Another South Coast Derby finishes honours even thanks to Ebou Adams' heroics at Fratton Park.
An early goal in the second half from Léo Scienza was cancelled out by the man who has not even been on the south coast for longer than two weeks.
This derby had everything that was arguably missing from the reverse fixture back in September with goals, tackles and scuffles occurring throughout the 90 minutes.
The point means that Portsmouth do climb back out of the relegation zone and up to 21st on 30 points, with Blackburn Rovers dropping into the bottom three on 29 points.
There was one change to the XI that sealed a 1-1 draw away at Watford in midweek, as Regan Poole dropped to the bench due to a groin issue; he was replaced by Ibane Bowat.
The visitors had a close shave early on, when Adam Armstrong supposedly beat the offside trap and left himself one-on-one with Nicolas Schmid, but the Austrian shot stopper made a firm save to keep the score level.
Pompey had efforts in front of the Fratton end and came close to making the home crowd erupt via Millenic Alli, but his sliced effort went just wide of Daniel Daniel Peretz’ net.
Adrian Segečic later fired an ambitious effort from outside the 18-yard box, but the Australian’s thump at goal took a heavy deflection off Wellington and went out for a corner.
HALF-TIME: Portsmouth 0-0 Southampton
Tonda Eckert’s side took the lead on 57 minutes, as Finn Azaz played in Scienzia, who, to Andre Dozzell perceived to be offside, but the Brazilian attacker broke through on goal and lifted the ball past Schmid to make it 1-0.
There was a late foul by Flynn Downes on Zak Swanson, which caused a scuffle on the byline of the North Stand, as tensions began to heat up before the Blues’ equaliser.
Latest Blues signing Keshi Anderson came on for his debut and gave James Bree something to think about for the remainder of the 90.
And then John Mousinho’s side made sure that they were not going to let the red side of Hampshire take the bragging rights back down the M27.
A scramble from Segečic’s corner was trickled in by Adams on his home debut to make it 1-1 with just over ten minutes left, with Fratton Park going ballistic over the midfielder’s equaliser.
Inside added time, Anderson played Segečic through on goal, but a miscommunication between the two just about stopped Pompey from scoring a winner.
FULL-TIME: Portsmouth 1-1 Southampton
Next up: John Mousinho’s side will welcome Eric Ramsay’s West Bromwich Albion to PO4 next Saturday in a 15:00 kick-off.
In the reverse fixture back in August, Colby Bishop’s header cancelled out Mikey Johnston’s first-half goal, for Portsmouth to secure a point at The Hawthorns.
The Baggies are currently sat 19th in the Championship and come into next weekend off the back of a 5-0 defeat at home to Norwich City and a 1-1 draw away at Derby County on Friday.
Portsmouth: 1. Schmid (GK), 24. Devlin, 22. Swanson, 17. Bowat (2. Williams), 3. Ogilvie, 38. Adams, 21. Dozzell (7. Pack), 36. Chaplin (37. Anderson), 27. Alli, 10. Segečic, 9. Bishop (C) (Formation: 4-2-3-1)
Unused subs: 26. Bursik (GK), 5. Poole, 8. Swift, 16. Le Roux, 19. Farrell, 25. Kirk
Goals: Adams 77’
Bookings: Swanson 70’, Adams 82’
Head coach: John Mousinho
Southampton: 41. Peretz (GK), 14. Bree, 6. Harwood-Bellis, 5. Stephens (C), 34. Wellington, 4. Downes, 20. Jander, 27. Matsuki (18. Fellows), 10. Azaz (24. Charles), 13. Scienza (46. Robinson), 9. Armstrong (11. Stewart) (Formation: 4-2-3-1)
Unused subs: 1. McCarthy (GK), 3. Manning, 15. Wood, 19. Archer, 38. Jelert
Goals: Scienza 57’
Bookings: Downes 70’
Head coach: Tonda Eckert
Referee: Lewis Smith
Venue: Fratton Park
Attendance: 20,290 (including 2,651 away fans)
Listen back to the Pompey Live: Extra-Time podcast, recorded after the full-time whistle at Fratton Park by Jake Smith, Kirsty Roxanne and James Wilson.
For further reflection on the game, tune in to The Football Hour this Monday (January 26th) evening from 6pm with Henry Deacon and 2 more Blues fans.
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