Portsmouth away, 1.1.2007

Last updated : 02 January 2007 By SpursMAD

Mark Irwin, The Sun: Portsmouth went ahead with their first shot of the match yet Spurs took the blow on the chin and came storming back after the break to claim the point their efforts deserved.

With the rain lashing down and both sides unwilling to settle for the draw, Pompey raised their game and went all out for victory.

But Spurs were more than worth their share of the spoils.

Lee West, Daily Mirror: Aided by some calamity defending from Portsmouth's usually reliable back-line, Steed Malbranque headed Spurs' second-half equaliser. Benjani gave Pompey the lead against the run of play, with a little bit of help from Calum Davenport.

The recalled Dimitar Berbatov had come close to opening the scoring for Spurs after three minutes.

David James made a stunning reaction save to deny Berbatov early in the second half.

Pompey could have been back in front just two minutes later when Matt Taylor's corner caused chaos in the Spurs defence.

Then it was Pompey's turn to entertain the Fratton Park ground with some comic book defending in the 66th minute.

Jermain Defoe gave the home fans another anxious moment five minutes later and substitute Spurs defender Anthony Gardener denied Pompey substitute Andy Cole.

Linvoy Primus came within inches of winning it six minutes from time.

Kaveh Solhekol, The Times: With Dimitar Berbatov looking sharp in attack and Tom Huddlestone dictating the pace of the game in midfield, Tottenham had looked the side more likely to break the deadlock.

Instead, Portsmouth's Benjani Mwaruwari got the slice of luck that his performance deserved.

Martin Jol's replacement of Hossam Ghaly with Danny Murphy and his switch of Steed Malbranque from left to right midfield at the break paid instant dividends.

Jol's players gave as good as they got and David James had to be at his best. An instinctive save from Tom Huddlestone was the highlight of his impressive display.

Jeremy Wilson, The Guardian: After falling behind, Tottenham were eventually denied victory by an outstanding display from David James.

With Dimitar Berbatov recovered there was a variety to Spurs' play which allowed them to dominate the opening 25 minutes. Chances, though, were initially at a premium with Berbatov - equally impressive on the floor and in the air - behind the best action.

Gradually Portsmouth began to find a rhythm and scored with their first serious assault on Paul Robinson's goal.

Tottenham's response at the beginning of the second-half was telling and after 50 minutes turned their pressure into a goal. Inevitably Berbatov was involved.

Tottenham then had the better chances, with James making late saves from Jermain Defoe and Tom Huddlestone.

Andrew Warshaw, The Independent: Not a game for the purists in at times atrocious conditions, but Tottenham deservedly took a point.

After falling behind to a deflected drive by Benjani, Steed Malbranque levelled for Spurs and only three excellent saves from the evergreen David James prevented the Londoners snatching all three points in a game that improved measurably after the break.

It was the visitors who played the cleaner football in the opening period. Pompey looked uncharacteristically limp, in part possibly at having to make a tactical early change when their left-back Noe Pamarot tore his groin and limped off to be replaced by the Croatian midfielder Nico Kranjcar, Matthew Taylor moving back into defence. Yet Pompey grabbed the lead with their first seriously dangerous raid.

Five minutes after half-time James pulled off a reaction save to thwart Calum Davenport. Only now did the hosts step up a gear, running at a defence that started to give away a load of free-kicks just outside their area. But with Davenport doing a sterling job alongside Michael Dawson in the absence of the injured Ledley King, Portsmouth could not find a winner and in the end were indebted to James for further saves from Jermain Defoe and, breathtakingly, from a rasping Tom Huddlestone drive.