Portsmouth are held by Palace

FIRST DIVISION leaders Portsmouth suffered a rare blip yesterday as Crystal Palace left Fratton Park with a point from a 1-1 draw.

Paul Merson looked to have set Harry Redknapp’s Division One pacesetters on their way to a 17th victory of the season when he broke the deadlock in the 27th minute. But Palace did not give in and Julian Gray levelled the scores three minutes later.

Ipswich produced a stunning fightback to shatter Leicester’s hopes of closing in on leaders Portsmouth.