Harry Redknapp could not have dreamed of a more perfect ending to an incredible FA Cup tie.

With just seconds remaining of Southampton's fourth round clash against his former club Portsmouth, a fiercely hostile reception was beckoning for him back at Fratton Park in an unwanted replay.

However, Peter Crouch, a former Portsmouth striker himself, then converted a last-gasp penalty after a handball had been spotted by the referee's assistant.

This, ironically enough, was the same Peter Crouch who was sold by Redknapp, albeit for £5million to Aston Villa, while at Fratton Park.

Southampton had nevertheless avoided not only a replay that would have plunged Redknapp into the Fratton Park bearpit, but also potentially disrupted their bid to steer clear of relegation.

Portsmouth had almost survived against the odds, having not only gone behind to Matt Oakley's strike, but also been reduced to 10 men for the final 20 minutes when Diomansy Kamara was sent off.

They had also benefited from a moment of real controversy, when Kamara won the penalty that Yakubu converted to put them level.

However, Redknapp's side kept on plugging away and finally got their reward in the final minute. It was some finish.

In his programme notes, Redknapp described the frenetic build-up to this game as "nonsense", while expressing the wish that "I just hope it does not overshadow the game because it is not about us".

Some hope. 'Redknapp - forgotten but never forgiven' was just one banner among many others simply stating 'Judas', which were held aloft by the vociferous Pompey fans inside St Mary's.

However, rather than a bearpit atmosphere this was more like a pantomime, with nothing like a dull first-half to dissipate any tensions.

Portsmouth goalkeeper Kosta Chalkias, making his debut after his £100,000 move from Panathinaikos the day before, was hardly troubled in the opening 45 minutes.

Southampton, who had started so strongly in last weekend's victory against Liverpool, were missing the influence of Redknapp's son Jamie, who was ruled out with a knee injury.

Portsmouth looked to have the extra class, if only Yakubu could be persuaded out of the lethargy which seems to have surrounded his game ever since he was first linked with Newcastle.

Indeed, with Yakubu's drive deflected onto the roof of the net, it was left to Kamara to blaze two shots over the bar, while Patrik Berger's free-kick flashed just wide.

Otherwise, it was a rather humdrum skirmish at this stage, although mercifully the game burst into life just nine minutes into the second-half as Redknapp's side seized the lead out of the blue.

Crouch held up possession before feeding Anders Svensson, who teed up Oakley to crash his shot past Chalkias from the edge of the penalty area.

Game on - at last. And within a minute, Portsmouth had controversially earned a penalty as Kamara went down all too easily after Claus Lundekvam put his arm across the striker's path.

Even though the ball looked to be running out of play for a goal-kick, referee Steve Bennett pointed to the spot and Yakubu did not show an ounce of tension as he calmly converted the penalty.

Now the excitement flooded through both sets of supporters.

Southampton thought that they had struck back shortly afterwards, when goalkeeper Chalkias came charging off his line and failed to reach a cross.

However, as Danny Higginbotham deflected a return shot into the net with an overhead kick, the flag was raised for offside, with the keeper still well off his line.

Crouch's looping header was also cleared off the line as Southampton continued to press, but Pompey also rallied, with Antti Niemi needing to dive full-length to tip Yakubu's shot around the post.

The visitors were nevertheless reduced to 10 men for the final stages after Kamara, who had booked after the penalty was awarded for dissent, was then shown a second yellow card for handball.

While substitute Kenwyne Jones then went close, Portsmouth came within a whisker of going ahead themselves as Berger and Ricardo Fuller went agonisingly close.

The stage was set for a replay. Or so it seemed before Taylor's handball and Crouch's calmly-taken penalty. Redknapp had prevailed - but only just.

Teams

Southampton Niemi, Telfer, Lundekvam, Davenport, Higginbotham, Nilsson (Jones 64), Prutton, Oakley (Jakobsson 73), Delap, Anders Svensson, Crouch.

Subs Not Used: Smith, Cranie, Ormerod.

Booked: Prutton, Telfer, Jones.

Goals: Oakley 54, Crouch 90 pen.

Portsmouth Chalkias, Primus, De Zeeuw, Stefanovic, Kamara, O'Neil, Hughes, Berger, Taylor, Yakubu (Fuller 83), Cisse.

Subs Not Used: Skopelitis, Hislop, Mezague, Curtis.

Sent Off: Kamara (72).

Booked: Kamara, Hughes, De Zeeuw, Stefanovic, Cisse.

Goals: Yakubu 57 pen.

Att: 29,453

Ref: S Bennett (Kent).