Fratton Park has seen many great FA Cup games, including the memorable win over Nottingham Forest in 1992, and it looked as though Pompey had the scalp of Premiership giants Aston Villa in this season's cup. Simon Grayson though got a disputed equaliser two minutes from time after Craig Foster had struck two goals to put Pompey in a great position to cause an upset.
Despite playing badly against Norwich Fenwick kept the same side with David Hillier, Adrain Whitbread and Aaron Flahavan on the bench as in the cup you are allowed five subs of which three can be used. Villa included the under-achieving striker Stan Collymore and England defender Gareth Southgate who started despite feeling ill.
Fratton Park was nearly full and the visiting supporters had to endure the match in horrible conditions, so plastic macs were provided. The teams came out to a large ticker-tape reception and the chimes were booming around the ground. Pompey started the better in the strong winds and driving rain with Svensson putting Staunton under pressure with the Irish defender needing Ehiogu ushering the ball out for a goal kick.
The ground then erupted as Pompey took the lead after 6 minutes. Villa full-back Fernado Nelson delayed in clearing a ball from Aloisi and lost possession to Foster 25-yards out and the midfielder crashed in a shot which beat Bosnich and into the net with the help of a slight deflection.
The visitors then started the get a grip of the game with Draper posing problems in midfield. He drove a long range effort wide a Staunton's run into Pompey's half ended in a shot which Knight had no problems dealing with. Stan Collymore was finding it had to get into the game although he looked as though he had won a penalty when he went down under Awford's challenge. Referee Uriah Rennie deemed the challenge a fair one and nothing was given.
Bosnich then almost gave a clearance straight to Paul Hall who missed it and McLoughlin couldn't get the ball back over the keeper after picking up the loose ball. The spotlight was on the Aussie keeper again when he picked up a back pass by Taylor but amazingly nothing was given. In the 22nd minute Villa went close to equalising when Milosevic's ball was missed by Foster and Taylor's low cross-shot flew across the face of Knight's goal.
Four minutes later Turner's afternoon came to an end as he was replaced by Igoe. The winger was injured in a challenge just before and was unfit to continue. Then from a Wright cross Milosevic sent a header well wide when he really should have done better after rising above Awford to meet the full-back's centre.
Steve Staunton is known for his well struck free-kicks so when the referee awarded a free-kick 30-yards out in a central position there was a slight hint of fear behind the goal in the Fratton End. The defender though put too much curl on the shot and Knight waved it past the post.
Pompey were under the cosh yet some good defending was keeping their dream of a win alive. Then in the 39th minute Pompey struck again to send the fans wild with delight. Igoe cleverly beat Wright and his cross from the right caused confusion in the Villa box. Hall's shot came out to Foster whose 20-yard shot deflected off Ehiogu and in past a stranded Bosnich.
The midfielder rushed over the North Stand where he was mobbed and for his actions he got a stern talking to by Rennie. Then Villa gave themselves a lifeline as they pulled a goal back. The Pompey defence pushed up to catch the Villa players offside from Draper's cross. The flag stayed down and Staunton at the far post drilled in a low shot which somehow crawled under Knight's body and into the net. It took a while to the visiting fans to realise what had happened as most of the attention was towards the touch-line where Hillier got a ticking off for taking his protest's too far.
Southgate hadn't got over his illness fully and was replaced by England Under-21 captain Ricardo Scimeca. Milosevic thought he had scored in the opening minute of the half when he turned in Wright's cross but the flag had already gone up. The Villa striker though needed treatment as he collided with Knight as the pair went for the cross.
Collymore's miserable afternoon was brought to an end as he was replaced by the pacey Julian Joachim who many Pompey fans will remember as he scored the only goal in the play-off first leg five seasons ago as they pushed for promotion. He immediately caused problems with Awford blocking well from an chance the sub created and then he latched onto Wright's though ball but Knight produced a good save to deny him.
Svensson then received a yellow card for a dangerous challenge on Scimeca and as Villa pilled on the pressure Awford almost embarrassingly scored a spectacular own goal. Wright put in yet another cross which Awford met ahead on Milosevic but only sent a header just past the outside of the post.
A brilliant move then almost ended in Pompey sealing the game in the 70th minute. After a series of passes Svensson found Foster who played a delightful ball through to Aloisi and the Aussie's shot beat Bosnich but it crashed off the underside of the bar and away to safety.
Awford was having an outstanding game in defence alongside Thomson who had equally done well. However, they didn't get to a cross by Staunton which Joachim headed inches as the ball bounced into the side-netting. There always the threat that Pompey could hit Villa on the break and when Igoe saw space in front of him he raced forward. He failed to see Svensson though who had he received the ball would have had a great chance to score. Igoe though went on and his cross was poor as it looped harmlessly over.
The ball was again hoisted into Pompey's box and with two minutes remaining Thomson failed to clear the ball quickly. Grayson snatched it off him and swept the ball past Knight to stun the home crowd who couldn't believe a two goal lead had gone. The defenders felt not only that Thomson was being fouled but that two Villa players were clearly offside.
The replay at Villa Park looks a difficult prospect but it Pompey put in the same commitment in this game there is the possibility that a shock might be on the cards. For now though its back to the league and the escape from relegation with a tough fixture against fellow strugglers Man City at Fratton Park.