Hull snatch point at Pompey

A Glen Johnson wonder strike was not enough for Portsmouth as they drew 2-2 with Hull City.

Johnson wonder strike is cancelled out by Pamarot own goal

Hull City twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Portsmouth at Fratton Park as the sides met for the first time in 17 years. Portsmouth looked certain for victory after a stunning 25-yard strike from Glen Johnson after 63 minutes, the right-back dipping his effort into the top left corner of Boaz Myhill's goal. But City persisted and Phil Brown's decision to bring on veteran striker Dean Windass was rewarded when he picked up a loose ball to head over David James, the final touch from Noe Pamarot sending the ball into the net. The home side had started the brightest and went in one goal up at half-time after a 20th minute header from Peter Crouch, the striker latching onto a Younes Kaboul cross. Defender Michael Turner equalised shortly into the second half, picking up a pass from a Dean Marney corner and directing a header past a flailing James.

Dominated

Pompey had to rue some missed chances to bury the battling Tigers and how they could have done with top scorer Jermain Defoe, who was ruled out by the calf injury sustained playing for England in Germany on Wednesday. Seeing Defoe limp on to the field before the start to collect a player of the month award was not a welcome sight for the home fans who were aware that only Crouch and Nadir Belhadj - with a solitary strike at Sunderland two weeks ago - were the only fit Pompey players to have scored in the previous 12 games. In only the second minute England right-back Johnson crossed from the right and Papa Bouba Diop - who has yet to score for Portsmouth - soared above the Hull defenders but saw his fierce header hit the underside of the bar. The ball bounced down, desperately close to crossing the line, and Pompey's appeals to referee Stuart Attwell, at 25 the youngest in the Premier League, appeared to be correctly waved away. A fine pass by Sean Davis gave Diop another shooting chance and the powerful Senegal midfielder struck a perfect drive which goalkeeper Myhill tipped away for a corner.

Rewards

However, for all their early promise Pompey were fortunate to survive a Hull breakaway in the 14th minute when Marlon King's through-ball caught Daniel Cousin just offside. Pompey got their reward, though, in the 20th minute when Crouch's close-range header went in off a defender after Kaboul provided a perfect cross for the 6ft 7in centre-forward. Pompey could have doubled their advantage soon after when the luckless Diop screwed his shot wide when it seemed easier to score, after Crouch had headed back John Utaka's cross. The visitors were bright and ambitious in their build-up, gradually quelling Pompey's early fire. They should have been at least level by the interval after King twice spurned clear chances set up by Geovanni and Cousin, before Geovanni unleashed a 30-yard curler which crashed off the angle of post and bar - with James rooted to his line. However, the visitors were level in the 54th minute when Marney's corner was headed further across goal by defender Kamil Zayatte for Turner to head his third set-piece goal of the campaign at the far post. Marney's shot was well saved by James as Brown's troops sought another unexpected success on the road. But three minutes after the equaliser, Tony Adams made the positive double-change which refreshed Pompey - and it took just six minutes to pay off. Misfit £6 million striker David Nugent went on for his first appearance of the season having recovered from a second hernia operation, while Armand Traore replaced the impressive Belhadj. But it was Johnson who had the hosts back in front with a stunning drive that flew past the startled Myhill from all of 25 yards - completing a wonder week for the England defender who was on top of his game in Berlin against Germany and again here. However, Pamarot's own goal silenced the Fratton Park faithful and earned the top flight newcomers a point.

Portsmouth	Team Statistics	Hull City
2	Goals	2
1	1st Half Goals	0
4	Shots on Target	5
7	Shots off Target	7
4	Blocked Shots	6
7	Corners	7
13	Fouls	14
1	Offsides	3
1	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0
68.3	Passing Success	65.4
29	Tackles	21
62.1	Tackles Success	71.4
50.9	Possession	49.1
48.4	Territorial Advantage	51.6