Derby 2 Portsmouth 2: Derby defender Andy Todd scored his first goal for 17 months to deny Portsmouth striker John Utaka his own moment of debut glory.
After Benjani Mwaruwari had cancelled out Rams captain Matt Oakley's fourth-minute opener later in the first half, the game then exploded late on with two goals in two minutes.
Utaka, a £7million buy from Rennes this summer, appeared to have grabbed the limelight with an 82nd-minute strike at Pride Park.
However, within seconds defender Todd, a free transfer capture from Blackburn, clinched a deserved point for Derby on their return to the Barclays Premier League with a diving header.
Manager Billy Davies' side were certainly excellent value, and on this showing have every chance of proving the bookmakers wrong as they are favourites for an instant return to the Championship.
These are early days, of course, with the objective for both teams in stark contrast as Derby are banking on mere survival, while the visitors are targeting Uefa Cup football.
Pompey boss Harry Redknapp has spent heavily over the summer, so the pressure is on, yet his team remain without an away win in 2007 as they finished last term with five defeats and four draws.
Davies, meanwhile, in the stands after being handed a one-match touchline ban by the FA on Thursday for an infringement stemming from a Championship game in January, will have been pleased with his side's start.
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