Report: Hosts fight back as Saints held at Fratton Park

Saints thought they were on course for a first league triumph on enemy territory in 50 years when Leo Scienza raced through on goal to beat Nicolas Schmid to silence three sides of Fratton Park as the travelling fans, housed at the far end, were sent into ecstasy.

The hosts had not threatened since half time and looked deflated, but a 77th-minute corner proved to be Saints’ undoing, as Ebou Adams forced the ball over the line from close range to salvage a share of the spoils, leaving Saints to rue two big first-half chances for Adam Armstrong, who was twice denied by crucial saves inside the opening 20 minutes.

Tonda Eckert made three changes to his side that secured a first win in eight league matches in midweek, including a first Saints appearance of the season for James Bree following his return from a loan spell at Charlton.

Bree formed part of a new-look right side, with Kuryu Matsuki operating in front of him, as Elias Jelert and Tom Fellows dropped to the bench along with Ross Stewart, as top scorer Armstrong was recalled to lead the line.

Portsmouth, ravaged by injuries to key players and forced to field a makeshift defence, were keen to get the ball into the Saints box from a couple of early free-kicks, as Terry Devlin’s shot was blocked before Adams headed wide.

Saints’ first notable attack arrived in the 12th minute. Matsuki’s deep cross was collected by Welington, whose low ball back into the box found Armstrong on the turn, who was definitely brought down but never really had the ball under control.

Armstrong should have sent the travelling fans into raptures a matter of seconds later. Played through by Finn Azaz, Saints’ top scorer went eye to eye with Portsmouth keeper Schmid but could not beat him, denied by his outstretched left leg as Armstrong tried to slide the ball past him.

Adam Armstrong was twice denied by goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid in the first half

Back came Pompey. Chaplin’s deflected shot nearly fell kindly for Colby Bishop, but captain Jack Stephens was in the right place to make a vital intervention.

Bishop did force a first save from Daniel Peretz soon after, but his header from 15 yards was never likely to beat the on-loan Bayern Munich man.

Armstrong may have still been cursing his earlier miss when another chance came his way on 20 minutes, again denied by Schmid, this time flying to his right to repel the striker’s sharp first-time shot from Bree’s right-wing cross. Anything closer to the corner would have beaten him.

This was developing into a far more watchable derby than the tension-filled reverse fixture at St Mary’s, as Millenic Alli sent a curling low shot only inches wide, although Peretz seemed confident enough it was never on target, before Chaplin’s instinctive volley deflected on to the top of the net.

Having turned the hosts around before kick-off, Saints were now attacking towards Portsmouth’s Fratton End in the second period, as Azaz registered a shot on target, cleverly dummied by Armstrong, but lacking the power to sufficiently trouble Schmid.

But it was Azaz’s delightful first touch and pass that sent Scienza through in the inside-left channel.

With all the time in the world to compose himself, time stood still as Fratton Park held its breath, but the away end soon erupted when Scienza shaped his body as if to place the curl the ball inside the far corner, only to whip his shot inside Schmid’s near post and into the net.

Off the Brazilian went, sprinting down the touchline and cupping his ear to the home fans, as centre-back duo Harwood-Bellis and Stephens rejoiced in front of the euphoric away end.

Leo Scienza sent the travelling Saints fans into raptures with his second-half opener

Eckert had already been preparing changes before the goal and did not deviate from the plan, introducing Fellows and Shea Charles for Matsuki and Azaz, whose last act was to blast a shot over the bar from 20 yards.

What may not have been planned was the withdrawal of Scienza three minutes later, who left the field limping, with Armstrong also departing as Jay Robinson and Stewart were summoned with Saints still in the ascendancy.

Tempers flared when Flynn Downes and Zak Swanson squared up on the touchline, resulting in yellow cards for both players as teammates from both sides piled in.

But Saints remained fairly comfortable until Adams forced the ball home to score a scruffy equaliser with 13 minutes left, as Adrian Segečić’s wicked inswinging corner flicked up off Harwood-Bellis and was forced over the line by Adams to give Pompey an equaliser they had not really been threatening.

Suddenly the hosts had their tails up, and the home fans roared at the prospect of six added minutes.

Stephens was nearly left red-faced when he sliced a cross over his own crossbar midway through stoppage time, but it was to end honours even once again in a fourth successive south coast derby draw in league meetings.

Portsmouth: Schmid, Devlin, Swanson, Bowat (Williams 66), Ogilvie, Dozzell (Pack 71), Adams, Segečić, Chaplin (Anderson 71), Alli, Bishop (c).

Unused substitutes: Bursik, Poole, Swift, Le Roux, Farrell, Kirk.

Goal: Adams (77’).

Booked: Swanson, Adams.

Southampton: Peretz, Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Stephens (c), Welington, Downes, Jander, Matsuki (Fellows 63), Azaz (Charles 63), Scienza (Robinson 66), Armstrong (Stewart 66).

Unused substitutes: McCarthy, Wood, Jelert, Manning, Archer.

Goal: Scienza (57’).

Booked: Downes.

Referee: Lewis Smith.

Attendance: 20,290 (2,651 Saints fans).