Conor Chaplin netted three minutes from time against his old club as the Blues came from behind twice to draw 2-2 at Portsmouth. Marlon Pack’s fourth-minute free-kick gave Pompey the lead, but Cameron Burgess’s second of the season levelled seven minutes later. In the second half, Colby Bishop put the home side back in front very much against the run of play on the hour, before Chaplin denied his local side the win with a rebound from close range.

Town named an unchanged side, despite boss Kieran McKenna having said in the lead-up to the match that two players had been unwell prior to the 3-0 Boxing Day home win against Oxford and another seven had subsequently reported symptoms.

Chaplin and Marcus Harness started against their old club but Town’s third former Pompey player Gassan Ahadme travelled but along with Richard Keogh and Kane Vincent-Young wasn’t included in the 18.

Portsmouth, who had also had illness worries, made four changes from the 0-0 draw at Exeter on Monday with Ipswich-born Joe Morrell, Zak Swanson, Josh Koroma and Connor Ogilvie coming into the side for on-loan Blues striker Joe Pigott, who was ineligible, and former Town loanee Ryan Tunnicliffe, Denver Hume and Reeco Hackett, who all dropped to the bench.

The Blues made a scruffy giving the ball away on the edge of their own area before the hosts took the lead in the fourth minute via the game’s first shot.

Skipper Sam Morsy was harshly penalised for a foul on Koroma five yards outside the area and Pack struck a free-kick beyond Christian Walton to his left and into the net off the inside of the post.

Having conceded their first league goal in the opening 15 minutes this season, Town quickly began to dominate play but with Portsmouth looking to give them little time on the ball.

And the Pompey lead lasted only seven minutes. Pack fouled Morsy on the right, Lee Evans whipped over a free-kick from the right and Burgess, for the first time without his mask since undergoing facial surgery, turned the ball into the net from five yards.

Having got back on terms, Town maintained their superiority, however, in the 16th minute goalscorer Burgess was shown the game’s first yellow card for a foul on Owen Dale.

There was a scare for the Blues in the 18th minute when a corner was diverted out to Koroma just outside the area to the left from where the winger struck a shot which Woolfenden cleared from in front of the line.

But Town were still in control and in the 22nd minute Evans struck a powerful shot from 25 yards which home keeper Josh Griffiths did well to save down to his right and hold onto with Freddie Ladapo sniffing around for a rebound having scored in similar circumstances on Monday.

The Blues continued to see most of the ball and on 35 Morsy hit a low effort from distance which Griffiths stopped to his right.

Town maintained their dominance, passing the ball around slickly and at pace and in the 44th minute should have gone in front. After a long spell of possession with Woolfenden having joined in the attack, Burns crossed low from the right and found Ladapo but the former Rotherham man was through his shot as the ball arrived and it looped into the stand.

The half-time whistle sounded with Town still on the ball and looking for another opening from which they might score a second goal, which their display would certainly have deserved.

The Blues had appeared unaffected by Pompey’s early goal and quickly got into their stride and grabbed the equaliser, yet another set-piece goal with Burgess taking his opportunity from an excellent Evans free-kick.

From there, Town dominated and created one or two openings without making Griffiths work too often, while Ladapo will have been disappointed to have snatched at his late chance.

Pompey had had the occasional opportunity but with Walton untested since Pack's goal and the Blues will have left the field confident that if they maintained their level of performance in the second half they ought to claim the three points.

The home side swapped skipper Clark Robinson for Hume ahead of the start of the second period.

Harness scuffed a 48th-minute shot through to Griffiths as the Blues began the half as they had ended the first.

On 55, with Town having completely dominated since the restart, Evans was fouled by his fellow Welshman Morrell 25 yards out but Chaplin’s free-kick hit the wall.

Pompey had hardly had a touch in the second half but on the hour they went back in front. Hume looped a cross from the left to the far post, Sean Raggett nodded it back into the six-yard box and Colby Bishop turned it past Walton.

