Former Portsmouth hero Guy Whittingham returned to the club on loan from
Sheffield Wednesday but was overshadowed by strike partner Luke Nightingale, who
grabbed the goal which gave his side a deserved 1-1 draw at Loftus Road.
Teenager Nightingale grabbed Pompey's consolation in the 5-1 FA Cup defeat
against Leeds last week and he was on target again to fire Portsmouth level.
Six minutes earlier he had taken advantage of a spill by Rangers goalkeeper
Ludek Miklosko from Sammy Igoe's shot to slip the ball into the net only for the
goal to be ruled out for offside.
But after 63 minutes he was on hand again to take advantage of another
goalkeeping error.
Miklosko dropped Matthew Robinson's cross under no pressure and when Fitzroy
Simpson pulled the ball back, Nightingale was there to calmly slot the ball into
the roof of the net.
It was no more than Portsmouth deserved after surprisingly falling behind five
minutes into the second half.
Kevin Gallen worked his way down the left before swinging in a cross which was
touched on by Iain Dowie to the unmarked Gavin Peacock, who made no mistake from
six yards out.
The first half had been an even one with neither side able to take their
chances.
As early as the fourth minute Whittingham lobbed Danny Maddix to put
Nightingale in, only for Chris Plummer to deny the striker with a despairing
tackle.
Whittingham was denied twice more in the first half but Rangers had their
chances too.
The best of these came on the half hour when Peacock's corner was flicked on
by Plummer to Gallen, who had time to control and pick his spot only to see his
effort blocked on the line by Robinson.
Dowie forced a good save from Andy Petterson two minutes later when his
looping header seemed to be going over the keeper's head, and he continued to
create problems after the break.
Following the two goals this was really anybody's game as chances came thick
and fast at both ends.
Gallen forced two fine saves from Petterson for Rangers while at the other end
Nightingale's header from Jeff Peron's cross was held on the line by Miklosko.
The best chances of the closing stages fell to the home side. On 73 minutes
Tony Scully's cross was met by Dowie's volley only for Petterson to save
brilliantly at full stretch.
Then six minutes later Peacock swung in a cross from the left which eluded
Dowie but fell invitingly to the unmarked Paul Murray.
The midfielder had time to pick his spot but he could only blast the ball over
the bar as the game remained deadlocked.
Teams:
QPR: Miklosko, Plummer, Baraclough, Morrow, Ready,
Maddix (Rowland 43), Murray, Peacock, Dowie, Gallen,
Rose (Scully 10).
Subs Not Used: Kiwomya.
Goals: Peacock 50.
Portsmouth: Petterson, Robinson, Simpson, McLoughlin, Whitbread,
Perrett, Nightingale, Peron, Vlachos, Whittingham, Igoe.
Subs Not Used: Durnin, Waterman, Hillier.
Goals: Nightingale 63.
Att: 12,270
Ref: R Furnandiz (Doncaster).
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