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.

Paul Dickov gave the Foxes the lead at the Walker’s Stadium but Thomas Gaardsoe equalised with six minutes remaining before Darren Ambrose stole a 2-1 victory on 88 minutes.

Nottingham Forest’s hopes of keeping pace with the top two were dashed at relegation-threatened Sheffield Wednesday, with the Yorkshire side claiming a surprise 2-0 win.

Norwich also suffered a shock, with struggling Brighton leaving Carrow Road with maximum points following Steven Sidwell’s winner.

Wolves missed the chance to put pressure on the play-off contenders as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Burnley. Gareth Taylor and Dean West put the Clarets two up before Paul Butler gave Wolves hope.

Sheffield United survived the second-half sending off of Jon Harley to beat Walsall 1-0 at the Bescot Stadium thanks to Michael Brown’s goal.

Goals from Mark Robins and Richard Barker earned Rotherham a 2-0 win at Preston while Grimsby pulled off a surprise 3-1 win at Derby. John Oster scored twice for the struggling Mariners with David Soames adding the third after Lee Morris had briefly levelled.

In an early kick-off at Selhurst Park Watford held Wimbledon to a dour goalless draw although there was more excitement in the 2-2 draw at the New Den.

Gillingham took an early lead when Mark Saunders netted but Robert Ryan’s first goal in 191 league games levelled for Millwall. Neil Harris put Millwall ahead but Marlon King stroked home a penalty to earn the visitors a point.

Bradford mounted a second-half fightback to clinch three valuable points in their battle against relegation with a 4-2 win over Stoke at Valley Parade.

Coventry claimed a fifth straight victory with a 2-0 triumph over Reading at Highfield Road, thanks to goals from Craig Hignett and Richie Partridge.