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Your support makes all the difference.South coast sophistication and East Midland endeavour shared the honours as the First Division's top two tangled in a contest of contrasting styles at the Walker Stadium last night. Matthew Taylor's fine second-half goal cancelled out Trevor Benjamin's early strike for Leicester and deservedly preserved Portsmouth's position at the summit.
A Leicester victory would have deposed Portsmouth for the first time since August, as well as providing the perfect launch for the new era ushered in by the consortium fronted by Gary Lineker. Two points still separate them, but barring a collapse of the kind Wolves suffered last spring, or a freakish, West Bromwich-style surge by Sheffield United, both can look forward to renewing rivalry in the Premiership.
Harry Redknapp's Pompey currently look the better equipped to prosper at the higher level than Micky Adams' Leicester. Where the home team offered tenacity and teamwork, leavened by flashes of creativity from Muzzy Izzet, the leaders passed with greater precision and used the wings more effectively. Moreover, in Paul Merson they possessed the one individual of indisputable top-flight class on the pitch.
Adams admitted afterwards that he would cheerfully settle for second place and automatic promotion. The Leicester manager said: "That's not me lacking ambition or accepting second best. We're going for the title, but it wouldn't be a disaster if we were runners-up to a very good Portsmouth team."
His comments were echoed by Redknapp. "We'll never have a better chance to go up than we have right now," the former West Ham manager said. "The same goes for Leicester. Both of us would really have to stumble not to make it."
Adams declared himself "satisfied" with Leicester's performance, especially having taken four points off Portsmouth. "That's another point on the board and another game gone in what has been a very traumatic season for this club."
Portsmouth fell behind in almost comical circumstances after nine minutes. What looked a routine clearance for Arjan De Zeeuw was charged down by Jamie Scowcroft, the ball breaking into the path of Benjamin. From 12 yards the striker drove in his first goal in Leicester's new home.
Adams paid Merson the honour of deputing Billy McKinlay to follow him. The Scot's attentions did not prevent the former England midfielder from being a magnet to the ball, though it have had something to do with the fact that he often had possession in areas that could not hurt Leicester.
Portsmouth simply stepped up the tempo after half-time and equalised in the 65th minute. The left-sided Taylor, given the rare luxury of space to weigh up his options from 22 yards out, confirmed his vast promise by bending a right-footed shot round Ian Walker. Lineker was away recording They Think It's All Over. It was now.
Leicester City (4-4-2): Walker; Sinclair, Elliott, Taggart, Rogers; Scowcroft, Izzet, Davidson, McKinlay, Rogers; Dickov (Wright, 83), Benjamin (Summerbee, 75). Substitutes not used: Stewart, Jones, Flowers (gk).
Portsmouth (3-5-2): Hislop; Primus, Foxe, De Zeeuw; Harper, Sherwood, Merson, Quashie, Taylor; Todorov (Diabate, 90), Ayegbini (Pericard, 81). Substitutes not used: Festa, O'Neil, Kawaguchi (gk).
Referee: M Pike (Barrow-in-Furness).
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