Crouch collects the ball off Defoe, but his volley goes way over the bar. That is just about that for this game.

Given will not be beaten today. This time he makes an excellent save from Davis' curling shot.

Defoe gets behind the Newcastle defence, but Enrique covers well and nothing comes from the attack.

Newcastle are just happy to keep hold of the ball at this stage, because Portsmouth are not looking like getting back into the game.

Davis tries to make something happen for his side, but after a brisk run forward, his shot is deflected into the arms of Given.

Neither of Portsmouth's strikers have been at their best today and this has resulted in a very frustrating performance from the home side.

Corner for the away side is taken short before Campbell heads away N'Zogbia's eventual cross.

Enrique does well to keep track of Defoe as the striker looks to get through on goal and eventually clears the ball away.

Should things remain as they are, it will be the third time that Portsmouth have lost at home this season.

It is difficult to see Portsmouth getting back into this as Kanu fires miles over from distance.

Prior to this game, it has been 11 matches away from home that Newcastle have gone without a win. Can they hold on?

Distin's long ball forward into the path of Defoe is slightly too heavy for the striker and goes through to Given.

Another Portsmouth corner is taken by Kranjcar is awful and easily collected by Given. That is so frustrating for the home side.

The second corner in quick succession is headed away by Bassong as time starts to run out for Portsmouth.

Corner for the home side is whipped in by Kranjcar before the ball falls to Pamarot who has his shot deflected wide.

The game is becoming streched - Newcastle go straight down the other end, only for Martins' long range effort to go comfortably over.

Crouch almosts gets a clear run on goal, but the ball bouces of his knee and gets away from him.

Portsmouth corner taken by Kranjcar is wasted as Given collects the ball with relative ease.

At this stage of the season, Newcastle are six points down on what they were last season, so three points today would be a real boost.

Kranjcar has been very sloppy today. This time he gives the ball away just as Portsmouth were looking promising going forward.

Butt collects the ball on the edge of the Portsmouth penalty area, but instead of shooting he opts to play the ball through to an offside Owen.

Martins shows some purpose as he pushes forward for the away side, but he eventually loses the ball to Belhadj before he can create anything.

The game has gone rather quiet now and this will suit Newcastle a great deal. It is up to Portsmouth to chase the game.

This will be a very important win for Newcastle if they can hold on. There is still plenty of time for the home side to get back into it though.

Portsmouth go straight down the other end, only for Defoe to shoot wide from close range. It really isn't his day so far.

Guthrie's corner looks destined for the head of Coloccini, but Distin is the man for Portsmouth again as he heads the ball away.

Tony Adams may well consider making a change soon. He has Nwankwo Kanu or David Nugent to call on if needed.

Martins finds space this time as Newcastle push forward, but Distin does well to prevent the striker getting a shot away.

Kranjcar's corner finds the head of Pamarot and proceeds to go just over the bar. He attacked the ball well there, but should have hit the target.

Defoe gets ready to fire a shot towards goal from distance, but before he can shoot - Beye takes the ball away from him.

That really was a superb finish from Owen and it has to be said that he is starting to look back to his best in front of goal.

Overall, it wouldn't be much of a suprise if this game ended in a draw. Newcastle have drawn their last four Premier League matches.

Defoe is busy at the start of this half, this time though his short pass towards Kranjcar is poor and the move breaks down. Surely he should have taken a shot instead?

Defoe threads the ball through to Crouch, but he can't quite get a shot on goal and under pressure from Beye he loses possession.

Campbell sends Defoe away for Portsmouth, but not for the first time today - Coloccini wins the ball off the striker to end the attack.

There are no changes for either side at the break as both managers keep faith in the players that created so many chances in the first half.

Scramble in the Portsmouth penalty area results in James claiming the ball after Distin nearly turned to ball into this own net.

Bassong does well to cushion a header back to his keeper after a hopeful ball forward from James.

Defoe hits a first time shot wide of the target after latching onto a typical Crouch knock down. Decent effort.

N'Zogbia whips a cross into the danger area, but James manages to punch the ball away under pressure from Owen.

