The whistle is blown and this captivating clash is brought to an end after a day both sets of defenders here would rather forget.

SHOREY drills the ball into the back of the net from Long's cross and surely now the drama is over?

Michael Duberry is carded for unsporting behaviour late on but his team are already down and out.

MUNTARI sends the penalty high into the roof of the net to give Hahnemann no chance of saving it, there has now been 10 goals in this game!

Rosenior brings down Kranjcar in area and referee Halsey points to the spot for the second time.

Hunt sends his shot soaring towards goal but James gets his body in the way to deny.

Muntari whips in a cross which Hreidarsson meets with his head but sends the ball agonisngly wide from six yards.

David Nugent wants to get his 100th league goal this afternoon after replacing Benjani but his fierce effort is beaten away by Hahnemann.

Fae looks to get on the scoresheet this afternoon, drilling a shot at goal from 30 yards but misscues and sends his effort wide of the mark.

After setting up a goal, DAVIES gets one of his own, beating Hahnemann with a long range shot which should have been easy for the keeper to deal with.

Benjani makes way for David Nugent and receives standing ovation from the home support.

Just overa minute after making the changes, Fae crosses in for LONG to head home but surely Reading can't find the two goals they need to bring fings all square once more.

Gunnarsson makes way for Emerse Fae to complete Reading's double substitution.

Graeme Murty comes off for Shane Long as Steve Coppell looks to drag a goal back.

KRANJCAR gets a goal he has deserved through his contribution to the match this afternoon, heading in a Davies cross and now surely Pompey cannot be beat?

Shorey swings in a cross but yet again James is equal to it and puches clear the danger.

BENJANI gets his hat-trick, firing low down the middle of the goal after great work from Muntari found the striker unmarked in the box.

Matthew Taylor picks up a needless booking for having too much to say to the referee, who has kept his cards in his pocket this afternoon until now.

Shorey blasts his penalty low into the bottom corner but James pulls off a save of the highest quality to deny Reading a second equaliser!

Reading build a bit of momentum and as Diop sticks out an arm, Mark Halsey awards a penalty which Shorey walks up to take, what a game!

Despite conceding thrice in this match Reading's American stopper Hahnemann has been their saviour, it really could have been double that.

Kranjcar looks to get forward for the umpteenth time this afternoon and blasts a shot at goal but straight at Hahnemann who saves and holds once more.

Doyle seems to be pulling the strings out wide for the visitors at the minute and his cross finds Kitson's head but the latter sends the ball sailing over the bar!

HREIDARSSON heads home from six yards to give Portsmouth the lead after Distin's good work and pin-point cross, Pompey back on top in this enthralling encounter!

Utaka springs forward and hits a low, rasping shot which Ivar Ingimarsson throws his body in the way of to block.

Reading are right back in this match now with Doyle doing the honours out on the wing, sending in a looping cross which Disitin manages to clear.

KITSON brings the game level after good work from Hunt released his team mate and a rasping blistering shot from 20 yards was enough to unexpectedly bring the game square.

Almost immediately Benjani comes close to breaking through on goal but the flag has already been raised and the foward is deemed to be offside.

The second half is underway, can Portsmouth come out all guns blazing once more?

That goal was the last action of the first half and Portsmouth will be absolutely devistated that they are only a goal up after near total dominance in the first 45.

HUNT finds the back of the net after poor defending from Distin leaves the Reading man with a simple header from six yards.

Rosenior works room out on the left hand side of the box a weaves his way inside the area before sending in a shot which flies inches wide.

Utaka curls in a cross for Glenn Johnson who has had little to do in the first half and the wing backs volley is goalbound before Hahnemann pulls off a brilliant one handed save to deny Pompey their third.

Benjani look fired up for this game and is caught offside after making a run a moment too soon.

BENJANI gets his second of the afternoon after collecting a long ball from Diop and drilling a shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

Pompey pile on the pressure once more and surely it's only a matter of time before they get their second.

Shorey finds the ball at his feet for the first time in a while and sends in a delicious ball into the box but Hreidarsson is there to clear.

Diop attempts a trademark rasping shot from way out wich deceives Hahnemann who can only parry behind for a corner, a brilliant shot from 40 yards.

Reading continue to struggle in this match and are being pinned back in their own half through wave after wave of Portsmouth attacks.

Shorey has a chance to set up an attack with a direct free kick out wide but yet again the ball is poor and the Royal's squander another opportunity.

Once again the home side come forward, defender Sylvain Distin bending in a lovely ball fo Utaka who shapes himself for a volley but sends the ball clean over the crossbar from just inside the area.

It's all Portsmouth at the moment and it doesn't look like Reading will be able to find a way back into this match if they continue like this!

Kranjcar watches the ball onto his left foot but gets his shot all wrong, miss-hitting the ball and sending it wide of goal.

Liam Rosenior whips in a cross from a free kick and James comes rushing out to puch off the head of a charging Kevin Doyle.

The match has broken down somewhat in the last couple of minutes with neither side able to force an attack but at this it is Reading who need to work David Jame's in Portsmouth's goal who is making his 600th and 139th straight league appearance today

Diop races forward with the ball and whips in a cross for goalscorer Benjani who fires in another shot but this time Hahnemann deals well with the effort and holds on to deny the striker his second of the afternoon.

A moment of real drama as Niko Kranjcar swings in a cross which looks easy for Hahnemann to deal with but the American fumbles the ball to the feet of Diop who shoots but unbelievably puts his effort wide of the mark from six yards.

Brynjar Gunnarsson finds Nicky Shorey with a ball to feet and the winger feeds in a high ball twards th centre of the box but veteran defender Sol Campbell rises highest and clears the danger with his head.

Stephen Hunt receives the ball out wide and brings the ball forward, he looks up and plays in a cross which fails to find a team mate.

BENJANI slots home from six yards after Utaka's pin-point ball into the box and the home fans are sent into raptures early on in this match!

John Utaka finds Sulley Muntari with the resulting free kick and the midfielder has a pop from distance but once again Hahnemann sees the ball wide.

Michael Duberry brings down Benjani Mwaruwari and referee Halsey blows up for a free kick.

Dave Kitson works himself some space on the left hand side of the area before unleashing a shot at the top corner but his aim is all wrong and the ball sails over the bar.

The match has begun slowly and apart from Bouba Diop's shot in the early stages, most of this game has been bogged down in the centre of the park.

Papa Bouba Diop tries a shot from 12 yards out but Marcus Hahnemann positions himself well and holds on to save the opening effort of the match.

Mark Halsey checks his watch and gets the match underway here at Fratton Park.

Reading XI: Hahnemann, Murty, Duberry, Ingimarsson, Rosenior, Shorey, Gunnarsson, Harper, Hunt, Doyle, Kitson.

Portsmouth XI: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Davis, Utaka, Bouba Diop, Muntari, Kranjcar, Benjani.

This afternoon's referee is Mark Halsey; the Lancashire official hs handed out one red and 18 yellow's in five matches so far this season.

Reading also have injury worries with Bobby Convey, Glenn Little, John Oster and Ibrahim Sonko all missing.

Portsmouth are sweating over the fitness over top goalscorer Nwnankwo Kanu and the hosts are yet to chalk up back to back league victories in 25 attempts.