Town face an FA Cup third round replay after drawing 2-2 against League Two Portsmouth at Portman Road with Ryan Fraser netting a late equaliser. The Scotland U21 international’s freekick somewhat fortunately beat everyone to find the net in the 88th minute, Tommy Oar having put the Blues in front in the 53rd minute prior to Kyle Bennett and Conor Chaplin hitting back on 55 and 86 to briefly give the League Two side the lead.

Boss Mick McCarthy’s side, which he named publicly on Friday, featured seven changes from the team which drew 0-0 at Burnley last week.

Bartosz Bialkowski was in goal with skipper Luke Chambers at right-back, Jonas Knudsen at left-back and debutant Paul Digby and Piotr Malarczyk - making his first home start - at the centre of the defence.

Cole Skuse was partnered by Luke Hyam in the centre of midfield with Ainsley Maitland-Niles on the right and Oar on the left. Up front, Brett Pitman started alongside former Pompey frontman Luke Varney.

Freddie Sears and Ryan Fraser were amongst the subs, but there was no place on the bench for Jonny Parr, whose move back to Norway and top flight side Strømsgodset we understand could be confirmed as early as Monday.

Portsmouth included ex-Blues Gary Roberts, who skippered Pompey on his first return to Portman Road, and keeper Brian Murphy.

On-loan Blues defender Matt Clarke was ineligible against his parent club, while former Town academy and reserves striker Caolan Lavery, who is also on loan at Fratton Park, hasn’t been given permission to play in the FA Cup by Sheffield Wednesday.

Pompey created the game’s first chance in the fourth minute when Marc McNulty cut inside Malarczyk on the left of the area, but Digby slid across to block as the on-loan Sheffield United frontman was looking to pick his spot past the advancing Bialkowski.

The Blues created their first opening four minutes later. Digby won the ball and then Skuse sent Oar away on the left but the Australian’s shot was blocked.

Moments later, former Blues keeper Murphy was off his line quickly to claim ahead of Varney from a Maitland-Niles through ball.

Portsmouth were having the better of a lively opening spell playing some impressive passing football and on 11 Knudsen did well to help the ball behind as Adam McGurk looked to reach a left-wing Roberts cross at the far post.

The League Two side should have gone in front in the 17th minute when Ben Davies cut the ball back from the right to an unmarked McGurk, who blazed over when he should have at least have hit the target.

Portsmouth continued to have the better of the game and on 20 Enda Stevens crossed from the left and Roberts headed wide.

Two minutes later, Pompey surrendered possession cheaply midway inside their own half but Pitman failed to find Varney with a pass on the edge of the box. On 24 Varney hit a low shot from just inside the box but Murphy claimed easily.

Pompey threatened again in the 32nd minute when Adam Barton sent McNulty away behind what was now a reshuffled Town backline - Digby had switched to right-back with Chambers moving inside and Malarczyk to the left central role - on the right of the box but Bialkowski was equal to his shot.

Varney shot weakly to Murphy on 35, but the visitors were still on top and Bialkowski was forced into another save in the 40th minute. The ball fell to Bennett in space on the edge of the box but the Polish keeper got down to his right to save and push away from the danger area.

Pompey squandered another good chance to go in front in the 44th minute when Roberts scuffed well wide from McNulty’s cutback from the right.

Just prior to the half moving into one minute of injury time Skuse was booked for pulling back McNulty.

The whistle was met by muted boos from the home support after a disappointing first half which had been dominated by the League Two side, who but for a couple of poor finishes would have deservedly been in front.

The much-changed Blues line-up looked like a side which hadn’t played together before, while the visitors passed the ball around slickly and dominated possession.

Town only threatened fleetingly on the break, while Pompey created the period’s only serious chances.

Blues boss McCarthy stuck by his XI at the start of the second half with Town looking livelier in the opening minutes, but without creating a chance until the 52nd minute when Pitman looped a speculative effort over from distance.

But two minutes later Town took the lead. Varney escaped down the right and cut the ball back to Pitman, whose shot was blocked by Murphy. The ball fell to Oar, who took a couple of touches before finding the net to claim his first goal in a Town shirt.

However, the advantage was to last only two minutes with a slick Pompey passing move ending in an equaliser. Roberts found McNulty, who turned the ball on to an untracked Bennett on the left of the box and the former Doncaster midfielder passed the ball into the corner of the net.

Fraser replaced Maitland-Niles in the 59th minute then, after Varney had flicked a cross from the left only just wide of his own goal, Tommy Smith replaced Digby, who had been given a tough introduction to life as a Town player.

