Portsmouth 2-2 Leeds... Becchio and Somma Illuminate Fratton Park... Defensive lapses leave all 3 points in the shade

Back, then, to the bread and butter again after another cup outing against more glamourous opponents. Knuckling down and getting on with the day job was the order of the day at Fratton Park as Leeds returned to Championship action. Grayson made three changes to the team that walked out at Elland Road against Arsenal on Wednesday night. With O'Brien forced out with a tight hamstring late on in the cup clash, Bromby came in at centre back. Parker was dropped to the bench in favour of McCartney and up front, the most notable change was Becchio returning in place of Billy Paynter.

Despite the lack of an extraordinary result against Arsenal, Leeds seemed in that hangover mode as Pompey had the best of the opening exchanges. Max Gradel stung Ashdown's palms from 25 yards with a dipping strike, but other than that Portsmouth put us under the cosh. Worryingly, the recently confidence-instilling Bruce seemed to lack the presence of O'Brien alongside him and Utaka and the impressive Liam Lawrence were able to put several dangerous balls into the box and cause issue, clearances weren't convincing - the Bromby-Bruce partnership was obviously in its infancy in terms of understanding. McCartney was wasteful in possession at times, once misplacing a pass that forced Bromby into a diving header after Lawrence was gifted a free cross.

We got away with a Greg Halford header from a pinpoint Lawrence corner that cannoned off the bar, and at this point were probably riding our luck, as we'd had very little possession and adventure in terms of forays forward worth any note. Kanu was causing issues, despite being an old head, he still could physically compete with any he came up against, holding up the ball and holding off men, as well as still remarkably showing a burst of pace when needed. His Loctite touch was impressive and his intelligence was a worry. A big ball into the box found his chest after he held off Bruce with ease, and the cushioned chest trap found Nugent who should have done far better, ballooning over on the half volley.

We were over run in midfield and second to every clearing header. A lot of Pompey play came from a big ball from a channel and we would deal with the first ball, but more often than not fail to anticipate the second ball, highly frustrating - we needed a bit more thought about our game in this respect, the Pompey players seemed to anticipate far better than we managed, although with a man extra in midfield when Howson and Watt were caught upfield. It is definately still an issue for us having two deep lying players but having neither of them recognised as a defensive ball winner type, and both liking to get forward. It leaves us short more than is comfortable.

The long ball was a thorn in the side and Nugent was in behind Bruce with another hoick forward, and were it not for a poor touch, he'd have been face to face with Kasper. Their goal was definitely coming, and truthfully we'd been lucky to stem the tide for this long, when after clearing a corner, the long ball was poorly dealt with on the edge of the box with the ball falling straight to a Pompey player who spread it out wide. We'd failed to reorganise quickly enough in midfield from the corner and Lawrence was free to run at Connolly, who was narrow - again from defending the aforementioned corner. He dribbled inside the box, cut outside, drawing three men towards him before teeing up Ward on the edge of the penalty box for an unchallenged effort on goal. A good strike finding the bottom corner. Lawrence was going nowhere and with two men already marking and a crowd blocking the shot on goal, the third (Howson) should have been more concerned and aware of a possible lay-off. He'd just run past Ward into the box. Frustrating, as in the end it was made easier than it probably should have been for Ward. It was a just goal though the way we'd started.

Soon after, Kanu cued a beautiful overlap into the path of Utaka who ran at Connolly. The pace of the run worried Connolly who couldn't dive in inside the penalty area, the shot was wonderfully saved by Schmeichel who tipped the powerful effort across him round the far post, instinctively, from short range. I earmarked Utaka's ability and pace as a worry and he wasn't disappointing. He did surprise me though with a few wayward shots, a side foot a fair way past Kasper's post the poorest of his efforts, when he had time and space. I must admit I had it in my mind he was a better finisher than he showed, only scored 2 though this season I think so that proved my assumptions wrong. (Including his one against us later on in the game...)

What little we did have going forward was made from Gradel's persistance and determination. He nicked the ball of the poor De Laet and popped a ball to Watt, who cut inside and fed Howson on the edge of the D, curling an effort narrowly wide. We did manage a bit of keep ball, the meat of our meaningful possession in the first half, but couldn't find any outlet or end product before half time. A pretty happy set of support - considering the way Pompey had gone at us during the half, pretty much as well as any side had all season thinking back - they're certainly capable, as Forest almost found out last week, were it not for an injury time point-stealer.

We started the second half the brighter after what was no doubt a Simon Grayson "wake-up call" and earned a freekick on the right wing, prime for Snodgrass to curl into the box with some purpose. I for one get sick of seeing us waste free kick and corner opportunities but thankfully this was a good delivery. Deep to the back post on a diagonal, and Howson nipped in round the back of his marker to meet it first time and send it back across the face, for the right place, right time man, Luciano Becchio to slot home. This is what Luciano brings, an instinct of where to be and at what time to receive opportunities. As has happened many times this season after being behind, the goal gave the Whites fans the optimism and the players the confidence, and the dominance that followed made you believe we'd make a victorious comeback again. Snoddy, the tormenter of Dickinson at Elland Road, had been out of the game through our lack of the ball, but finally he had the chance to remind Dickinson of his recurring Elland Road nightmare as Snodgrass got into dangerous positions to deliver into the box, at the ex Leeds loanee's despair. 

