Substitute Jake Jervis scored against his former club to earn Portsmouth a point against leaders Tranmere Rovers.

Centre-back Ash Taylor nodded the hosts in front from an Adam McGurk cross, but the visitors levelled when Gabor Gyepes headed in Brian Howard's free-kick.

Andy Robinson's drilled centre was converted by Michael O'Halloran to put the home side 2-1 up.

But Jervis, who played five times during a spell at Tranmere earlier this season, curled in a second equaliser.

The 21-year-old, who is on loan from Birmingham City, netted less than a minute after Bolton loanee O'Halloran had restored Rovers' advantage.

Portsmouth have now gone nine games without a victory in all competitions, while Tranmere stay top of the table on goal difference, despite failing to win for the fourth league game in succession.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Tranmere Rovers manager Ronnie Moore told BBC Radio Merseyside:

"I'm definitely frustrated. Having got the second goal, you just need to see the game out.

"To get caught defensively like that - it was poor defending and we know it. We were really poor defensively today.

"We're throwing points away. We've got two tough away games to come and it feels like a defeat really."

Portsmouth caretaker boss Guy Whittingham told BBC Radio Solent:

"To twice go a goal down and to come back again shows that there's a spirit building.

"On the back of those seven defeats it's nice to know the lads have still got a lot of fight in them and haven't given up.

"It was a great save [by keeper Simon Eastwood] at the end. When you get to the end of a game people are tired but he kept us in the game in the last five minutes and gave us the opportunity to have a chance ourselves."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (4)

Tranmere Rovers

  • 01 fon Williams
  • 02 Holmes
  • 04 Taylor
  • 05 Goodison
  • 14 Bakayogo
  • 06 Palmer
  • 10 Robinson
  • 12 Harrison
  • 09 Cassidy
  • 11 McGurk (Stockton - 72' )
  • 20 O'Halloran

Substitutes

  • 33 Mooney
  • 03 Black
  • 19 Kay
  • 23 Daniels
  • 07 Thompson
  • 17 Power
  • 16 Stockton

Portsmouth

  • 13 Eastwood
  • 02 Dumbuya
  • 03 Harley
  • 16 Gyepes
  • 18 Ertl
  • 33 Rocha
  • 08 Howard
  • 19 Russell Booked (Williamson - 83' Booked )
  • 26 Mendez-Laing (Jervis - 66' )
  • 09 McLeod Booked (Allan - 86' )
  • 14 Benson

Substitutes

  • 01 Smith
  • 20 Michalik
  • 22 Webster
  • 07 Williamson
  • 23 Allan
  • 11 Compton
  • 17 Jervis
Ref: Webb
Att: 5,591

Match Stats

Shots

15 9

On target

7 4

Corners

5 3

Fouls

9 14

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:27 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +5:00

Effort from inside the area by Scott Allan misses to the left of the goal.

90:00 +3:31

The referee blows for offside. Owain Fon Williams takes the indirect free kick.

90:00 +2:34

The ball is sent over by Zoumana Bakayogo, clearance by Ricardo Rocha. The ball is crossed by Zoumana Bakayogo, clearance made by Gabor Gyepes.

90:00 +0:41 Booking

Booking Lee Williamson shown a yellow card.

89:41

Andy Robinson sends in a cross, clearance by Brian Howard.

89:23

Liam Palmer takes a shot. Save by Simon Eastwood.

89:09

The ball is sent over by Scott Allan.

88:37

Free kick awarded for a foul by Cole Stockton on Mustapha Dumbuya. Mustapha Dumbuya restarts play with the free kick.

88:20

Ian Goodison sends in a cross, Jon Harley manages to make a clearance.

87:12

Unfair challenge on Cole Stockton by Ricardo Rocha results in a free kick. Andy Robinson restarts play with the free kick.

85:29 Substitution

Substitution Scott Allan is brought on as a substitute for Izale McLeod.

84:01

Unfair challenge on Andy Robinson by Izale McLeod results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Owain Fon Williams.

