Report by Ben Davis

Alan McLoughlin's last minute penalty rescued a point for Pompey in a match they were winning. Yet some sloppy defending allowed Huddersfield to score twice late on to take the lead before McLoughlin struck. It was a game which Pompey should have easily sown up before Huddersfield hit back but missed the good chances they had.
Ball was hit by injuries to Andy Awford and Andy Thomson. That meant Pethick, back from suspension, moved into the back three alongside Adrian Whitbread and Michallis Vlachos. David Hillier took Vlachos's midfield position whilst Thomas Thorgersen took the right wing-back slot. Ball also dropped John Durnin to the subs bench as he went with two strikers, Aloisi and Claridge. New signing Martin Phillips was on the bench.
Pompey had Aaron Flahavan to thank in the very first minute when he brilliantly tipped Dalton's 25-yard effort over the bar. Three minutes later though Pompey were in the lead. Aloisi was fed into the area by Claridge and the Australian was brought down from behind by Huddersfield's debutante Hessey. Referee Anthony Bates awarded the penalty which McLoughlin stepped up to take. 'Keeper Vaesen went the right way and beat the ball out, only to Aloisi whose goal bound effort was helped over the line by Johnson.
That rattled Huddersfield as Pompey piled forward in search of a second goal. Their passing and movement was certainly better than it was in recent matches with Igoe, back in his favoured midfield position, causing the Huddersfield defence worries with his darting runs forward. Yet not one decent chance was created until the 17th minute. The ball came out to the right where Vlachos put in a superb cross which Claridge met but Vaesen brilliantly kept it out by pushing it over for a corner.
Simpson had a shot blocked after an Aloisi knock down, before Huddersfield began to get back into the game. Two dangerous free-kicks were blasted over Flahavan's bar and shortly after Whitbread had to make a great block to stop a Thornley effort. The former Manchester United youngster then surged forward only to see his low Flahavan well saved by Flahavan.
Eventually Huddersfield's pressure was rewarded seconds before half-time. Thornley put in a cross from the right which the muscular figure of Allison held up in the area before knocking it to Stewart who rifled the ball past Flahavan. Stewart though could have put the home side in front with a stunning volley. The striker met a dropping ball 25-yards out with a left foot volley which cannoned against Flahavan's right hand post.
Three minutes into the second half Pompey struck again. Simpson got the better of Hessey on the by-line before finding Claridge in the area. He was unselfish enough to set up Aloisi who scored from close range. Flahavan preserved the lead with another great save, this time from Stewart who got onto to the end of a Morrison header.
In the 65th minute Pompey almost hit their hosts on the counter attack. Impressive midfielders Hillier and Igoe combined to find Aloisi whose fierce shot flew just wide. Four minutes later Pompey really should have made that two goal margin when McLoughlin was sent clear by Igoe, but his attempted chip over the keeper was saved.
Pompey seemed relatively safe with Huddersfield void of ideas, only long balls to Allison in their locker. That third goal for Pompey was the key to victory but as time went on it was Huddersfield who looked the more likely to score.
With six minutes remaining Stewart struck to put the home side level. Everyone assumed that was the end, how they were wrong. With a minute remaining Allison stunned Pompey as he made it 3-2. The Pompey fans couldn't believe it but their side were saved when Claridge was fouled in the area after Aloisi's pass. McLoughlin this time managed to fire the spot kick past Vaesen.
So what could have been a morale boosting win ended in near defeat. Sure Ball was without two key defenders but he must have been worried by the way Huddersfield were allowed to take the lead in a game mostly dominated by Pompey. He knows a win over QPR will do or the fans will become restless by the club's slow start to the season.