Portsmouth 1-1 West Ham United - Report

The Portsmouth team for todays game was:

Ashdown
Primus - O'Brien - Stefanovic - Griffin
Robert - O'Neil - Hughes - Taylor
LuaLua - Silva

Subs: Westerveld, Karadas, Viafara, Priske, Todorov

and the West Ham team was:

Carroll
Repka - Ferdinand - Collins - Konchesky
Newton - Mullins - Reo-Coker - Etherington
Harewood - Zamora

Subs: Hislop, Bellion. Gabbidon, Fletcher, Dailly

Referee: Alan Wiley

Harry Redknapp's Portsmouth had to make do with a point against former club West Ham after failing to make the most of dominating the first 45 minutes.

The Hammers endured a nightmare first half in which they had to use all three substitutes and went behind when Gary O'Neil netted Laurent Robert's cross.

Defender James Collins equalised early in the second half, turning to shoot home through a crowd of players.

Pompey's Robert was sent off late in the game for a second bookable offence.

With Hayden Mullins, Tomas Repka and substitute Danny Gabbidon all going off injured in the first half, a 1-0 half-time deficit was the least of West Ham's worries.

The visitors offered little up front and trailed at the break to O'Neil's goal, scored when he swept home Robert's cross from the right wing.

Lomana Tresor Lualua and Dario Silva were constant threats to the visiting defence as Portsmouth hammered away, trying to add to their advantage but failing to extend their lead.

At the interval, West Ham's problems could have been even worse, as goalkeeper Roy Carroll sailed close to the wind by handling the ball right on the edge of his box, to howls of derision from the home fans.

But, following a bruising first half, West Ham looked far more composed after the break.

Early in the second half they were on level terms when defender Collins turned and shot through a crowd of players to score his first goal for the Hammers.

O'Neil set up a fine length-of-the-pitch passing move for Portsmouth but they wasted the opening by being over-elaborate in front of goal.

West Ham replied when Matthew Etherington and Marlon Harewood combined well to set up Christian Dailly - but his shot was way off target.

With five minutes left, Robert, who had earlier been booked for a foul on Etherington, was dismissed for a second foul on Paul Konchesky.

West Ham twice came within inches of snatching a late winner, through Harewood's curling shot and Dailly's diving header.

Report: bbc.co.uk/sport

wanc.co.uk's Pompey Man of the Match: Gary O'Neil