Defoe strike denies Pompey vital win

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David Nugent had given Pompey the lead just before the hour but in a clash where the focus has been on people facing their former club, it was almost inevitable that Defoe would strike.

However, Spurs' problems appear to be mounting with Roman Pavlyuchenko and Ledley King injured in the first half.

Redknapp left Pompey 84 days ago and Spurs headed into the match exactly where he found them - rock bottom.

Spurs also knew that victory would take them 12th, such is the tightness of the league this season - but in the end the point earned by Defoe lifted them out of the relegation zone.

Defoe and Redknapp were booed by the away fans while Pompey skipper Sol Campbell was jeered with his every touch from the Spurs fans who have never forgiven him for joining rivals Arsenal in 2001.

There was no repeat, however, of the chant that led to accusations of racism and homophobia as some Spurs fans hummed the tune but omitted the words.

Pompey went ahead seconds after David James had superbly kept out Aaron Lennon's deflected shot. They broke upfield and the ball eventually found Nugent, whose first-time shot deflected off Gareth Bale and found the bottom corner for his first goal in over a year and first in the Premier League.

Defoe's moment came with 20 minutes left. Didier Zokora had exchanged passes with Luka Modric and the ball was shifted to Defoe, whose angled drive went through Campbell's legs and past James.

Darren Bent should have won it for Spurs 10 minutes from time when David Bentley found him unmarked - but his header went horribly wide from four yards.