Unbeaten home run continues as Pompey hold top 4 Posh to a draw

Pompey fans were delighted to see defensive-midfielder and skipper Tom Naylor return to the starting lineup after a few weeks on the sidelines with injury.

In other team news, Brandon Haunstrup keeps his newly discovered right-back position, Williams preferred over Harness, and Harrison remains up front.

Ex Pompey men Nathan Thompson and Daniel Butler were in Darren Ferguson’s starting lineup in their respective right and left wing-back roles.

The referee Craig Breakspear was forced to dish out the first booking of the game in the 2nd minute when Alex Woodyard took down Ronan Curtis.

Four minutes after, the Irishman was fouled once again. The awarded free-kick and later follow-up both taken by Curtis hit The Posh skipper Mark Beevers.

Ivan Toney opened the scoring in the 10th minute when Oli Hawkins mis-kicked a cross from ex Pompey man Daniel Butler. The Posh forward couldn’t miss and tapped the ball with ease past MacGillivray to give Peterborough the lead.

Lee Brown opened his Portsmouth scoring card by cleverly putting an across-the-ground free-kick under the Peterborough United wall, and past keeper Christy Pym to give Pompey an equaliser.

The 17,000+ Fratton Faithful in attendance demanded a second yellow for Peterborough midfielder Alex Woodyard as he commits his second foul of the game and takes down John Marquis in the attacking half however, the referee, much to the supporters’ dismay, decided to give the Englishman a final warning.

The start of the second half saw Pompey with an instant chance from kick-off, when Haunstrup put John Marquis through on goal but Pym was there to parry away the Englishman’s effort.

In the 52nd minute, Ellis Harrison gave Portsmouth the lead by getting a powerful shot on the ground past Pym into the far corner. The Peterborough keeper got his hands to it however the power behind the shot got the ball across the line with Ronan Curtis ready at the back post for tap-in if needed.

Moments after, ex Pompey right-back made his way into the Portsmouth box, getting the ball past Lee Brown who allowed him to take a shot at MacGillivray however, the Scotsman was at the ready to deny the ex-blue his first goal for Darren Ferguson’s side.

Fratton Park was silenced in the 72nd minute when Daniel Butler registered his second assist of the afternoon by supplying Mo Eisa with a cross. The in-form Sudanese striker was unmarked and put the header away past MacGillivray to secure a point from Posh’s trip down south.

Worrying scenes came in added time in the form of Brandon Haunstrup being forced to come off with what looked like a knee injury. He was substituted by the much awaited return of Ross McCrorie, who had only just recovered from a hamstring injury in the last 2 weeks.