The visitors had regained their dominance since their goal and on 66 they went close to going in front, Bialkowski making a sharp save from McNulty from close range at his near post.

For the Blues, Fraser, who had made a difference since being introduced, sent over a low cross from the left but too far in front of Varney.

Pompey switched Adam May for Ben Close and Town Freddie Sears for Varney, who had had his usual all-action game, in the 74th minute.

Two minutes after the changes, McNulty cut in and hit a low shot which Bialkowski - still the busier of the two keepers - saved at his near post. On 77, former Blue Roberts was applauded off by the Town support when replaced by Chaplin.

With 11 minutes of scheduled time remaining Fraser cut the ball back from the left after good work from Sears but Hyam was crowded out.

The Blues began to put the visitors under pressure as the final whistle and the prospect of a replay at Fratton Park in 10 days’ time drew closer.

Fraser forced Murphy to push his shot from 10 yards on the left of the box into the side-netting on 84 and from the resultant corner, Malarczyk’s far post header was blocked. Two minutes later, the Scotland U21 international hit another effort from a tight angle that the one-time Town keeper clutched at the second attempt.

But with three minutes remaining, Pompey took the lead. The Blues backline stood off as Chaplin received the ball from Bennett and took it to the edge of the area before hitting a low shot which beat Bialkowski to his left and nestled in the corner of the net.

A deserved Pompey victory and a cup upset looked on the cards but in the 88th minute Fraser sent over a freekick from the left which beat everyone including keeper Murphy, who was under pressure from Chambers, and found the top corner of the net.

As the game moved into five minutes of injury time McNulty broke into the area but his shot was blocked by Smith, then at the other end Barton was booked for a foul on Fraser. The second Blues’ goalscorer shot straight at Murphy from the freekick.

Deep in injury time Murphy saved Sears’s shot from a tight angle on the right but soon afterwards referee David Coote blew his whistle for the final time and the teams will meet at Fratton Park for a replay a week on Tuesday that Town won’t have wanted.

Having gone in front the Blues really ought to have gone on to secure the victory but the visitors, who impressed throughout, hit back immediately and had they gone on to win the game having taken the lead few would have argued with the result.

Town’s equaliser had more than a touch of good fortune about it, although Fraser and Sears had made a significant difference having come off the bench.

But prior to their involvement it had been a very lacklustre display from the Blues’ fringe players and manager McCarthy is likely to have been disappointed with the overall performance. Nevertheless, the Blues join Pompey in the hat for Monday’s fourth round draw, which takes place from 7pm live on BBC1's The One Show.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Malarczyk, Digby (Smith 63), Knudsen, Skuse, Hyam, Maitland-Niles (Fraser 59), Oar, Varney (Sears 74), Pitman. Unused: Gerken, Smith, Bru, Tabb, Kenlock.

Portsmouth: Murphy, Davies, Barton, Webster, Stevens, Hollands (Haunstrup 81), Close (May 74), Roberts (c) (Chaplin 77), McNulty, Bennett, McGurk. Unused: Bass, Boco, Tollitt, Evans. Referee: David Coote (Nottinghamshire). Att: 17,020 (Portsmouth: 2,494).

Photo: Action Images

Tractorboy1960 added 10:49 - Jan 10 That was a performance to forget, Niles had a poor game as did some of the players brought on to give others a break, we didn't seem to have a game plan in any form. Pompey supporters and team were really up for it, where as we were not. On a different note, where was our support 15,000 and cheaper tickets. We have louder and more committed support when we play, sorry but cant get my head around this !!

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blueherts added 10:59 - Jan 10 Face facts - For clubs like ours( in top half of Champ) and most premiership clubs ,the FA Cup comes at the wrong time! Like it or not - SKY/PREMIERSHIP dictate Football in this country and as they do not show FA Cup so they insist games are played mid week following the FA Cup Third Round This is on the back of a busy xmas schedule week - Football is a business and where is the biggest prize ( from a Club/owners point of view) - THE PREMIERSHIP £100m will be guaranteed next season for staying in it or getting promoted to the Premiership So with games coming thick and fast where would you prioritise ? Just ask those Portsmouth fans how it has been since they lifted the trophy ? or Wigan ( what league are they in now ?) Coming to our 'style of play'... We have probably 6 or 7 'technically good/very good footballers' - Sears , Bru , Oar , Dids , Bishop , AMN , Fraser- (the best) - not technically ours and some good young players coming through . If Bishop and Dids were fit they would be playing - they are a big loss - especially Bishop We have all endured the past 15 years in the Championship - afew brushes with play offs but when we did invest big money it was badly spent on dross MM comes in with a remit - keep us up and get us competing - job done Next step - get us promoted Last time I looked we were in the play off spot and we got in it last season Is our style of play 'pleasing on the eye'? no - would I like us to be a team like Portsmouth ? NO - they are playing the FOURTH tier of English football week in week out - are they battling for the £100m prize of Premiership football ? No Are we ? Yes Should we add to our squad ? YES !! - That is where I disagree with MM , unless he is kidding us all Players like Moncur - up the road , a striker - Bradshaw at Walsall ? a Full back to replace Parr would help push us on MM has done a great job , and I think some people do not to step away from it - of course we wont all agree but whilst I too have fond memories of the 'style of play' - Football is ALL ABOUT THE £100M purse It is easier to start from scratch at the bottom when you dont have that prize ( Portsmouth ) Having watched MAN U last night I cant imagine how their fans must be feeling !!