82:40 Substitution

Substitution Lee Williamson on for Darel Russell.

81:32

The ball is delivered by Ash Taylor, clearance by Mustapha Dumbuya.

80:08

Danny Holmes restarts play with the free kick.

80:08 Booking

Booking Booking for Darel Russell.

79:41

Darel Russell gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ash Taylor.

79:09

Johnny Ertl crosses the ball, Shot from just outside the box by Darel Russell goes over the crossbar.

78:29

Corner from left by-line crossed in by Brian Howard, Zoumana Bakayogo manages to make a clearance.

77:43

Danny Holmes challenges Brian Howard unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Brian Howard, Liam Palmer manages to make a clearance.

76:54

Izale McLeod takes a shot. Ian Goodison gets a block in. Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Brian Howard, Ian Goodison makes a clearance.

75:44

Foul by Brian Howard on Liam Palmer, free kick awarded. The ball is delivered by Andy Robinson, Zoumana Bakayogo produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box that clears the crossbar.

75:28

Danny Holmes produces a cross, clearance made by Mustapha Dumbuya.

74:27

Assist by Jon Harley.

74:27 Goal scored

Goal - Jake Jervis - Tranmere 2 - 2 Portsmouth Jake Jervis scores a goal from inside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Tranmere 2-2 Portsmouth.

73:32

The assist for the goal came from Andy Robinson.

73:32 Goal scored

Goal - Michael O'Halloran - Tranmere 2 - 1 Portsmouth Michael O'Halloran finds the net with a headed goal from close in. Tranmere 2-1 Portsmouth.

72:59

Cole Stockton crosses the ball, clearance made by Ricardo Rocha.

71:17 Substitution

Substitution Cole Stockton joins the action as a substitute, replacing Adam McGurk.

70:51

The ball is crossed by Andy Robinson. Adam McGurk produces a left-footed shot from outside the penalty area and misses left.

69:38

Adam McGurk has an effort at goal from long distance that goes wide left.

67:12

Jon Harley is penalised for a handball. Owain Fon Williams restarts play with the free kick.

66:19

Adam McGurk sends in a cross, Simon Eastwood makes a comfortable save.

65:34 Substitution

Substitution Jake Jervis comes on in place of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.

65:34

Jon Harley gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Michael O'Halloran. Danny Holmes takes the free kick.

64:28

The ball is delivered by Adam McGurk.

61:43

Danny Holmes sends in a cross.

60:23

Andy Robinson crosses the ball, Ricardo Rocha manages to make a clearance. Andy Robinson takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Izale McLeod manages to make a clearance.

59:39

Izale McLeod takes a shot. Comfortable save by Owain Fon Williams.

58:52

Free kick awarded for a foul by Izale McLeod on Zoumana Bakayogo. Owain Fon Williams takes the free kick.

58:38

A cross is delivered by Brian Howard, Danny Harrison manages to make a clearance.

57:56

Corner from the left by-line taken by Brian Howard, clearance by Ian Goodison.

56:37

Darel Russell has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide left of the goal.

53:01

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing takes a shot. Save by Owain Fon Williams.

52:17

Andy Robinson crosses the ball, Shot on goal by Adam McGurk from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

49:12

Assist by Brian Howard.

49:12 Goal scored

Goal - Gabor Gyepes - Tranmere 1 - 1 Portsmouth Gabor Gyepes finds the back of the net with a headed goal from inside the box. Tranmere 1-1 Portsmouth.

48:14

Johnny Ertl fouled by Andy Robinson, the ref awards a free kick. The ball is sent over by Brian Howard,

46:41

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jon Harley by Zoumana Bakayogo. Free kick taken by Ricardo Rocha.

46:15

Centre by Mustapha Dumbuya, save made by Owain Fon Williams.

45:01

The referee gets the second half underway.

45:00 +1:17 Half time

Half Time It is the end of the first-half.

