Brilliant Portsmouth earn hard-fought point against Derby County after Josh Murphy injury scare

Pompey picked up a hard-fought draw against Derby County to put more distance between themselves and the relegation zone.

Callum Lang’s second goal in two games opened the scoring at Pride Park before a Hayden Matthews own goal on the stroke of half time levelled the scoring.

Despite a brilliant display in the second period, John Mousinho’s men were unable to find the winner their efforts deserved.

But there will be huge concern for Pompey, who saw Josh Murphy withdrawn on 51 minutes with an apparent injury issue.

It was a really lively start to proceedings, with the Blues having an early shout for a penalty after former Fratton favourite Matt Clarke bundled Lang down in the box.

Referee Farai Hallam waved away any appeals for a spot kick, which looked to be the right call.

Pompey did take the lead just three minutes later after a brilliant piece of build-up play cut open the Rams’ backline. After Colby Bishop’s superb lay-off to find Murphy, the winger was able to find his right-wing counterpart, who was breaking into the box.

Mousinho’s number 49 cut onto his left foot before skipping past challenges from Clarke and Callum Elder to fire the visitors ahead after six minutes.

The high-tempo affair continued from both sides after the Blues’ early opener, with end-to-end action throughout the first half.

Despite falling behind, Derby grew into the game and started applying some real pressure midway through the opening 45 minutes.

Rhian Brewester was the first to test Nicolas Schmid before Joe Ward had a sliced effort, which went wide of the mark.

With Mousinho’s men attempting to play out from the back, the Blues were almost caught out, with Mark Kosznovszky miss-timing a back pass to the keeper.

This allowed Southampton loanee Ben Brereton Diaz to pick up the loose ball before he set Bobby Clark through. Schmid, who signed a new long-term deal at Fratton Park on Friday, was able to nullify the Rams’ attack.

John Eustace’s men did find a leveller on the stroke of half time. Jordan Williams remained stationary as the dangerous Ward made brilliant strides into the box on the right-hand side.

His ball across the face of the goal was bundled in, with replays suggesting Matthews got the final touch instead of Patrick Agyemang.

The Blues started the second half brilliantly on the front foot and penned the hosts into their own half for the opening five minutes.

But as the visitors looked to mount further pressure on Eustace’s side, Pompey suffered a massive injury scare, with Murphy withdrawn on 51 minutes. The winger signalled to the dugout to be replaced and went down receiving treatment.

As the Blues continued to control possession, they were able to create an opening from their first corner of the game. After pinball in the Rams box, the ball found Dozzell on the edge of the box but his first-time effort went wide of the mark.

Mousinho’s men were appealing for a penalty once again on 70 minutes after second-half substitute Marlon Pack’s goal-bound header struck a Derby defender. Referee Hallam waved away any appeals.

With the game opening up in the closing stages, Matthews came to the rescue on 86 minutes to deny the goal-bound Agyemang an attempt on goal, which would’ve almost certainly been a winner.

The Rams had a chance to get their second in stoppage time through Agyemang but were denied by a world-class save by Schmid.

That was the last of the action, with Pompey heading into Christmas two points above the relegation zone.