Pompey 1-1 C Palace

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Portsmouth stayed well clear at the top of the First Division - but drew for the fourth successive game after squandering a lead against Crystal Palace.

Julian Gray equalising for Palace three minutes after Paul Merson had opened the scoring in the first half.

Merson was his mercurial self as Pompey took the lead after 27 minutes.

He started the move in his own half and then ran 50 yards to get on the end of Matthew Taylor's cross, tucking the ball home from close range for his seventh goal of the season and first in eight games.

But Palace quickly equalised. Danny Butterfield heading the ball into the penalty area for Gray to slot home.

Pursuit

The second half started as slowly as the first and Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp sent on Gary O'Neil and Vincent Pericard - returning from injury - in place of Lassina Diabate and Deon Burton to try and increase his side's threat.

But the Eagles were looking the more potent attacking side and Gray drew a fine save from Hislop after 61 minutes as he sought a second goal.

As the half progressed, both sides surged forward in pursuit of a winner, Nigel Quashie and Jason Crowe attempting to score for Portsmouth while Akinbiyi forced two saves from Hislop, one a particularly fine tip round the post.

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Portsmouth: Hislop, Crowe, Taylor, Primus, De Zeeuw, Foxe, Quashie, Diabate, Merson, Burton, Todorov. Subs: Kawaguchi, O'Neil, Burchill, Harper, Pericard.

Crystal Palace: Kolinko, Butterfield, Gray, Powell, Symons, Popovic, Derry, Riihilahti, Mullins, Black, Adebola. Subs: Michopoulos, Williams, Akinbiyi, Routledge, Borrowdale.

Referee: L Cable (Surrey)