Derby held at home to lowly Portsmouth

Portsmouth’s long wait for an away win went on after Derby came back to draw 1-1 at Pride Park.

It looked good for the visitors when they took an early lead through Callum Lang, but the hosts levelled on the stroke of half-time when Hayden Matthews turned the ball into his own net.

The home side had plenty of possession but failed to create any clear chances until the closing minutes when Patrick Agyemang had a header well saved by Nicolas Schmid.

Pompey rarely threatened after Lang’s goal and have now failed to record a victory on the road since the opening day of the season.

For Derby, it was more frustration at home and was the fourth game in a row at Pride Park where they have failed to win.

Portsmouth went into the game with the worst away record in the Sky Bet Championship, but they went ahead in the 6th minute.

Skipper Josh Murphy broke away up the left and played in Lang, who showed composure to hold off two challenges before firing a left-footed shot into the net from 12 yards.

The visitors now had something to defend and they were forced to as Derby pushed them back without making full use of promising positions.

Agyemang flashed a low shot across the box before Rhian Brewster saw a powerful drive blocked close to the line.

The Rams had a great chance in the 31st minute when Portsmouth lost possession, but Ben Brereton Diaz’s pass to put Bobby Clark clear was heavy and Schmid dived on the ball.

However, Derby did not waste the chance that came in the 45th minute when Pompey’s offside trap was sprung and Matthews put Joe Ward’s cross into his own net under pressure from Agyemang.

Portsmouth were struggling to offer much going forward and they came under more pressure at the start of the second half with Agyemang’s pace proving a constant threat.

But Derby were also finding it hard to produce quality when it mattered with both sides coming up short in the final third.

Agyemang tried to change that with a strong run in the 84th minute, but the visitors recovered well to deny him a strike at goal.

The hosts went even closer five minutes later when Dion Sanderson whipped in a low cross which just evaded Lars Jorgen Salvesen.

Derby thought they had snatched all three points in stoppage time, but Agyemang’s header produced a fine save from Schmid.