1-1 v Portsmouth FC - 1 January 2007 - Away

A Steed Malbranque goal earned Tottenham a deserved and hard-earned point at Portsmouth.

Benjani Mwaruwari put Portsmouth ahead with a right foot shot from 20 yards out that was aided by a Callum Davenport deflection.

Spurs levelled when substitute Danny Murphy's cross found an unmarked Malbranque at the back post to score.

Tottenham should have gone on to win the game, with Jermain Defoe and Tom Huddlestone both denied by David James.

A win would have seen Pompey move up to fifth place but Harry Redknapp's side were rarely at their best in difficult conditions at a wet and dreary Fratton Park.

There was little festive spirit early on as Hossam Ghaly was left with a bloody mouth after receiving a kick to the face from Noe Pamarot - one of four ex-Tottenham players in the Pompey side.

From the free-kick Huddlestone found Dimitar Berbatov but he headed over.

Defoe had the chance to extend his three-game scoring streak against Pompey when he was one-on-one with James but the keeper came out quickly to deny his England team-mate.

Ghaly returned after having his facial wound patched up, but Pamarot was not so fortunate as he was withdrawn after going down injured.

His replacement Niko Kranjcar played a part in Portsmouth breaking the deadlock.

He played the ball into Benjani, who took advantage of the space given to him by the Spurs defence to run at their goal and unleash a shot that deflected off Davenport, giving Paul Robinson no chance.

Tottenham boss Martin Jol threw on Murphy for Ghaly at half-time and the switch reaped almost instant dividends when he created their equaliser.

His run into the box was spotted by Berbatov, and Murphy produced a pinpoint cross for Malbranque to head in easily.

Tottenham looked the more likely to go on and win it with Berbatov wasting a good position with a wild, drilled cross before Defoe cut inside Linvoy Primus and unleashed a shot that James parried and Matt Taylor helped clear.

Huddlestone went close with a left-foot shot that James did brilliantly to get down to and keep out.

At the other end Pompey had penalty appeals when Pascal Chimbonda appeared to handle in the box, while Sol Campbell could have marked his 400th league appearance with a goal against the club he started his career with but headed over.

Spurs were Portsmouth's opponents for manager Harry Redknapp's first game in charge, just over a year ago.

Pompey also took the lead then before a second-half collapse.

But the side have a bit more steel about them these days, which bodes well if they are to achieve their fans' ambitions of going on a European tour next season.

Tottenham's collection of four points from as many games over the Christmas period does little to help their own European hopes.