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htb added 11:22 - Jan 10 Keanish and Cloddyseed totally agree with you it is not the results I am moaning about but having to sit there week in week out enduring our totally embarrassing style of football. This is a team that I think I can only support by not having to watch the matches so will join the majority of the MM fans on here who actually don't go to matches and will not renew my season ticket of many years, not because of yesterday's match but for the last two seasons.

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essexboy added 11:24 - Jan 10 Topical Cup tie,We didn't loose.Two very big games coming up,so we expected changes.Get over it.The league is much more important.👍👍
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boncho added 12:23 - Jan 10 so for all the moaners ,who do you want as new manager, what new signings do you want, what formation . its very easy to criticise, ask my wife. the fact is we could be in a lot worse position we are. would you rather be in 15th playing exciting football and loosing, or with in a chance of making the play offs, i know which i would prefer. i will contradict my self as well here i do agree that we are useless in midfield, what do they do in training every day, clearly not passing, it is embarrising sometimes, bit i thinkif we had a fully fit squad with bru and bish there we would look different, anm is not a centre midfilder he needs to use the width of the pitch and take people on and get the ball in the box.all in all if we manage to make the playoffs i will be so happy and proud of the boys, regardless of not being that great.

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Bergholtblue added 13:18 - Jan 10 The FA cup has become an irrelevance. It is sad but it is a fact. Managers do not get sacked by going out of the cup, they do get sacked for underperforming in the league. There is no reserve football played anymore, The only way to get fringe players a game is in the cup matches. MM was always going to play a weakened team and it was always going to be a tricky tie against a team who would be 'up for it'. In that respect yesterday came as no surprise. The upsetting thing was that for large parts of the game I kept forgetting which one was the League 2 team and which one was in the Championship playoffs. The performance was compounded by the poor performances of the 'established' players. AMN just didn't get involved, didn't want to get involved and should have been subbed sooner. I have been thinking this for a while and maybe it is time to rest him a bit. Oar played well and whilst some of his end product was lacking, that would improve with game time. Knudsen was simply useless. No wonder Parr is on his way if he can't get a game over him. Chambers had to swap with Digby and didn't look too impressive at CB. So I hope that this finally puts to bed all the clamour for him to move to that position from RB. He is not better than Smith or Berra. Hyam was arguably our best player the first half, but was so close to Skuse I thought they were holding hands most of the time. Pitman and Varney ran their socks off but unfortunately the ball just didn't get played into their feet where they needed it. The real difference for me was that their centre backs looked comfortable on the ball and were prepared to play it out from the back. Where ours just hoof it away like they were afraid of it. Maybe we made them look better by the way we tend to drop back to defend rather than press the ball higher up. Why do we do that? Perhaps it is because the general lack of pace in the side makes us vulnerable to the swift counter attack. It wasn't until Fraser and Sears came on that we had any pace and movement and we all saw the difference it made to side when we did. Will MM put a weakened side out in the replay? Of course he will and so he should but I hope the side will include some of our real key players this time.

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bohslegend added 13:34 - Jan 10 Keanish what utter horse manure! We do not miss the point by any stretch when we point out how far we've come so far (with further upwards progress to come dare I say) when we point out that our league position (the only true metric when judging a teams progress) has improved year on year under the current manager. The style of play is NOT. More important than the league position. Ask Portsmouth! Would Pompey fans prefer a). the way they play or b). our league position??? Respect goes to Portsmouth for giving the game a right lash yesterday, they were unlucky and we were more than lucky to get a replay. But it's the FA Cup and these kind of 3rd Round results happen every year! Yet again the feeling of entitlement among the small but irritatingly noisy Realists is actually the most embarrassing thing of all. The Realsists need a good dose of reality.

