Misfiring Spurs happy for the point

Steed Malbranque's header earned Tottenham a 1-1 draw against Portsmouth at Fratton Park, but Martin Jol's side are still suffering Premiership travel sickness after just one away win all season in the league.

They deserved credit for a gallant fightback after Portsmouth conjured a goal out of nothing to go ahead just before the half-hour through recalled striker Benjani Mwaruwari.

David James' goalkeeping athleticism was needed to deny the disappointing Jermain Defoe and the highly promising Tom Huddlestone, although Linvoy Primus went close to claiming another unlikely winner in the last few minutes for Harry Redknapp's team.

Spurs started the brighter side and their former favourite Sol Campbell had to produce a smart block to deny the dangerous Dimitar Berbatov a clear shot at goal after the Bulgarian had earlier gone close with a header and then laid on a chance for Hossam Ghaly with a blistering left wing run and cross.

Just before the half-hour Benjani took substitute Niko Kranjcar's pass in space and saw his shot fly in off the belated challenge of Tottenham's Calum Davenport, deputising for the injured Ledley King.

Spurs looked stunned because it was the first genuine threat to their defence, but six minutes later they were almost handed a gift equaliser when Campbell left it to Taylor to clear from the edge of the area after hunting down Defoe's run at goal.

Spurs sent on Danny Murphy for the second half and James kept out Davenport's shot following a lack of control for once by Berbatov.

But James could not prevent Malbranque heading into an empty net for Tottenham's equaliser in the 50th minute, courtesy of Murphy's spot-on cross.

James was forced into two more superb stops to deny Defoe and Huddlestone and then Primus headed just over from Taylor's cross.