Fleetwood Town continued their unbeaten run after drawing 2-2 against fellow play-off hopefuls Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
The Cod Army were excellent throughout and lead after 19 minutes through Barrie McKay, before Sean Raggett levelled for Pompey to see the scores level at the break.
Harry Souttar sliced into his own net three minutes into the second period, before nodding his side level just seven minutes later. Clear cut chances were at a premium with the scores level for a second time, with Joey Barton’s side earning a point to climb to fifth in Sky Bet League One.
Barton named three changes to his Fleetwood side from Saturday’s draw with Blackpool. Josh Morris, Jack Sowerby and Ched Evans replaced Wes Burns, Paul Coutts and Paddy Madden.
Portsmouth had the first effort of the game after two minutes, with Ronan Curtis scooping an effort over Alex Cairns’ crossbar from the edge of the area.
Glenn Whelan picked up a yellow card on ten minutes, after fouling the lively Ryan Williams. This was after himself being fouled three times in the opening stages by the Pompey midfielder.
The breakthrough came from McKay just nine minutes later. Evans did superb to hold the ball up inside the area, he played it back to the on-loan Swansea City man who forced a good save from Alex Bass, with McKay finishing the rebound from just a yard out.
Almost straight away, it was almost two. McKay curled a corner into the box, with Cameron McGeehan glancing a clearance round the post. A huge let off for the hosts.
Nine minutes from half-time, Portsmouth were level. Sean Raggett headed home from Ross McCrorie’s long ball after a corner was cleared. It looked like a foul in the build up from Raggett on Souttar, but the referee waved away the protests from the Cod Army.
With the last kick of the first half, Josh Morris rattled the outside of the post with a free-kick from 25 yards. So close right on the referee’s whistle.
The second half started with a really unfortunate moment for Souttar. Williams drilled a long cross into the area, with the Australian international putting the ball in his own net. He was set to bounce back later on, however.
Morris would have a huge chance to level the scores. A quick counter attack saw Sowerby spring him clear on goal, but Bass made a massive save to keep the hosts in front.
However, from a corner just two minutes later, it would be Souttar who would make it 2-2. McKay floated a cross to the back post, with Evans nodding the ball back across goal to Souttar, who couldn’t miss from a couple of yards out.
Curtis had a good chance for Portsmouth 18 minutes from time, but his header from Williams’ deep cross was well wide. A rare second half chance created by the visitors.
The game was end-to-end in the final stages, but Fleetwood came away with a well-deserved point, which on another night could have been three.
Next up, another long trip, this time to Gillingham on Saturday.
Portsmouth: Bass; McCrorie, Bolton, Raggett, Seddon; Naylor, McGeehan (Marquis 65’); Williams (Harness 65’), Cannon, Curtis; Harrison. Subs not used: MacGillivray, Brown, Downing, Evans, Hawkins.
Fleetwood: Cairns; Coyle, Souttar, Gibson, Andrew (Burns 54’); Sowerby (Coutts 69’), Connolly, Whelan; Morris (Madden 75’), Evans, McKay. Subs not used: Crellin, Thorvaldsson, Biggins, Saunders.