New hero saves Portsmouth in pulsating Fratton Park south-coast derby against Southampton

The Blues new boy capped a fighting display by forcing home Adrian Segecic’s corner in the 77th minute, to cancel out Leo Scienza’s second-half opener.

The occasion lived up to its billing with Fortress Fratton at its bearpit best for a frenetic and hard-fought clash in the January rain.

Nico Schmid made two outstanding first-half saves from Adam Armstrong, as Millenic Alli saw his close-range effort go wide.

The pace didn’t relent after the break with melees and tackles flying in before the goals arrived.

Pompey then pushed after their leveller but couldn’t find the decisive goal, though the outcome means they remain unbeaten at Fratton in the league against their fierce foe for 50 years.

Fratton was rocking long before kick-off with the atmosphere at fever pitch by the time the action got underway.

Terry Devlin saw the first opening arrive after six minutes, but his shot was blocked before an Adrian Segecic free-kick was glanced wide by Ebou Adams, with Ibane Bowat better placed to attack the ball.

Schmid then came to Pompey’s rescue in the 12th minute with Adam Armstrong clear, but the Austrian superbly won their one-on-one duel with a left leg blocking the shot.

Conor Chaplin’s cutback fizzed across goal in the 16th minute, before his right footer from 20 yards rolled wide.

Pompey were the team with the impetus, with Chaplin’s shot blocked two minutes later before Jack Stephens cleared as it fell to Colby Bishop.

Daniel Peretz gathered Bishop’s header in the 20th minute, before Schmid outdid his early save from Armstrong by denying the Southampton man with an incredible reaction stop.

Pompey’s best chance of the half fell to the impressive Millenic Alli, who rolled his six-yard effort just past the post in the 24th minute.

Adrian Segecic’s volley looked to be on its way two minutes later, but his drive was deflected just over the top.

Ibane Bowat then went down in the box, but the referee correctly ruled it was not a spot kick, though the official frustratingly pulled back play for a foul on Segecic when Ebou Adams was charging clear five minutes before the break.

Finn Azaz had the first opening of the second half in the 54th minute, but his shot in the box lacked purchase and Schmid gathered.

Pompey were undone in the 57th minute, as Southampton sprung their offside trap with Azaz freeing Scienza who advanced and finished past Schmid.

The intensity wasn’t letting up with a double melee ensuing as Swanson and Flynn Downes collided, before Marlon Pack and Keshi Anderson were thrown on.

Pompey were throwing everything into their efforts to level - and got their reward in the 77th minute when Adams equalised. The new boy’s desire to attack the delivery saw him force the ball home from Segecic’s corner, sparking pandemonium at Fratton.

Pompey broke in numbers with four minutes left, but Pack was off balance and fired over when the ball dropped to him in the box.

The Blues pushed through six minutes of stoppage time, but couldn’t find the decisive goal on an occasion where John Mousinho’s side left everything out on the pitch to the pleasure of Pompey fans.