West Brom staged a superb comeback to snatch a share of the spoils off lowly Pompey.

But their failure to grab their first win in seven games left dark clouds gathering over the head of manager Denis Smith.

Albion chairman Tony Hale refused to give Smith an assurance before the game that his job was safe.

And he said: "If it means at the end of the day we are not happy with the manager we will have to look at that position."

Albion have now banked just two points from their last seven games - a miserable run of results that has shattered their dreams of a top six position.

They were losing 2-0 to Alan Ball's Portsmouth after a devastating double strike from John Durnin.

But after the break Smith introduced substitutes Enzo Maresca and James Quinn into the action and they grabbed a goal each inside 15 minutes to make it 2-2.

They hard-working Durnin found the target for the first time in the 31st minute with a fine shot to an inch perfect cross from the impressive Matt Robinson.

Then, in the 34th minute, it was 2-0 when Durnin was again the marksman to another terrific cross from Robinson.

Albion reduced the arrears in the 67th minute with a goal from teenage Italian midfielder Maresca who beat keeper Alan Knight with a well-placed header.

Then in the 78th minute, Maresca - back with Albion after a spell of international duty - provided the cross for Quinn to get his name on the scoresheet with a glancing header.

In the 70th minute a linesman was attacked by an angry fan after the official ruled a shot from Kevin Kilbane had not taken a deflection for a corner.

The fan was wrestled to the ground by Albion substitute Paul Mardon before being escorted away by stewards.

Teams

West Brom: Whitehead, McDermott, Potter, Murphy, Burgess, Van Blerk, Flynn (Quinn 62), Sneekes, Evans (Maresca 62), Hughes, Kilbane.

Subs Not Used: Mardon.

Booked: Van Blerk, Evans.

Goals: Maresca 67, Quinn 78.

Portsmouth: Knight, Robinson, Simpson, McLoughlin, Waterman, Awford, Durnin, Thogersen, Vlachos, Claridge (Nightingale 70), Igoe (Miglioranzi 79).

Subs Not Used: Phillips.

Goals: Durnin 31, 34.

Att: 12,750

Ref: S Mathieson (Stockport).