Portsmouth back into Championship drop zone after being pegged back by QPR
Pompey were left to rue two points dropped as QPR came from behind to send them back into the Championship bottom three with a 1-1 draw.
And it was their shocking inability to defend set-pieces which let them down once again, as Jimmy Dunne’s header cancelled out Terry Devlin’s first-half opener.
John Mousinho’s side were outstanding in the opening 45 minutes as they dominated possession and created decent openings, with Devlin firing home just before the break.
It was a different story after the restart, however, with the play-off chasing Londoners having the better of it as the Blues lost their way.
The outcome with Oxford United beating Southampton means Pompey finished the day back in the relegation places, on an afternoon which promised much more for decent periods.
Pompey flew out of the blocks with Harvey Blair prominent on his first start of the season.
The winger’s drive was on its way in in the eighth minute after a fluid move, but Amadou Mbengue put in a crucial block.
Colby Bishop then saw his header come off the post in the 22nd minute from Conor Chaplin’s header, before the striker couldn’t divert the Ipswich loanee’s ball in with a head eight minutes later.
The Blues were dominating the ball and pressing hungrily with Andre Dozzell running the show and the impressive Bishop seeing his finish tipped around the post just before the break.
It was just a temporary reprieve for the visitors, however, with Chaplin’s corner dropping to Devlin who fired home left-footed from 12 yards.
The challenge for Pompey was to sustain that level of performance after the restart, but it was the visitors who fashioned their first chance after 48 minutes but Rumarn Burrell planted his header well wide.
QPR who were now asking the questions and, after all their first-half dominance, Pompey found themselves pegged back after 61 minutes.
It was another set-piece calamity as Jimmy Dunne was allowed to head home unopposed at the near post with Bishop the closest in attendance.
Pompey did manage to regain some control with Bishop’s header cleared in the 72nd minute from Chaplin’s corner, with QPR replying with Kone’s shot on the turn held by Schmid.
But the home side’s level was well below what was produced in the first 45 minutes as the game became stretched.
Pompey were the side pushing through six minutes of stoppage time, but couldn’t find the decisive goal as the day finished with frustration.