Portsmouth and Bristol City both squandered chances to secure a vital three points to boost their respective Championship survival battles.

After a dismal first half, Pompey almost went ahead when former keeper David James spilled Chris Maguire's cross but the ball dropped just wide.

Kalife Cisse went closest for City with a deflected shot saved by Jamie Ashdown despite diving the wrong way.

Bottom-placed Pompey remain eight points behind fourth-bottom City.

The visitors were closest to taking the lead when Cisse was inches away from converting Albert Adomah's dangerous low cross.

But Portsmouth started the second half much brighter, with George Thorne firing a powerful shot just wide from the edge of the box.

They were almost gifted a lead when Maguire fired across goal and James came to collect, only to fumble the ball just past the post.

City had a penalty appeal turned away after Jon Stead went down after a collision with Ricardo Rocha.

And they were denied moments later when Cisse's shot looked to be heading in after deflecting off Jason Pearce, but Ashdown left out a trailing leg to turn it away.

Desperate for points, Ashdown came forward for a late Portsmouth corner, but the Robins held on for a draw.

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (4)

Portsmouth

  • 01 Ashdown
  • 02 Ward
  • 03 Rocha Booked
  • 05 Pearce Booked
  • 15 Halford
  • 26 Ben-Haim
  • 16 Allan
  • 19 Norris
  • 20 Thorne (Futacs - 83' )
  • 11 Varney
  • 22 Maguire

Substitutes

  • 31 Webster
  • 09 Futacs
  • 14 Etuhu
  • 17 Harris
  • 25 Mwaruwari

Bristol City

  • 01 James
  • 03 McAllister (McGivern - 90' )
  • 04 Fontaine
  • 06 Carey
  • 26 Foster
  • 28 McManus Booked
  • 21 Cisse
  • 27 Adomah (Woolford - 77' )
  • 37 Pearson Booked
  • 09 Stead
  • 34 Pitman (Wood - 62' )

Substitutes

  • 22 Gerken
  • 36 McGivern
  • 08 Kilkenny
  • 11 Woolford
  • 39 Wood
Ref: D'Urso
Att: 16,695

Match Stats

Shots

15 2

On target

3 1

Corners

13 5

Fouls

11 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:55 Full time

Full Time The referee blows for the end of the match.

90:00 +4:42

Unfair challenge on David James by Jason Pearce results in a free kick. David James takes the free kick.

90:00 +4:22 Booking

Booking Jason Pearce is booked.

90:00 +3:24

Corner taken by Scott Allan from the right by-line, save by David James.

90:00 +2:35 Substitution

Substitution (Bristol City) makes a substitution, with Ryan McGivern coming on for Jamie McAllister.

90:00 +2:02

Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Scott Allan goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

90:00 +1:13

Jason Pearce gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jon Stead. Indirect free kick taken by Louis Carey.

90:00 +0:13

Shot by Joel Ward from outside the box goes over the target.

89:06

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Stephen McManus by Joel Ward. David James takes the free kick.

88:30

Luke Varney takes a shot. Save made by David James.

83:10 Booking

Booking Ricardo Rocha receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

82:54

Ricardo Rocha concedes a free kick for a foul on Martyn Woolford. Indirect free kick taken by Jamie McAllister.

82:03 Substitution

Substitution George Thorne goes off and Marko Futacs comes on.

78:21

Corner taken by Scott Allan, Kalifa Cisse makes a clearance.

76:22 Substitution

Substitution Albert Adomah leaves the field to be replaced by Martyn Woolford.

76:22

Luke Varney is caught offside. David James takes the indirect free kick.

74:39

Short corner taken by Luke Varney.

73:13

Albert Adomah fouled by Joel Ward, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Jamie McAllister.

71:32

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Scott Allan, clearance made by Jon Stead.

69:34

Corner taken right-footed by Scott Allan from the right by-line, Header by Greg Halford from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.

69:28 Booking

Booking Stephen Pearson goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.

68:51

David Norris takes a shot. Save by David James.

67:05

Tal Ben-Haim concedes a free kick for a foul on Albert Adomah. Indirect free kick taken by Jamie McAllister.

66:24

Kalifa Cisse takes a shot. Save made by Jamie Ashdown.