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chepstowblue added 13:39 - Jan 10 They've got a fella called Gary Roberts who would walk into our team ! He looked familiar !
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Keaneish added 13:49 - Jan 10 Bohslegend - why is it always you week-in-week-out who gets personal on here? Others put their views across and because they're not the same as yours you pour scorn on everything. You and I will never get along or agree on footballing matters if you hold the opinion that "footballing style is not more important than league position". It's called 'the beautful game' for a reason. There's a common trend developing between fans here between purists and those starved of success. Some want us to win and play with honour and integrity and some just want to go up. You're in the latter camp and good luck if you're only want is to win but I will never play or watch the game purely for its result metric. Winning is a by product of playing well. You do that first and then you get the result! That's my dose of reality for you.

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Bluebongo added 15:45 - Jan 10 Completely agree with everything you said Bergholtblue. You obviously saw the match exactly as I did. I did,nt think Pompey were that good but we were pretty awful. Looking forward to the next two matches and 6 points.
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Seasider added 15:45 - Jan 10 Yesterday I remarked that we looked(andplayed)like a Div 2 side whereas Pompey looked Championship class.The previous day I said we would struggle with just Hyam and Skuse in midfield,and so it proved. AMN looked class when he came from that wonderful footballing side Arsenal;but Mick has ground that out of him now,making him come inside.Did he notice that Portsmouth kept their wingers out wide! Irish Tim said would we prefer an FA cup win or chance of Premiership,well I think if you watch Town regularly as I do then you would know that we wont get either playing the way we do for most of home games this season. Bert and Tractorboy criticise the crowd.Well with the dross served up yesterday its no surprise that we are quiet. It looked yesterday that whilst Pompey practise pass and move in training,Mick has a competition to see who can hoof it the highest,or pass to the opposition;or so it seemed from yesterdays display.The only time we strung 6 passes together we scored,the other being a bit of a fumble by Murphy.

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blueboy1981 added 15:53 - Jan 10 Keaneish ....... spot on, and speaking for many.
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sproughtonblue added 16:14 - Jan 10 Agree with above, spot on Keaneish.
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warktheline added 16:28 - Jan 10 @seasider, painful reading your post, but you've said it how it is! Portsmouth manager Cook believes in playing football, as he did at Chesterfield, maybe that was highlighted yesterday! Sad thing is, McCarthy has generally recruited well, in regards to regular starters, and I believe he has the players capable of playing a more attractive brand of football, but as keaneish pointed out, is that against the managers principles?

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BlueandTruesince82 added 16:44 - Jan 10 I have to say that an investment, even on loan in a creative midfielder is very much Warranted and wihin mean but in terms of any meaningful investment, where does it realistically come from? We have seen the accounts we operate just within the financial restrictions placed upon us almost year in year out. Evans could say sod it and chuck money at it and it might see us go up but what if (as is a strong possibility for any promoted side, especially one that hasn't yoyod for a couple of seasons) we then get relegated where does that leave us having breached FFP? looking like QPR. Having to leave good players out in case we trigger an automatic extension in their contact as we wait to find out how much we get fined. Although I assume a minimal breach equals a minimal fine so there is maybe wiggle room. What needs to happen is football needs to sort itself the hell out. QPR breached FFP the year they went up and now they are back they are required to pay the fine for that breach. This should have been go the tune of £58 million. It seems they are currently negotiating that figure which last I heard could be nearer £8 million to draw the whole thing to a close. This is a preposterous situation. Football, has imposed rules with defined quidelines upon clubs. Instead of enforcing them they allow PSG, Man C , QPR etc to negotiate their punishment with the relevant organisation, the FL, UEFA etc. Football needs to be clear, it needs a top down assessment of how it is run, the way it governs and the regulations that it currently applies particularly towards financial regulation. Look at Leeds? Look at what happened to Parma in Italy! Just a couple of the many barmy examples within the game. Football is eating itself and it has to stop. Until it is clear and at least a precident is set with the conclusion of the QPR situation I'd rather we stuck within the rules and don't expose the club to anything that jeopardises the club. We nearly lost it once and I don't want to ever see it happen again. Let QPR set the precident and cut our cloth accordingly. In terms of the Midfield I too feel that one of the 3 dms we have atm should suffice at home and can only hope TB gets fit soon as that might prompt a change. Let's hope Mick is being his normal Poker faced self and has something up his sleeve. Hopefully as we personell come back we will see more of a creative spark. Frasers return has seen at least a little of that, for me the club was right to take its time and get him fit rather than chuck him back in too soon. That said there must be room for some additional investment in Jan? All I would say is anyone who thinks Evans doesn't want promotion should consider Bolton. Do you think he wants to be in a position where he has to write off hundreds of millions of pounds just sell the club? He wants a slice of Premier riches as much as we do, it was a huge gamble buying the club thats why he git the debt cgeap and thankfully he has deep pockets to accommodate his losses but he is in the business of making money not losing it and having it on the balance sheet as a debt owed by the club means F all if he can't recover it. It's is simply a loss. Furthermore he can't take a penny back until he gets us there. That is a contractual obligation. He wants a slice of the premiership pie, personal and professional pride as well as his pockets demand it. No Varney won't get us promoted but Pitman, Sears and Murphy might. Varney really isn't hear for that is he? He is a last 10 to 15 hold the ball up, draw fouls, wind up the other team as the game draws to a close type. Every squad needs one. If he was starting every week I'd be scared. I still think Mick is up to the job. We are in the top 6 and that's is where we need to be, would I like top 2 yes, but I am pragmatic enough to understand that's a tough in this league. I'd also love to know how Derby can spend so much, although I note their average gate is by far the biggest in the league. Disappointing yesterday that team should have beaten pompey but it's the cup. Stage things happen let this lot put it right at PR. Maybe Mick wants a another home win to put an end to the hoodo?