Town looked to hit back quickly for a second time and two minutes after Bishop’s goal, Harness played in Ladapo on the right of the box but the one-time Colchester youngster shot across the face of goal from a tight angle.

On 63, Chaplin did well to reach a ball on the left and sent over a low ball towards Ladapo, who was just unable to reach it. Moments later, Sone Aluko took over from Harness, then Koroma was switched for Ronan Curtis for Pompey.

In the 68th minute, Chaplin exchanged passes with Ladapo on the edge of the box but Ogilvie stepped across to prevent the former Pompey man from having a free run in on goal.

Three minutes later, Pompey sub Curtis broke away down the right and cut back to Morrell, whose shot, which looked on target, was blocked by Janoi Donacien.

Pompey, who looked to be tiring, made a double change in the 74th minute, Tunnicliffe and Dane Scarlett taking over from Morrell and Bishop.

Town made two switches of personnel of their own two minutes later, Kyle Edwards and Kayden Jackson replacing Burns and Ladapo.

Pack was booked for a trip on Chaplin as the Blues’ subs began to make an impact and reinvigorate a Town display which had lost its impetus. On 81, Greg Leigh took over from Leif Davis following another all-action display from the left-back.

A minute later, Chaplin unleashed a strike from 25 yards only just past Griffiths’s left post, then Leigh sent over a dangerous low ball from the left which Ogilvie did well to slide behind ahead of Jackson and Edwards.

Town kept pressing and probing looking for their second leveller of the evening and in the 87th minute it came.

Following a long spell of possession, Morsy found some space just outside the box and hit a somewhat speculative low shot which Griffiths saved but couldn’t hold onto and Chaplin was first to the loose ball to slam home from close range against his old club, the forward’s 12th goal of the season.

There was no celebration for the Blues, Chaplin quickly taking the ball back to the centre circle with Town looking for a winner. Pompey swapped Swanson for Hackett in the penultimate scheduled minute.

The Blues continued the pressure in five minutes of added-on time but were unable to find a third goal.

Town had largely been well in control of the game and although delighted with the late equaliser, will feel their overall dominance deserved more.

But as in other matches, possession wasn’t turned into chances, while Town’s vulnerability to balls looped into their area was again evident as Bishop put Pompey back in front with the home side’s first attack of the second half.

Plymouth and Sheffield Wednesday winning 1-0 and 2-0 at home to respectively Wycombe and Port Vale means the Blues stay second but now four points behind the Pilgrims and ahead of the Owls on goals scored ahead of Monday’s trip to Lincoln City.

Portsmouth: Griffiths, Morrison, Raggett, Robertson (c) (Hume 46), Swanson, Morrell (Tunnicliffe 74), Pack, Ogilvie, Dale, Bishop (Scarlett 74), Koroma (Curtis 66). Unused: Oluwayemi, Hackett, Jacobs.

Town: Walton, Donacien, Woolfenden, Burgess, Burns (Edwards 76), Evans, Morsy (c), Davis (Leigh 81), Chaplin, Harness (Aluko 64), Ladapo (Jackson 76). Unused: Hladky, Edmundson, Humphreys. Sam Allison (Wiltshire). Att: 18,849.

Photo: Matchday Images

bernie added 09:27 - Dec 30 I love the town and no one will tell me any different, I know it's exciting and we would of taken this at the start of the season , but still feel we are to open at time's and defending is not great at times and starting to cost us . Look at the possession 70% to 30% and they score two goals . Come on town
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ChrisFelix added 09:34 - Dec 30 Firstly Pompey have only lost 4 games & have some good players at this level. Bishop for one. Both Plymouth & Wed have had an easier run than Town, but looking at their January fixtures they are going to meet a few challenges. . We have an excellent team with the exception of a goal scorer. Put that right in January & I feel more games will be won
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budgieplucker added 10:43 - Dec 30 A point away at Pompey is not a bad result. However, I just want our goalkeeper to start making a difference. Whilst, I wouldn't necessarily blame him for the second goal last night or the one at Wycombe last week, but I can't help thinking a Championship winning team normally has a goalkeeper saving them or gaining points. Christian Walton has for me failed to live up to his reputation as being the best goalkeeper in this league (if in fact he ever was). I also can't help thinking that Colby Bishop is a better and more consistent signing than Freddie Ladapo. As much as I like Freddie he does lack being a consistent threat week in week out.

