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Defoe get off the mark early, but Exeter peg Pompey back
17th July 2008, 16:03

Pompey were held to a 1-1 draw by League 2 Exeter in their first run out of the season. Jermain Defoe scored Pompey's goal from the penalty spot, but the home side levelled through Mark Edwards, just after the re-start.

Peter Crouch wasn't included in the starting line up as manager Harry Redknap decided against naming his new signing, so a triallist called 'OJ' partnered Defoe and he won a penalty after seven minutes, when he was held in the box and Defoe converted.

The rest of the half was about seeing how many more goals Defoe could add to his tally as Pompey dominated, but despite several presentable chances he failed to take them and Pompey only led by a solitary goal at the break.

Redknapp completely changed his team around at the interval and Linvoy Primus was a popular face back on the field for the 500 or so Pompey fans in the crowd, but almost at once the home side pulled level.

After 47 minutes a break down the left hand side ended with Edwards sliding the ball under Begovic's dive. Both sides had chances to win the game, although Pompey had the better ones, but in the end Exeter, newly returned to the Football League, will probably be happier with the draw than Pompey.

First half: James, Lauren, Campbell, Pamarot, Cranie; Little, Mendes, Davis, Mvuemba; Defoe, OJ

Second half: Begovic; Duffy, Distin, Primus, Triallist; Hughes, Mvuemba (Subotic), Muntari; OJ (Christophe), Nugent, Sahar