PORTSMOUTH kicked off toward the Norwich and Peterborough stand but it was the Canaries who gained possession immediately and launched an attack that set the tone for an opening 20 minute siege on the visitors goal.
Paul McVeigh cleverly won a corner off the defender, which was taken short to Gary Holt. His cross was in vain as the offside flag went up.
A minute later the Pompey defence kept out three shots on target, the last of which was at the expense of a corner, which yet again they kept out this time thanks to goal line clearance from Scott Hiley.
The next City attack saw Iwan Roberts plant a firm header goalwards, which the Veteran 'keeper Dave Beasant did well to hold low to his left. This was immediately followed by another break by City which saw the first of three penalty appeals of the game.
Gary Holt took the ball from defence and over the half-way line to Marc Libbra. He charged into the box, round two players but fell from the challenge from the last defender. The Referee suggested the Frenchman dived.
Portsmouth had their first attempt on goal after 9 minutes but the final ball was too strong for any of their strikers.
City then continued to the look for the opening goal with a series of swift counter attacking moves, with efforts from Marc Libbra, Mark Rivers, Gary Holt and Rivers again on 21 minutes.
It began with another excellent cross from McVeigh caused their right-back real
problems all night. It proved to be the best chance Norwich had all game, but Rivers, arriving at speed in the box put his shot over from 3 yards with just Beasant to beat.
After this the game became more evenly contested, but for all their extra possession the visitors still didnt trouble Robert Green in the City goal. On 40 minutes Hiley brought down Libbra but again the referee declared it wasn't a penalty, by suggesting he had dived!
HALF TIME: Norwich City 0 Portsmouth 0
Linvoy Primus nearly gifted City a dream start to the second half, when he headed the ball out of Beasant's grasp. But despite Rivers lofting the ball back into the penalty area they failed to capitalise.
Libbra had the crowd on their feet again on 52 minutes when with his back to goal and receiving the ball in the middle of Pompey's half, he set off goalwards. He evaded the challenges of two defenders before unleashing a shot from 30 yards that went agonishingly wide of the left hand upright.
Pompey caused a rare moment of indecision in the home defence with a Lee Bradbury cross. Craig Fleming just managed to head it over his own bar.
On 66 minutes saw Roberts take the ball wide on the left but his cross was cleared, but only as far as the lurking Steen Nedergaard. His right foot shot flew just wide of the right post.
Roberts was again invloved in the next meaningful home attack. He held the ball up on the half-way line with some excellent control that set up Libbra for another charge towards goal. Yet again he fell in the box and despite overwhelming appeals the referee waived play on.
With just 11 minutes remaining Bradbury wasted one of their better chances of the game by blasting over from the edge of the box. The action moved to the Pompey defence as Phil Mulryne's corner was flicked on low by Roberts, although Malky Mackay could only shoot over.
In the three minutes of extra time City had their loudest penalty appeal of the game turned down. McVeigh cut in from the right and despite being felled by Hiley, clearly in the area, the referee still wasn't convinced.
FULL TIME : Norwich City 0 Portsmouth 0