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BlueandTruesince82 added 16:45 - Jan 10 Away win to continue the hoodo! Brain fart.
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blue_moon09 added 18:50 - Jan 10 The comments after yesterday game from so called fans are disgraceful, the football isn't pretty but with hardly no money spend MM has been brilliant for this club, you would think there is a crisis Town are top six winning games hard to beat, its unbelievable.... Bunch of idiots rant over...
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cornishblu added 19:22 - Jan 10 Blue_moon09. ...amazing that you decide to call the majority of this board idiots ....by doing that you label yourself exactly in that category yourself.......you miss the point completely ...another way of branding yourself as an idiot. The lack of funds does not justify the lack of football and the dreadful way in which we currently play...that's the point ...plenty of managers with no money are getting their teams to play better football......this brand of football will win us no fans...fewer will turn up to waste their money on not being entertained and we will then be in a worse position...then where will the idiots be who lauded MM and his style of football....idiot !!

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BlueMachines added 19:54 - Jan 10 Blue lady, I didn't question your right to an opinion, I just disagreed with it. Skuse's passing game leaves a lot to be desired, week in week out.
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bohslegend added 22:27 - Jan 10 Cornishblu do yourself a favour and go on to the main forum. You'll see just how much you are in the minority as a moaner. Keanishblue - let me get this straight, if I I disagree with you and tell you what I think I'm being personal, if you or the other moaners do it it's not personal right? First of all, I don't know you from Adam and you don't know me either. Stop being a such a soft lad and feeling all hurt by my comments, believe me I don't give a toss what you care to spew at me. You "Realists" pretend to be the real fans on the reports/comments section, go to the actual forum and take a lesson from (for the benefit of King Moaner) genuine ST holders like PJH, Mullet, Herbivore, Darth Koont etc who are there supporting the club week in week out - yes supporting in the truest sense with encouragement and appreciation of their efforts rather than the vitriol of the noisy minority.

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StochesStotasBlewe added 23:02 - Jan 10 Bohslegend. We DO go to the majority of home games, many, like myself season ticket holders for donkeys years. We DO support the team, BUT, we don,t like the sh#t football being dished up. Many on the forum, like on here seem to be happy with whatever rubbish gets played, that's their prerogative, personally, I & many others are not. The late John Lyall had no money, nor did George Burley, but their philosophies of exciting passing football coached into them produced 2 promotions to the premier league. Proof that it can be done.

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StochesStotasBlewe added 23:07 - Jan 10 .........And, we will be on here Tuesday night giving an HONEST opinion of the match, win lose or draw.
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Keaneish added 23:24 - Jan 10 Bohslegend - you disregarded my opinion as 'horse manure' and have called me a 'soft lad', that's called being personal. You use words like vitriol so clearly you have some intellect so that shouldn't be too hard for you to piece together. I have no idea what your point about the other forum means. If you think that supporting the club doesn't mean you have a right to object to what you disagree with then you and I are worlds apart in our views, maybe not just on football. As a paying customer and supporter for 30 years I exercise my right to express the same view as shared by many others. You persistently label us as "moaners", (again, labelling is personal), but your debates always come back to the same point, 'that you support the club properly and we don't'. Based on what? The fact that we have an objective view point on the state of the football being played? Er...really? Us 'moaners' also give credit where credit is due and we've praised Mick for the job done to date but we're now asking serious questions about what we're paying to see. So when you break it down, you're kind of bemoaning the principle of democracy...

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