Portsmouth 2, Leeds 2

The lights went out but Leeds United stayed swit-ched on to take a point after twice falling behind at Fratton Park.

The appropriately-named Sanchez Watt was the ideal character to have in the Leeds side but Luciano Becchio and Davide Somma were the men who scored for Simon Grayson’s side, Somma pouncing with his first touch after leaving the bench.

The referee twice ordered stoppages in play after three local power cuts and there were fears that the game wouldn’t be completed.

After their exertions against Arsenal three days earlier, a draw at Pompey was no mean feat by Leeds, who looked jaded in the first half but stuck to their task and held on to fifth place in the Championship table.

Grayson said: “In the first half we didn’t get going but in the second I thought we were the team that looked more likely to win it.

“We took a while to get going. I didn’t want the players to have any excuses after playing Arsenal in midweek but in the first half we just didn’t get anywhere near Portsmouth in terms of closing them down and we didn’t pass the ball well enough.

“We started the second half brightly and, although we made a bad mistake for their second goal when we were on top, we bonded well and got a second.

“Luciano was in the right place at the right time for his goal after good movement and Davide came on and immediately showed what he is about by scoring our second.

“It was unfortunate when the lights went out because we were in the ascendancy and it’s hard to keep the momentum going when the game is stop-start, but we kept our concentration and I was happy with the result.”

Portsmouth were able to name only five substitutes because of injuries, suspensions and contractual problems but Greg Halford headed against the Leeds bar and David Nugent wasted two opportunities before Joel Ward gave Pompey a 26th minute lead from the edge of the area after a strong run by Liam Lawrence.

Kasper Schmeichel pulled off an excellent save from John Utaka as Portsmouth dominated the first half.

United were level less than two minutes after the interval. Robert Snodgrass took a free-kick, Howson picked out Becchio from the bye-line and the recalled striker tapped in his 14th goal of the season.

Portsmouth regained the lead, Utaka running on to Nugent’s through ball and nipping between two defenders before side-footing past Schmeichel in the latest example of poor Leeds marking.

However, Grayson made an inspired substitution, Somma replacing Watt and immediately taking Becchio’s pass to send a clinical shot into the bottom corner for his ninth goal of the campaign.

The first stoppage of the match for floodlight failure lasted five minutes and when play resumed, Snod-grass and Becchio carved out another chance for Howson, whose low shot was tipped behind by keeper Jamie Ashdown.

The lights went out again with three minutes left but a problem described in a public address announcement as “an external power problem” merely caused a temporary stoppage and to everyone’s relief the game ran its course.

Having been knocked out of the FA Cup by Arsenal last Wednesday night, United have no game until their short trip to Hull City on Tuesday, February 1.

The break is welcomed by Grayson who is looking to strengthen his squad before the January transfer window closes.

He said: “We have a ten-day breather to get the players rested physically and mentally, though we have a game between closed doors on Tuesday for a few of the lads who need one.

"I have a clear week to try and strengthen the squad in time for the Hull game.”

Andy O’Brien missed the Portsmouth visit with a hamstring injury and Grayson hopes the central defender will recover in time to face the Tigers.