Portsmouth endured a fourth consecutive League One draw as play-off rivals Derby County held them 0-0 at Fratton Park.
A stalemate seemed almost inevitable for the hosts, who have now won once in their past nine matches to derail their hopes of automatic promotion.
Both sides sit on 29 points, with a single goal giving Portsmouth fifth to Derby’s sixth, and their proximity in the table was evident on the pitch.
Derby enjoyed the best of the early chances in a high-tempo opening, James Collins heading a dangerous Conor Hourihane delivery narrowly wide.
David McGoldrick went even closer as he pulled down a long free-kick on the edge of the area while unmarked, letting the ball bounce before curling on to the crossbar.
Connor Ogilvie looped a header on to the roof of the net for Pompey, while Craig Forsyth and Owen Dale could not get their angles right from a yard out at either end.
The Rams were denied twice as Josh Griffiths blocked Louie Sibley’s shot before Dane Scarlett was needed to steer a rebound off the line.
Jay Mingi had Pompey’s first shot on target in stoppage time, with neither side able to find a winner.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Portsmouth
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Griffiths
- 2Swanson
- 20Raggett
- 4RobertsonBooked at 12mins
- 6Ogilvie
- 15Dale
- 25Mingi
- 7Pack
- 27KoromaSubstituted forCurtisat 61′minutes
- 9BishopBooked at 71mins
- 19ScarlettSubstituted forPigottat 86′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Hume
- 8Tunnicliffe
- 10Pigott
- 11Curtis
- 18Hackett-Fairchild
- 21Oluwayemi
- 28Morrison
Derby
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Wildsmith
- 34RooneySubstituted forStearmanat 78′minutes
- 3Forsyth
- 6CashinBooked at 63mins
- 12Smith
- 16ThompsonBooked at 73minsSubstituted forBarkhuizenat 78′minutes
- 8Bird
- 4Hourihane
- 17SibleyBooked at 38mins
- 10McGoldrickSubstituted forOsulaat 87′minutes
- 9CollinsSubstituted forDobbinat 78′minutesBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 7Barkhuizen
- 18Dobbin
- 19Stearman
- 21Loach
- 23Osula
- 28Aghatise
- 30Oduroh
- Referee:
- Ben Speedie
- Attendance:
- 18,623
Live Text
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Match ends, Portsmouth 0, Derby County 0.
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Second Half ends, Portsmouth 0, Derby County 0.
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Attempt missed. Eiran Cashin (Derby County) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Tom Barkhuizen with a cross following a set piece situation.
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Foul by Jade Jay Mingi (Portsmouth).
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Conor Hourihane (Derby County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Attempt saved. Jade Jay Mingi (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Joe Pigott.
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Lewis Dobbin (Derby County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Jade Jay Mingi (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Lewis Dobbin (Derby County).
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Foul by Jade Jay Mingi (Portsmouth).
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Lewis Dobbin (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Derby County. William Osula replaces David McGoldrick.
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Offside, Portsmouth. Ronan Curtis tries a through ball, but Colby Bishop is caught offside.
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Substitution, Portsmouth. Joe Pigott replaces Dane Scarlett.
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Dane Scarlett (Portsmouth) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Richard Stearman (Derby County).
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Foul by Connor Ogilvie (Portsmouth).
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Lewis Dobbin (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Derby County. Richard Stearman replaces Jake Rooney.
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Substitution, Derby County. Tom Barkhuizen replaces Liam Thompson because of an injury.