As we approach half time, it is hard to say which team will be the happier. Probably Newcastle, simply because they are away from home.

Butt chips the ball towards Owen, but just as the striker was about to take the ball down and shot - Campbell intercepts and clears the danger.

Enrique moves into the penalty area after beating two defenders before forcing a good save from James with a powerful shot.

Portsmouth shouldn't be too worried if they don't score in the first half as 14 of their 19 league goals have come in the second period.

Martins gives chase after a long ball forward from the back, but Distin uses his pace to get their first and clear the ball away.

Richard Hughes makes a rare run forward from the back before firing a low shot comfortably wide of Given's goal.

Defoe goes down under the challenge of Sebastien Bassong in the area, but appeals for a penalty are turned down by the referee.

Kranjcar finds Davis in some space on the edge of the penalty area, but the midfielder's touch lets him down at the crucial moment and he loses the ball.

Kranjcar gets the ball after good work from Noe Pamarot before forcing a fantastic save from Given.

Charles N'Zogbia's cross is just about dealt with by Sol Campbell, but it does result in a corner for Newcastle which is collected well by James.

Defoe looks to take on Fabricio Coloccini, but the Argentinian comes out on top after the striker failed to get past him. Solid defending.

Excellent move for Portsmouth involving Distin and Crouch ends when Defoe's powerful volley goes just over the bar.

Portsmouth knock the ball long aiming for Defoe, but Gutierrez gets their first and shows good composure to play the ball back to Given.

The Portsmouth fans are appealing for a penalty after the ball appeared to come of Butt's hand - but a free kick is awarded to Newcastle for a push instead.

Both teams believe they can win this game and are desperate to get themselves in front. For now though, it remains all square.

This is Newcastle's best spell of the game. From a corner, Martins header forces Distin to chest the ball down on the line and hit the ball away.

Martins' shot smashes the post after the striker turned and shot from distance - what a strike that was!

After a quiet start, the game is really starting now - both teams are pushing forward and the first goal should be just around the corner.

Newcastle free kick is curled into the penalty area onto the head of Habib Beye, only for the defender to head just wide. That should have been the first goal.

Portsmouth will be confident of at least avoiding defeat today - they have never lost at home to Newcastle in the Premier League.

Portsmouth are on top now. This time Defoe forces a solid save from Given before Butt eventually hooks the ball away.

Shay Given comes running out of his penalty area, but Defoe beats him to the ball and nearly manages to lob the Newcastle keeper, but it goes just wide.

Danny Guthrie bursts forward with purpose for Newcastle before Davis brings the attack to a close with an excellent sliding challenge.

Defoe tries his luck from distance this time, but his shot from the edge of the are goes comfortably wide of the goal.

Belhadj gets another opportunity to get a decent ball into the box, but once again it overhit and goes out for a goal kick. Very frustrating.

First real chance of the game sees Owen tap the ball just wide from a tight angle after Martins' cross. The England striker seems sharp today though.

A neat passing move from the home side ends when Davis' long ball over the top for Defoe is way too heavy.

Jonas Gutierrez picks up the ball in some space on the right hand side, but Sylvain Distin manages to get in a solid challenge to end any chance of a shot on goal.

Belhadjl latches onto a Crouch knock down before curling an early cross that just avades the waiting Defoe.

Should Newcastle manage to record a victory today, it will be the first time they have won at Portsmouth in the top flight for 49 years.

Jose Sanchez Enrique tries to thread the ball through to Obafemi Martins, but David James gets their first and ends the attack.

Portsmouth have started at a very high tempo in the opening few minutes and Newcastle have hardly touched the ball so far.

First attempt on goal sees Niko Kranjcar fire miles over from distance - it can only get better for him!

Peter Crouch rises above all the Newcastle defenders to win a throw in for his team - they will have to be on top of their game to deal with him today.

Nadir Belhadj makes an early run down the left hand side, but after he found Sean Davis, Portsmouth lost the ball to Michael Owen who cleared the danger.

There isn't normally too much between these teams - they have drawn five of their ten meetings in the Premier League.