Pompey 2 - West Brom 2
Memories are short in football.
Just ask Dean Kiely, a keeper who did so much to keep Pompey in the Premier League.
Reduced to warming the bench nowadays at West Brom, the Great Escape stalwart returned to Fratton Park on Saturday for the first time since an acrimonious departure.
Yet there he was, after the game had long since finished, stood in the Fratton end car park, passing the time of day with two fans.
Nobody else gave him a second glance. No nudge or a point, no recognising nod in his direction. His presence was largely ignored.
It's funny how your achievements are swiftly forgotten.
Not that Paul Hart would have been amused after discovering that for himself on a wet and gloomy south-coast afternoon.
It's official: the honeymoon is well and truly over for the man who has impressively steered the Blues toward Premier League safety.
No time for congratulatory pats on the back for what has gone on before. It's the here and now which really counts.
And there were few more unpopular people at Fratton Park than Hart on Saturday.
The abuse over his perceived negative tactics flowed from the Fratton stands, the expletives over his treatment of Theofanis Gekas swept along the touchline.
Amid it all, Hart stood firm, a lonely figure rooted in the technical area with eyes fixed on his players, defiantly doing the job his way.
Come the final whistle, boos rang out, while the local radio station was inundated with furious phone calls questioning the manager's every credential.
Why, David James pointedly snubbed the manager's offer of a handshake as he made his way off the field at the end.
Hart later claimed there was not a problem between the pair, but that moment was revealing for all who glimpsed it.
To think, Pompey hadn't even lost against West Brom, the scoreline finishing 2-2 to inch the hosts a step further towards preserving their precarious status.
But for many, failure to not only beat the Premier League's worst side at home, but also show any attacking urgency, was a disaster.
Ultimately, it is Hart who is always going to be culpable.
A harsh reaction, perhaps, towards a man who has transformed Pompey's fortunes since inheriting the job from Tony Adams.
That's 10 points from seven games now, only one of those lost, in a run which is strengthening the belief by the week the Blues will still be in the top flight next season.
The mind boggles at the situation they would find themselves in at present had Adams remained at the throne.
Nonetheless, while fans are undoubtedly grateful for Hart's input at such a crucial stage of the season, the manner continues to disappoint.
And on Saturday, after watching their side largely out-passed by a doomed Baggies side on home soil, the patience finally snapped.
It was the 'must-win' game everyone expected to win. Yet Pompey didn't even come close.
Had it not been for a magnificent first-half display from James, it could even have been the unthinkable of thinkables and a West Brom triumph.
Let's not forget, Tony Mowbray's side are destined for a swift return to the Championship.
The Baggies had previously managed just two goals in their past six games – and one of those was scored by an opposing player putting through his own net.
In addition, the only time they have won away from home this season was at Middlesbrough in September.
So long ago, Harry Redknapp was still Pompey manager, Lassana Diarra was the fulcrum of the side and Sacha Gaydamak attended matches.
It's fair to say West Brom didn't journey to Fratton Park with the best of credentials for a morale-boosting victory in what will undoubtedly be a fruitless fight against the drop.
But only the hardest of hearts wouldn't admit they were the better team.
The visitors were bright, confident, energetic, used the ball well and generally failed to live up to any pre-conceived ideas it was three points for the taking against such relegation certainties.
As for Pompey, not even the unexpected boost of moving two places up the league table thanks to Saturday's draw can mask the deep-lying problems.
Four points and four places above the relegation zone is promising enough, yet the supporters are knowledgeable enough not to become distracted by such statistics when the fundamentals are worryingly creaking.
The 4-5-1 system which has grinded out those points remains Hart's chief game plan.
But for all its defensive solidity the lack of attacking impetus is alarming.
And that, more than anything, proved to be the Blues' downfall on Saturday against the side all Premier League teams want to play at home.
To make matters worse, when the people's demands were met with the introduction of Gekas and the uniting of two strikers, it was for a mere 60 seconds.
The Greek international, finally earning his first appearance in a Blues shirt since arriving in January, didn't even manage a touch.
The strength of ill-feeling come the final whistle must have taken aback even Hart, particularly as his side had been leading at the break after a decent first-half showing.
The impressive Jermaine Pennant broke down the right before feeding Younes Kaboul, who cut inside the area before unleashing a magnificent left-foot drive into the top corner.
Earlier, Niko Kranjcar had hit the post with an effort from outside the area which skidded along the turf.
Yet doubts lingered among the home support, particularly with James the busier keeper.
Sure enough, three minutes into the second half, Jonathan Greening swooped to level.
On 62 minutes, Chris Brunt crashed home a free-kick following a Hayden Mullins foul and Fratton Park fell silent.
Not for long, however, Kranjcar stepping up to deliver a magnificent free-kick into the top corner for a priceless equaliser.
Barely 25 minutes later, the cheers had turned to boos as Fratton Park vented their spleen over a disappointing result.
And for Hart, the hard work to win them back really does start now.
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Weather for Portsmouth
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
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Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
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