Blues play out another home draw
There were more Fratton frustrations as Pompey were unable to break down AFC Wimbledon.
The hosts improved as the game wore on, but there were not an abundance of opportunities to get the crowd – or those watching on Sky Sports – excited.
Marc McNulty had the best of them after the interval, but was denied by a smart save as the Blues had to settle for another home draw.
Paul Cook made two changes from the side that beat Macclesfield in the FA Cup eight days earlier, as he switched to a 4-4-2 formation.
Caolan Lavery and McNulty came in to lead the line, with Kyle Bennett and Conor Chaplin dropping to the bench.
With the match being Pompey’s designated Remembrance fixture, there was a minute’s silence before kick-off, with the Last Post played in front of an audience of veterans.
Also, in tribute to those who lost their lives in the attacks on Paris on Friday, Nigel Atangana and Rommy Boco carried out a French flag, while ‘La Marseillaise’ rang out over the PA system.
Pompey made a bright start when the game got underway and Lavery delivered a dangerous low cross that Gareth Evans could not quite convert in the opening seconds.
But it was the visitors who found the back of the net moments later when a George Francomb free-kick was headed home, only for their celebrations to be cut short by the linesman’s flag.
Brian Murphy then failed to hold a fierce long-range drive from Sean Rigg, but quickly recovered to pounce on the loose ball.
However, there were not too many other openings in a first half that saw both sides guilty of some sloppy passing.
Christian Burgess had to make a key interception to prevent Jon Meades latching onto an Ade Azeez ball.
Pompey, meanwhile, delivered a few dangerous crosses into the opposition box, although there was nothing to trouble Dons keeper Ben Wilson.
Azeez might have given the visitors a stoppage-time lead when a long throw was flicked into his path, but could not beat Murphy from an acute angle.
Half Time: Pompey 0 AFC Wimbledon 0
As was the case in the first half, it was Pompey who were first to threaten after the interval.
McNulty collected the ball on the left, beat former Blues defender Paul Robinson, cut inside and then saw his powerful effort pushed over by Wilson.
The visitors were then gifted an opportunity at the other end when Adam Webster dwelt on the ball for too long and was forced to concede a corner.
It was Robinson who was there to meet the ball when it was whipped into the box, but he could only head over.
Cook made his first substitution on 58 minutes, switching to three at the back with Matt Clarke replacing Evans.
The atmosphere picked up as Pompey started to show more attacking intent, but they were still not doing enough to test Wilson.
Another change was made on 66 minutes as Adam McGurk made way for Bennett wide on the left.
The Blues had won a corner before the switch happened and, when play restarted, Ben Davies swung in a cross that Burgess headed over.
There was not too much action at the other end of the pitch, although substitute Adebayo Akinfenwa guided a header past the post.
Pompey tried a quick break up the pitch on 66 minutes, with skipper Michael Doyle surging forward and just unable to pick out Lavery with a curling pass.
Cook’s third and final change saw Lavery make way for Nigel Atangana, with Bennett pushed further up alongside McNulty.
But it was the memory of former Blues player and manager Bobby Campbell that got the Fratton faithful clapping when the clock turned to 83 minutes – the year he led the club to the Division Three title.
Unfortunately, there was not a late Pompey winner to give them something else to cheer.
Pompey (4-4-2): Murphy; Davies, Burgess, Webster, Stevens; Evans (Clarke 58), Hollands, Doyle (c), McGurk (Bennett 66); McNulty, Lavery (Atangana 79)
Subs not used: Bass, Boco, Tollitt, Chaplin
AFC Wimbledon (4-4-2): Wilson; Fuller (c), Robinson, Osborne, Meades; Frabncomb, Bulman, Reeves, Rigg (Kennedy 82); Taylor, Azeez (Akinfenwa 61)
Booked: Reeves
Subs not used: McDonnell, Toonga, Gallagher, Beere, Kaja
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Attendance: 15,892 (794 away fans)