Tottenham1 Portsmouth 1:IT IS as well that animosity is not a banned substance because two of the key players in this game would have failed a post-match drugs test.
Sol Campbell, stimulated by the loathing of the crowd at his old club, was authoritative and seemed set to be the key to a Portsmouth victory. He was denied by an exemplary finish from Jermain Defoe, whose return to Tottenham from Fratton Park made him a traitor in the eyes of the visiting fans.
The days ahead, though, must count for more than even the most cherished of grievances. Tottenham Hotspur may stand 16th, but they are members of the pack of five clubs at the bottom of the table with 21 points. Portsmouth stay three points ahead of them. So compacted is the Premier League that its members appear divided into one group that is chasing qualification for Europe and another that is trying to flee from relegation.
Tottenham’s pursuit of safety has become more tortuous than envisaged when Harry Redknapp resigned at Portsmouth to take up the post at White Hart Lane. His side were embattled in a number of respects. Roman Pavlyuchenko was hurt by Sean Davis’s tackle from behind and Ledley King, the captain, did not last until half-time after tearing a hamstring.
Even so, there was vitality from Tottenham prior to the interval and further pressure after David Nugent, with his first goal of the season, had given Portsmouth the lead in the 59th minute.
The visitors were not equipped to attack as their opponents could, but the defending was outstanding. David James pulled off saves that were the equal of Campbell’s tackles and blocks.
Portsmouth should have been beaten at the end, but the hapless substitute, Darren Bent, spared them.
In the 80th minute David Bentley, on for Gareth Bale, picked him out at the far post yet he sent his header off-target when even James looked helpless. The goalkeeper had been the equal of most other threats.
Over the course of the game, he tipped a 20-yarder from Aaron Lennon wide and, after Portsmouth had scored, got to a header by Defoe and put a Bentley set-piece behind.
Following that last intervention, the goalkeeper was a mere face in the goalmouth crowd as Vedran Corluka rose to meet a Bentley corner, but Davis headed off the line.
While their endurance was conspicuous, Portsmouth had never been entirely contained. When the Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes fumbled a Glen Johnson attempt in the 12th minute he had to recover smartly to flick the loose ball away from Peter Crouch.
Nugent was released by Niko Kranjcar shortly before the interval, but on that occasion the finish was struck too near the Brazilian goalkeeper.
The Portsmouth attacker, who now has a role on the right of the attack, was still to land his first goal of the season. It was notched when his manager Tony Adams was about to remove him. A piercing run by Armand Traore set him up, but a ricochet off Gareth Bale was needed to take Nugent’s effort into the corner of the net.
Much as a goal against an old club is virtually a statutory plot device in the creaking melodrama of football, Defoe had not been ready for the role initially. When Davis, for instance, utterly misdirected a crossfield pass to release him in the ninth minute he could not hit the target.
Then again, Defoe’s potential to strike is never lacking. With 20 minutes remaining, a pass from Didier Zokora and a lay-off by Luka Modric set him up for a drive that flew through the legs of Campbell to enter the net.
While there will be celebration of his first goal for the club since his return earlier this month, a sharing of the points was a disappointment.
Guardian Service