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brittaniaman added 11:01 - Dec 30 3 Teams at the TOP fighting for 2 places at the moment !!!!! Boy could we do with those points we dropped in past Injury times ?? Come on Town Onwards and Upwards, Let us be one of those 2 Teams !!!!!!!!!
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ipswichone added 11:11 - Dec 30 First half quiet even,but second half outplayed them,and should have won.high quality performance though,onwards and upwards
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Rimsy added 11:19 - Dec 30 End of the day, a point away from home not to be sniffed at. I thought we created plenty but no one to finish. If we get a goal scorer in we'll storm the rest of the season.
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Razor added 11:31 - Dec 30 I know I wnont be the first to say it but we urgently need a fast hungry nippy striker who kakes near post runs and gets in there quick and does not wait for things to happen-----good to see the keeper is at last being questioned, he has cost us a few points this season and K MAC will not like that------Lincoln now a must win game and I think we can.
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Linkboy13 added 12:10 - Dec 30 Top scorers in the league but we lack a goal scorer according to some on here strange one that. Two goals away from home should be enough to win a game against a very average Portsmouth side. Remember we scored four away at Charlton and failed to win i think the problems are more defensive.
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Saxonblue74 added 12:14 - Dec 30 Walton has also gained us an awful lot of points. His ability as a footballer is almost as important as his goalkeeping with the style we play. He is superb with the ball at his feet, and can pick a pass as well as any midfielder. Pretty good with his head too!
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Nomore4 added 12:24 - Dec 30 Linkboy Pompey average? Only lost 1 more game than us? Id say over 3 games played, lost 1 won 1 drew 1 they've matched us throughout. And we are, according to some the best team in L1.
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Gazelle added 12:35 - Dec 30 For those that say we need a striker we've got several or we wouldn't be the league's leading scorers. It's conceding silly goals that's the problem after giving away unnecessary fouls, look at the league table.
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Nomore4 added 12:48 - Dec 30 Oxford and Bristol Rovers are average, that's why we beat both comfortably. Pompey, Sheff Wed, Plymouth, Barnsley, Wycombe and Bolton along with us. The better teams. And the likely to contest the final top 7. These 6 other teams has been a struggle for us throughout the season so far. We've played them all but only winning on 1 occasion. The lack of quality with regards our forward players is our weak link. We simply have 2 or 3 in the squad not good enough. They all are maybe good enough V Charlton. Just not good enough when it matters most.

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Carberry added 12:49 - Dec 30 Nomore4, they haven't won a game in 8 and their fans are after Cowley's head, that's why they have been mid table.
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BeattiesBackPocket added 12:59 - Dec 30 Those commenting we need strikers and goals we have two players on course to get 20 plus goals in Ladapo and Chaplin both on 10 and 12 halfway season point with both not playing every game as well. Our biggest Achilles heal is defending from set pieces be it free kicks or corners. January is nearly here and clearly as both Ashton and McKenna have said they have targets already but to expect a top striker as some on here want in January is going to be extremely tough and will pay over the odds for plus they need to be championship ready otherwise they'll need replacing next season. Anyone we bring in now has to be with an eye on the championship next year.