45:00 +0:36

The referee blows for offside against Paul Benson. Indirect free kick taken by Owain Fon Williams.

44:07

Danny Holmes delivers the ball.

42:25

The ball is swung over by Johnny Ertl, Ash Taylor makes a clearance.

41:58

The referee blows for offside against Michael O'Halloran. Gabor Gyepes restarts play with the free kick.

40:11

Free kick awarded for a foul by Mustapha Dumbuya on Andy Robinson. Direct free kick taken by Andy Robinson.

38:40

The ball is swung over by Liam Palmer, clearance made by Ricardo Rocha. Andy Robinson takes a outswinging corner to the near post, Brian Howard manages to make a clearance.

37:47

Gabor Gyepes fouled by Jake Cassidy, the ref awards a free kick. Simon Eastwood restarts play with the free kick.

34:32

Darel Russell challenges Danny Harrison unfairly and gives away a free kick. Strike on goal comes in from Andy Robinson from the free kick, save by Simon Eastwood.

33:36

Johnny Ertl crosses the ball, clearance made by Ian Goodison.

31:41

Zoumana Bakayogo takes a shot. Save by Simon Eastwood. Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Andy Robinson, Header by Zoumana Bakayogo from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.

31:14

Unfair challenge on Andy Robinson by Brian Howard results in a free kick. Ash Taylor takes the free kick.

30:15

The assist for the goal came from Adam McGurk.

30:15 Goal scored

Goal - Ash Taylor - Tranmere 1 - 0 Portsmouth Ash Taylor scores a headed goal from inside the area. Tranmere 1-0 Portsmouth.

30:08

The ball is sent over by Adam McGurk,

29:14

Andy Robinson crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, clearance by Paul Benson.

29:14 Booking

Booking Izale McLeod is cautioned by the ref for dissent.

28:44

Liam Palmer fouled by Izale McLeod, the ref awards a free kick.

27:06

Andy Robinson takes a shot. Save by Simon Eastwood. Corner taken by Adam McGurk from the right by-line to the near post, Danny Harrison produces a left-footed shot from inside the area that clears the bar.

26:37

The ball is delivered by Zoumana Bakayogo, Johnny Ertl makes a clearance.

24:31

Brian Howard concedes a free kick for a foul on Adam McGurk. Free kick taken by Owain Fon Williams.

20:50

Adam McGurk takes a shot. Save made by Simon Eastwood. Outswinging corner taken by Andy Robinson. Jon Harley is penalised for a handball. Andy Robinson takes the direct free kick. Effort from 12 yards by Liam Palmer. Blocked by Ricardo Rocha. Effort on goal by Danny Harrison from just outside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.

18:50

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Brian Howard by Adam McGurk. Direct free kick taken by Simon Eastwood.

15:14

Effort from outside the penalty box by Johnny Ertl goes wide right of the goal.

14:38

Jon Harley fouled by Adam McGurk, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jon Harley.

11:33

The referee blows for offside against Michael O'Halloran. Ricardo Rocha takes the indirect free kick.

10:54

Izale McLeod is caught offside. Danny Holmes takes the indirect free kick.

8:52

Andy Robinson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nathaniel Mendez-Laing. Mustapha Dumbuya restarts play with the free kick.

8:08

Brian Howard gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Liam Palmer. Ash Taylor restarts play with the free kick.

7:50

A cross is delivered by Danny Harrison, Gabor Gyepes makes a clearance.

6:38

Danny Holmes is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Simon Eastwood takes the direct free kick.

3:48

The ball is swung over by Mustapha Dumbuya, save by Owain Fon Williams.

2:31

Foul by Mustapha Dumbuya on Andy Robinson, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Andy Robinson.

1:48

Adam McGurk fouled by Jon Harley, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Ash Taylor.

1:19

Michael O'Halloran is caught offside. Simon Eastwood takes the free kick.

0:41

Foul by Danny Harrison on Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, free kick awarded. Jon Harley takes the direct free kick.

0:00

The game gets underway.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association