64:20

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Stephen Pearson by David Norris. Stephen McManus restarts play with the free kick.

63:28

Liam Fontaine challenges Chris Maguire unfairly and gives away a free kick. Tal Ben-Haim takes the free kick.

62:58

The ball is crossed by Joel Ward, save by David James.

61:16 Substitution

Substitution Chris Wood replaces Brett Pitman.

58:28

Effort from deep inside the area by Chris Maguire misses to the right of the target.

57:20

The ball is swung over by Chris Maguire.

55:54

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by George Thorne, Header from deep inside the area by Luke Varney goes over the bar.

55:24

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Scott Allan from the left by-line, clearance made by David James.

53:50

Shot from outside the penalty box by Chris Maguire goes wide right of the goal.

51:51

Luke Varney is caught offside. David James takes the free kick.

50:54

George Thorne produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the goal.

50:37

Tal Ben-Haim fouled by Albert Adomah, the ref awards a free kick. Tal Ben-Haim takes the free kick.

50:07

Outswinging corner taken by Scott Allan from the right by-line, clearance made by Louis Carey.

49:42

Short corner worked by Scott Allan.

48:00

Corner taken by Scott Allan from the right by-line, free kick awarded for a foul by Luke Varney on Liam Fontaine. David James takes the indirect free kick.

46:15

Chris Maguire fouled by Liam Fontaine, the ref awards a free kick. Chris Maguire restarts play with the free kick.

45:18

Effort from the edge of the box by Albert Adomah goes wide of the left-hand upright.

45:01

The referee gets the second half underway.

45:00 +1:14 Half time

Half Time The whistle is blown to end the first half.

44:12

Jamie McAllister takes a outswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance by George Thorne.

42:51

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Jamie McAllister from the right by-line to the near post, Joel Ward makes a clearance.

41:09

Jon Stead fouled by Scott Allan, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Brett Pitman.

39:33

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Jamie McAllister, Greg Halford manages to make a clearance.

38:56 Booking

Booking Stephen McManus receives a caution.

38:31

George Thorne has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide left of the target.

37:31

Unfair challenge on Louis Carey by Jason Pearce results in a free kick. Free kick taken by David James.

36:56

Albert Adomah challenges Joel Ward unfairly and gives away a free kick. Scott Allan takes the indirect free kick.

29:19

Albert Adomah produces a cross, save by Jamie Ashdown.

28:31

Scott Allan fouled by Stephen Pearson, the ref awards a free kick. Jamie Ashdown takes the free kick.

27:04

Scott Allan takes a corner.

26:18

Albert Adomah concedes a free kick for a foul on Joel Ward. Free kick taken by Jamie Ashdown.

24:35

The official flags Chris Maguire offside. Free kick taken by David James.

22:18

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jon Stead on Ricardo Rocha. Jamie Ashdown takes the free kick.

21:52

Free kick awarded for a foul by David Norris on Kalifa Cisse. Liam Fontaine takes the indirect free kick.

21:20

David Norris has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the goal.

20:35

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on David Norris by Kalifa Cisse. Scott Allan restarts play with the free kick.

19:24

The ball is swung over by Richard Foster.

18:09

Scott Allan takes the outswinging corner, clearance made by Jon Stead.

17:56

David Norris takes a shot. Save made by David James.

17:20

Inswinging corner taken by Greg Halford from the left by-line, Jamie McAllister makes a clearance.

17:02

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Luke Varney by Louis Carey. Direct free kick taken by Tal Ben-Haim.

13:54

The referee blows for offside. David James takes the indirect free kick.

11:35

Jamie McAllister takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance by Luke Varney.

10:40

Effort from outside the box by Joel Ward goes wide right of the target.

9:11

Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Jason Pearce goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

6:59

Luke Varney is ruled offside. David James restarts play with the free kick.

6:18

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Jamie McAllister played to the near post, clearance made by Luke Varney.

5:00

Long range shot from Scott Allan misses to the left of the goal.

4:31

Foul by Stephen Pearson on Scott Allan, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Ricardo Rocha.

1:27

Greg Halford produces a cross, David James makes a save.

0:00

The game gets underway.

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