Report by Ben Davis

Having spent most of his Sheffield Wednesday days in midfield you wouldn't be surprised if Pompey hero Guy Whittingham had lost some of his goalscoring touch. He had his chances against QPR, but it was his 18 year-old striking partner Luke Nightingale who showed him how to finish with a fine equaliser midway through the second half.
Whittingham came straight into the side with Steve Claridge nursing a knee injury. In defence Russell Perrett replaced David Waterman whilst in goal on-loan Andy Petterson returned in place ok Alan Knight. John Durnin went through a reserve team game ok, so he was put on the bench after a long spell out through injury.
The home side started nervously and were thanking Chris Plummer when he stopped Nightingale racing through on goal after Whittingham had found the youngster. Minutes later Peron whipped the ball off Murray before finding Igoe whose shot flew straight at Miklosko from the edge of the area. Petterson at the other end was equal to a shot by Baraclough.
In the 12th minute QPR looked destined to take the lead, but somehow Murray contrived to shoot wide after rounding Petterson. QPR boss Gerry Francis was forced to make an early change when defender Rose went off injured with Scully coming on.
The massed ranks of Pompey fans behind the goal Pompey were attacking thought Whittingham was going to score when he was played in by Simpson, but his low shot crashed into the side-netting. Pompey though were grateful to Matt Robinson when he had to clear off the line in the 30th minute. Ready headed a corner down to Gallen whose goal bound shot was blocked by Robinson who quickly got rid of the danger.
QPR were now turning the screw and Petterson produced a great save when from Murray's cross Dowie looked to have looped a header over the keeper, but the Aussie twisted in mid air to clutch the ball just before it reached the line. Pompey managed to keep QPR at bay and might have had a good chance when from Simpson's cross Whittingham arrived unmarked at the far post until Maddix came across to put the ball behind for a corner.
The best chance for Pompey though arrived in the 41st minute. Nightingale picked up Peron's cross in the box and instead of shooting he laid the ball off to Whittingham. Sadly he wasn't expecting it had didn't have time to sort his footwork out before a Rangers player came in to clear the danger. Just before the break Maddix went off on a stretcher with Rowland coming on.
There was a scare in the 48th minute when Petterson flapped at a Murray cross and fortunately he got back to block Morrow's shot. Yet the home side did find the back of the net two minutes later. Gallen slipped past Perrett before delivering a neat cross to the far post where Dowie headed it down for Peacock to hook in from five yards.
Gallen blazed a shot over when he might have done better whilst Robinson did the same at the other end as Pompey went in search of an equaliser. In the 56th minute Pompey thought they were level when Nightingale scored. Miklosko couldn't hold onto Igoe's 25-yard free-kick and Nightingale coolly swept the ball into the net only to see the off-side flag go up.
Still the young striker did find the net again, and this time it stood in the 63rd minute. Robinson's cross from the right was carelessly dropped by Miklosko gifting the ball to Simpson and his low cross was despatched into the roof of the net by Nightingale.
It was now game on and Pompey were looking the better side and should have taken the lead when the ball fell to Peron 12-yards out in the 70th minute. The Frenchman scuffed the shot, but it fell to Nightingale whose headed was saved on the line by Miklosko.
QPR rallied and Pompey were grateful to some brave defending as the scores stayed level. Despite being under pressure for the closing stages Pompey still might have won the game when Whittingham's volley was well saved by Miklosko.
Alan Ball should be pleased with the point as Pompey go into February with games against sides around themselves in the league table: Tranmere, Bury, Swindon and Port Vale. A good haul of points is needed here because the schedule in March isn't so easy.