A damp and miserable Fratton welcomed the arrival of Doncaster Rovers to Portsmouth, with both teams looking to bounce back after an indifferent run of form.
James Coppinger fired the visitors into the lead within five minutes after goalkeeper Stephen Henderson was unable to keep out a drilled effort from the Rovers’ captain.
I missed the goal, as did several others, due to the ticket box for away fans being conveniently located at the other side of the stadium because, and I quote, it is ‘closer to the staff tea room’.
But we made it in in time to see a short period of Rovers dominance which frittered away by 20 minutes when a Pompey goal was expected and duly arrived.
More useless set piece defending put to bed any hope that the signings of Tom Anderson and Andy Boyle might tighten things up at the back, but fortunately for Rovers it was a problem shared by Portsmouth, who gifted the Vikings the lead on 63 minutes when John Marquis headed in.
More lacklustre defending allowed Pompey back into the game, but Rovers had a chance to take all three points when loanee keeper Henderson was forced to go off with ten minutes on the clock.
A further helping hand came when Christian Burgess was sent off in stoppage time for a second yellow card. But alas it was not to be. Rovers walked away frustrated with a point, but it was a fair one on the balance of play.
by Jack Peat
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