Portsmouth 1-1 Fulham

Clint Dempsey's late goal rescued an unlikely point for Fulham against managerless Portsmouth.

Pompey took a 60th minute lead through Peter Crouch, who tucked home from close range after being played in by the lively Jermain Defoe.

Fulham were thankful to keeper Mark Schwarzer for keeping them in the game while Nadir Belhadj also hit the post.

And with the game heading for a home victory Dempsey found himself unmarked at the near post to equalise.

All the pre-match talk was of Harry Redknapp's departure to Tottenham and his subsequent successor at Fratton Park.

Pompey chairman Peter Storrie said before the game that Redknapp's exit had shocked and disappointed him while he also confirmed that no-one had so far been approached as a replacement.

That left Tony Adams and Joe Jordan to take charge of Pompey who were looking to extend a three-match home winning run in the Premier League while also bouncing back
from their disappointing Uefa Cup defeat to Braga on Thursday.

For Fulham the game marked an opportunity to climb up the Premier League table and move away from the relegation places.

And Roy Hodgson's men started brightly with midfielder Jimmy Bullard going close with a first-minute free-kick.

Portsmouth also started well and Younes Kaboul was unlucky to see his early header from Lassana Diarra's corner blocked on the line.

Striker Andrew Johnson was giving the Portsmouth defence, who were missing captain Sol Campbell, a tough time and the former Everton man tested David James with a shot on the turn midway through the first half.

Soon after Pompey midfielder Richard Hughes tested Schwarzer with a fierce drive with the Fulham keeper also equal to Crouch's near-post effort.

Then on the half hour Portsmouth defender Belhadj embarked on a mazy run from the halfway line which saw him beat several men before firing straight at Schwarzer.

Just before the break Johnson had the ball in the net, but it was correctly ruled out for offside.

Portsmouth continued to press for the opening goal at the start of the second half with Defoe in particular looking most likely to break the deadlock.

Twice he went close, firing just wide on one occasion and seeing Schwarzer save well on another.

Unsurprisingly, it was Defoe who was involved when Pompey did eventually take the lead.

The England striker picked the ball up 25 yards out and with the Fulham defence backing off he neatly played in Crouch who beat Schwarzer from 12-yards out.

Belhadj again went close for Portsmouth shortly after, this time seeing his shot from a tight angle tipped onto the post and behind for a corner.

Fulham rarely threatened in the second half with Bobby Zamora volleying straight at James late on. And James was lucky to see Brede Hangeland head straight at him from close range following an inswinging Bullard corner.

But with four minutes remaining, Dempsey found himself unmarked at the near post and converted Erik Nevland's cross to rescue a point for Fulham.

Defoe had a late chance to win the game but his strike was blocked by Hangeland as Fulham held on for a point.