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Nomore4 added 13:58 - Dec 30 Carberry. Totally agree. But they hardly looked mid table or out of form last night did they.
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Marinersnose added 14:14 - Dec 30 Well I would've taken a point prior to kick off but having watched how dominant we were over 90 minutes I suppose I'm disappointed that we didn't win the game. It is a concern that we have shipped two goals to many promotion rivals ie Plymouth Sheffield Wednesday and now Portsmouth and this needs addressing. I agree with many that Ladapo and Chaplin have reasonable numbers so far but we aren't clinical in front of goal and we need to be against better opponents. I also believe we need another wide player to put pressure on Burns who is still having his moments but is not as consistent as last season. Overall any Town fan will say that this has been a brilliant first half of the season and a massive improvement on the past decade or so. I'm confident that we have the infrastructure and a savvy manager who will strengthen the squad and achieve our goal. We are all expecting Rolls Royce performances every game which won't happen.

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Nomore4 added 14:34 - Dec 30 BBP Nobody doubts the quality of Chappers and Fred….or Edwards, Harness, Aluko. All more than good enough to play in a L1 top side. We lack 2 more names to put to the above attacking side of our squad. For top 2 this season this needs attention. Our 1st choice defence needs little attention, if any.
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Nomore4 added 15:05 - Dec 30 After the last 30 months it would appear we have more clout financially than any team outside the premier league. And some in it…… Many big clubs here and abroad currently in financial meltdown. Never been a better January window for a buying club. Especially one who wants premier league football ASAP and has all funds available to achieve that target.
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IpswichT62OldBoy added 15:13 - Dec 30 Have we lost any games this season that we deserved to loose? Have we drawn games this season that we deserved to loose? No one is rolling us over, most points we have dropped are just that,, dropped. We are playing entertaining football of a generally good quality in front of huge crowds,,,,noice.
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Nomore4 added 15:23 - Dec 30 Agree with all that old boy. At least another 6 teams saying the same thing regarding performances and results though. An improvement to our squad at this point is vital. No other L1 team comes close on support or financial backing which gives us a massive chance.
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Linkboy13 added 17:47 - Dec 30 Don't care what anybody says Portsmouth were average at best last night and former England captain Mick Mills was spot on with his after match assessment that we were not at our best. Portsmouth haven't won in eight league games and last game lost to MK Dons hardly good form.
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Nomore4 added 18:23 - Dec 30 Average at best? Let's hope they don't improve. Unable to beat an average team, hopefully we improve. We are capable of better, at least evidenced against lesser opposition so far. Pompey are on a bad run of form but don't lose many. Twice in 8. Only 4 times this season. I think good point along with Morsey….Linkboy….Chaplin 2 dropped?
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barrystedmunds added 20:00 - Dec 30 Some interesting thoughts! So are we saying Plymouth and Wednesday are not going to hit a ropey patch between now and May? I suspect they will just as I suspect an “outsider” is going to make a late run. I'll also wager that one of the top six will fall off the cliff and hope it's not us! We have questionable form post Christmas but that was in a previous life. We need maximum points on Monday and some inspired business in the transfer window, but all in all I'm happier just now than I have been in a good few years. Lang may yer lumb reek. COYB

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Nomore4 added 20:31 - Dec 30 I think and hope that Sheff Wed will be that team that falls away, and for 2 reasons. 1. Hopefully the Sheff Wed captain is starting to feel the effects of L1 and struggles for fitness from now. 2. Our old on loan centre back, arguably the best centre back in L1. Currently on loan at Sheff Wed and has been instrumental during 12 games unbeaten with little goals conceded. Has a January recall back to cash strapped Cardiff. And he walks through our door on 1st Jan signed for 3 years. If Town can also make early the signing of Collins, L1 2nd top scorer and an impressive 9 assists, which is L1 1st. His current team would be bottom 3 if not for him….. That to start would be some way of improvement. Pension off Keogh and release Jackson.

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dirtydingusmagee added 21:04 - Dec 30 once again stats show we outplayed the opposition once again we failed to take the 3 points, great team effort thwarted by lack of a real striker imo we need to address this asap in the widow or i fear we will come to regret it. NOT knocking the lads or manager for the result its the fact we havnt the striker to make the most of our efforts. COYB WE ARE STILL HANGING IN THERE.

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