Depending on your point of view this will be a point gained or two points lost for Pompey, as they first led and then trailed against Colchester before salvaging a point with a late equaliser from loan signing Jordan Obita.

Having never picked up a point or even scored in two league and one FA Cup tie at Colchester's previous ground Layer Road, more than 1000 Pompey fans made their way to the Weston Homes Community Stadium hoping to see the side pick up on the positives which came out of Saturday's draw with Bournemouth.

Manager Michael Appleton made one change, which saw Liam Walker come in for his debut in place of Kieran Djilali. After enduring a tough opening ten minutes, Pompey were soon into their stride and their passing game, inspired by Walker, was soon causing the home side some problems.

And in the 29th minute it was Walker's pass which picked out Luke Rodgers and the striker coolly angled home a shot to give Pompey a deserved lead.

Pompey were in total control of the game, denying Colchester possession, but on the stroke of half time all the good work was undone as a a corner was only cleared as far as Michael Rose, 30 yards out, but the midfielder showed class and composure beyond the division he's palying in to arrow an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net.

Were Pompey dispirited? Not at all. After the break they pushed forward purposefully and Izale McLeod was denied by the keeper one on one, then Walker saw a shot thump against the post all in the first five minutes of the second half.

It was now a more cagey game than in the first half, but Pompey continued to dominate possession, but it was the home side who looked to have shaded the points with five minutes to go when a statuesque Pompey defence allowed Magnus Okuonghae to ghost between two defenders to head into the net.

At once Michael Appleton introduced Jordan Orbita for Jack Compton and it paid off as Rodgers shot smashed against the post and the teenager reacted first to fore home from close range.

Within seconds Brian Howard had flashed a shot just wide, as Pompey sensed their chance but in the end they had to settle for a point.

All in all this game saw more postives than negatives. Walker looks a great find and with a little more composure in front of goal this Pompey side has goals in it. Depsite some sound individual defensive work, there is clearly some cohesion lacking at the back, as the second Colchester goal demonstrated.

Colchester United Cousins Rose Okuonghae Heath Wilson Booked O'Toole Booked (Bond 81) Bean Wordsworth Morrison (Wright 79) Sears Henderson

Portsmouth Andersen Dumbuya Harley Long Connolly Walker Williamson (Webster 33) Howard McLeod Rodgers Compton (Obita 84)

Ref: Collins

Att: 4,335

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