Portsmouth 1 QPR 1
Tommy Smith rescued the Football League's last remaining unbeaten record with a 90th-minute penalty for Queens Park Rangers against his former club at Fratton Park.
Liam Lawrence, who was shown a second yellow card after conceding the penalty and was sent off, had earlier given Portsmouth a deserved lead, also from the spot, against the below-par league leaders .
Neil Warnock, the QPR manager, had warned that Portsmouth possessed "probably the best first eleven in the league", and he must have been mightily relieved to grab a fifth draw in six matches against a team that had won its previous four home games. But it means that Cardiff City will take over as leaders if they win away to Reading tonight.
Balram Chainrai, the Portsmouth co-owner, said before kick-off that the club was "back on its feet" after coming out of administration last month, and aiming for a return to the Premier League. But he emphasised once again that he does not intend to be in charge permanently. "There is a new owner out there and we intend to find him," he said, inviting prospective buyers to attend a match at Fratton Park and experience the passion of the supporters.
They were as noisy as ever as their team enjoyed the better of the first half against the division leaders. On a pitch that looked in remarkably good condition despite a morning of Biblical rainfall in the area, they pressed forward at every opportunity, with John Utaka their most effective player. So often disappointing despite costing the club £7m in 2007 and hefty wages ever since, for once the Nigeria forward looked dangerous, attacking from a wide position on the left. One run took him along the byline, Paddy Kenny eventually diverting the ball for a corner, and his 28th-minute shot from the edge of the penalty area that beat Kenny but smacked back off the crossbar was the closest either team came to taking a first-half lead.
But it was not a one-man show. Kanu, replacing the injured David Nugent, set up Hayden Mullins for an early shooting chance that was blocked by a scrum of defenders, and Dave Kitson flighted an inviting cross from the left only for Liam Lawrence, its intended target, to fluff his attempt at a volley.
A few flicks and feints from Adel Taarabt were the sum of Rangers' efforts until Shaun Derry, the former Portsmouth midfield player, forced a save from Jamie Ashdown with a powerful shot from 25 yards. More threatening for the visitors was Alejandro Faurlín's squirming run that ended with an angled shot over the crossbar.
The second half looked as if it would follow the pattern of the first as Michael Brown's early volley dipped just over the bar, but while Portsmouth failed to press home their advantage there was always a danger that QPR would break away to score. It nearly happened when Kaspars Gorkss stole forward unnoticed to meet Kyle Walker's cross, but Ashdown fell on the defender's header.
Portsmouth took the lead after 71 minutes. Kanu's pass released Kitson, who was pulled down by Matthew Connolly 10 yards out – a clear penalty and red card. Kenny saved Lawrence's under-hit first attempt, but Gavin Ward, the referee, signalled that the keeper had left his line early and ordered a retake, which Lawrence dispatched with far more conviction.
But on 90 minutes Rangers equalised when Lawrence was ruled to have blocked Walker's cross with his arm. The midfielder protested too furiously and was shown a second yellow card by Ward before Smith converted the kick.