Johnson showed improved composure on the ball and was providing both long and short, with intelligence. Gradel linked up play along the whole front line as he played off Becchio up top, causing annoyance, buzzing around and aiding attacks on Snoddy's flank nicely - another good showing of willingness and endeavour from Max who continues to look every bit the bargain after we robbed Nigel Pearson of him for 200k last season.

It was Pompey who struck though as we managed to set back our chance of turning the game on its head. Another massive ball caused issues for us as Kanu backed into Bromby and beat him to the header, the flick on bounced in between Connolly and Bruce, and fell to Utaka. Bruce couldn't poke the ball away from Utaka, who made no mistake to slot past Schmeichel. Self destruct button stuff. The ball was allowed to bounce twice, first over Connolly who made a hash of the first bounce with Bruce and second in front of Utaka. The amount of times we've been undone this season by a punt forward from a keeper or centre back is concerning.

Almost as if it was scripted by a Pompey hierarchy, during the spell of continued Leeds pressure post Becchio's goal and in spite of their's, Fratton Park's floodlights went off, due to "external issues" the tannoy announcer kept repeating as if for some reason guilty. It broke up our momentum nicely for them and allowed their players a bit of a rest, Kanu included.

Somma replaced Watt who was the most anonymous of the attacking three in midfield, to offer Becchio a full time striker as a partner, after Gradel's earlier efforts up top. I wanted to see this change before the game and during, as did a fair few others. Somma's impact could not have been any better. Somma's arrival allowed Becchio to reprise his "Beckford's worker" role of old to start and set up the move that led to our second. I just love to see him do this and it just shows what a rounded and capable striker he is. He pops up on the right wing, almost on halfway,  plays it into midfield, advances midway into their half, receives the ball back and slides it beautifully to Somma who'd ghosted to the edge of the box. Now although we all know Somma is a fantastic finisher and when he gets a chance you expect it to go in, this one was a bit optimistic I thought. How wrong I was. He hovered between their centre backs nicely, deftly controlled with the right and in a snapshot swung his left boot through it and put it in the bottom corner from the edge of the box. He continues to amaze. Those were his first two touches.

Again, we piled the pressure on with neat overlaps and flicks from Somma on the right combining with Snoddy and Gradel with McCartney on the left. Somma's added presence further to Becchio clearly gave them problems as he was played the ball a couple of times in the box but closed down in a hurry. He did admirably with the ball played to his feet. Intelligently holding up then playing in Snoddy a couple of times, once with a back heel. Those who say he can't do this part of the game are wrong. He can, when fed anywhere lower than his head. He's no target man heading wise, but capable of hold up play when played into him with some construction.

Just as another head of steam was building for us, the lights went out again. Cue the guilty tannoy messages and chants of "Pay up Pompey"... The Leeds momentum had been building -  There was a chance of note for Howson who forced a fine save from Ashdown after a first time, low strike from the edge of the box and Leeds were still giving the hope we'd seal another fantastic comeback smash and grab in the dying minutes. It was announced we had three minutes left. The referee felt no compulsion to let the Fratton Park lights have chance to "fail" again and played no extra time, annoyingly.

To sum up, frustrating. Lapses cost us. Floodlights cost us, after twice breaking up ominous momentum. In the end though its a point against a talented side, who are certainly capable. A pleasing point as well as we did managed to twice fight back from being behind. Just a shame we shot ourselves in the foot defensively for their second. We do need to pick up the pace, though, as the teams behind, most notably Forest with games in hand are beginning to look more than ominous. A tough set of games ahead for February after Hull a week on Tuesday. This next month will test our credentials.

What was pleasing to see was the effectiveness of Somma and Becchio combining after Somma had come on. Simon must be on the brink of considering starting Davide in a 4-4-2 again, as, if we're honest we've lacked the effectiveness of Howson in the hole, and until Kilkenny comes back we won't be seeing Howson there. 4-4-2 may be a good alternative with Davide unquestionably firing, and 4-5-1 seemingly not preventing the constant leak of goals. Watt and McCormack are certainly not as suited in terms of producing results playing just behind Becchio as Howson was a few weeks ago, so, for me, revert to 4-4-2 until Kilkenny/another capable midfielder we may bring in are in the squad. That way, we've also got two fresh, pacy wingers to come off the bench in Watt and Sam.

Again, we missed the strongest partnership we currently have at CB with O'Brien unable to partner Bruce, it did show - we weren't as assured as we have been at the back recently (despite still conceding goals). Obviously it can't help that Bromby's had little game time in this unit, so I'm willing to give Leigh a chance and time as, for me, the jury is firmly out on Collins.

Grayson:

"We were lucky to only be 1-0 down at half-time but in the second half we were much sharper, passed the ball better and created some good chances. We showed great character to keep coming back. We did not get going in the first half and, maybe, that was because of Wednesday night, but I did not want to use that as an excuse.

"They had the better of the first half and we had the better of the second so a draw was a fair result."

Support

Pompey gave as good account as anyone in the league we've come across in the way they backed their team. Leeds fans, as per, were excellent, bouncing for both goals and constantly noisy. The opening "we all love Leeds" I think it was, was lengthy and good to hear. Nice micky taking with the "Pay up Pompey" chants. 

Man of the Match

Luciano. Goal and excellent link up play and assist for the second. That's why we miss him. Class act just now.

Scunny's Man of the Match

Andy Hughes. 

HUGHESY!