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Substitute Clint Dempsey scored a late equaliser as Fulham grabbed a point with a 1-1 draw against managerless Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

Portsmouth were making light of Harry Redknapp's sudden defection to Tottenham after dominating most of the match.

Peter Crouch finally put them ahead with a second-half goal as assistant managers Tony Adams and Joe Jordan took the reigns in the dugout following Redknapp's move to White Hart Lane late last night.

But Dempsey made the home side pay for not adding a second goal as he struck three minutes from time to score his side's second goal in six matches.

Portsmouth had the better chances in the opening half-hour, with Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe combining well before each player scuffed efforts from just inside the box a few yards wide.

Crouch had an even better chance to open the scoring on 26 minutes when he slid in at the near post to meet Armand Traore's cross from the left, but the lanky striker didn't get good contact and Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer was able to claim.

Nadir Belhadj had a golden chance to open the scoring when he beat five men in an incredible run from just inside the Fulham half, but face-to-face with Schwarzer with the hard work done, he then stabbed his effort straight at the keeper.

Fulham had the ball in the back of the net just before the break, but an eagle-eyed linesman spotted Zoltan Gera was offside when he headed across the area for Andy Johnson to nod in.

Pompey continued to have most of the possession and all of the chances after the break, with Defoe dropping deep before unleashing fierce drives to test Schwarzer.

And just after the hour, after two attempts saved by the Aussie keeper, Defoe opted to lay the ball off to Crouch to his right, and the England man sidefooted into the corner to break the deadlock.

The home side continued to threaten with pacey breaks from midfield, and Defoe might have done better than firing wide from a tight angle after Armand Traore had lead a counter before feeding him on the left.

Fulham finally began to put some pressure on the home goal in the final ten minutes, Bobby Zamora striking a fine volleyed effort straight at David James after keeping his eye on a lofted ball over the top.

The home side also needed a crucial interception from the excellent Sylvain Distin to prevent a cross from the left reaching the waiting Johnson on 85 minutes.

And Dempsey then got the leveller with three minutes remaining when he superbly steered home fellow substitute Erik Nevland's cross after being picked out unmarked in the penalty box.

Alex Sharratt / Eurosport