Cole saves Pompey's blushes

Portsmouth 1 Fulham 1:Substitute Andy Cole's second goal of his Portsmouth career rescued a point for Harry Redknapp's side after a combination of Antti Niemi's saves, the frame of his goal and dogged resistance appeared to have given Fulham victory.

Defender Zat Knight's 56th-minute header which put Fulham in front was totally against the run of play after Kanu missed a sitter, former Fulham star Sean Da headed against a post and Finland goalkeeper Niemi defied Lomana LuaLua and Kanu.

But ex-Fulham striker Cole, 35, struck his former club's crossbar soon after his 66th-minute arrival from the bench and pulled Pompey back level with 16 minutes to go.

Cole's second attempt to stab the ball over the line just made it — with a furious Fulham convinced Niemi had the ball in his grasp as he was challenged on the floor by Kanu.

But it cut no ice with referee Steve Bennett, who had ruled out Kanu's first-half claim for a penalty when challenged by Luis Boa Morte.

Fulham unashamedly ate up pressure with a 4-4-1-1 formation that had seen them unbeaten away since the first day of the season disaster at Manchester United.

But they deserved their point for a display full of character — and no little luck — but the match ended in a low note when winger Gary O'Neil was carried off on a stretcher with his legs strapped together.

Fulham's smothering formation was not pretty to watch but was increasingly effective and just before the break he pulled out another top-drawer save to paw away Kanu's header from O'Neil's corner.

Pompey were desperately close again six minutes after the interval when O'Neil slid in just too late to make a connection at the far post after LuaLua and Kanu again carved open the Fulham defence.

But the visitors snatched an unlikely lead just five minutes later when Knight headed in another accurate corner from Jensen.

The ball appeared to deflect off Stefanovic before beating James but there was no dispute Knight should claim his first goal of the season.

Pompey's luck was out again though when Primus arrived at the far post only to bundle Pedro Mendes' corner against the upright.

That was the signal for Cole's arrival from the bench and although he initially experienced no better fortune when a header from O'Neil's corner came back off the crossbar he was to have a decisive say.

Eight minutes after coming on Cole launched himself into an almighty scramble in the six-yard box after Sol Campbell's header was blocked by Niemi and toe-ended the loose ball over the line at the second attempt.

Niemi had one last word as he dived low to beat away LuaLua's shot in stoppage time.