perfect ball towards the Spaniard. Couñago met the ball but it seemed to slice off his foot and was sent high and wide to leave the ex-Celta Vigo man still looking for his first ever away Town goal.
Gaardsøe went close with another header from a Magilton corner on 67, this time the ball going over before Makin was booked for a tackle on Todorov where he appeared to have won the ball despite a noisy reaction from the home crowd. From the freekick De Zeeuw headed the ball straight at Marshall.
Town ought to have gone ahead on 69 when Tommy Miller crossed low towards Jamie Clapham. His scuffed shot fell to Marcus Bent on the left of the area, but his effort was blocked by Hislop as he rushed out.
With 20 minutes left Fabian Wilnis hit a shot which was blocked on the edge of the area before Hreidarsson's header from a Holland cross was saved by Hislop.
Town were still running the show but Portsmouth began to get more into it as the half moved into its final 15 minutes. They even had the ball in the net, however the flag had already gone up some while earlier.
With 11 minutes left Darren Bent replaced Pablo Couñago, Joe Royle again preferring Bent's pace in the latter stages as he did last week against Watford. Three minutes later Jim Magilton made way for Jermaine Wright.
Portsmouth had the better of the latter stages but the only serious chance came in injury time with former Town loanee Mark Burchill heading goalward with Marshall doing well to tip it round the post.
The final minute or so of normal time had seen Chris Makin shown a second yellow card for a mis-timed challenge on Todorov, his first sending off for the club and Town's second in successive visits to Fratton Park. John McGreal saw red the last time we were here.
Fabian Wilnis underwent treatment towards the end of the game on a head injury but carried on playing. However, after the whistle he collapsed, was stretchered and treated by paramedics.
A fine performance from the Blues against the lead leaders. By rights Town ought to have won with another bad error causing the goal and chances galore missed at the other end. Despite the failure to take three points a good way to start the important Christmas period.