Hull City came from behind twice to earn a dramatic 2-2 draw with Portsmouth at Fratton Park, where Noe Pamarot scored a late own goal. Pompey were left to rue some missed chances to bury the battling Tigers and how they could have done with top-scorer Jermain Defoe, who was ruled out by the calf injury sustained playing for England in Germany on Wednesday.
Strike partner Peter Crouch, required to play just 28 seconds for his country in Berlin, headed Pompey in front in the 21st minute after they dominated matters with a flying start.
Michael Turner nodded a far-post equaliser nine minutes after half-time before right-back Glen Johnson restored Pompey's lead with a 25-yard stunner.
But Noe Pamarot - under pressure from 39-year-old Dean Windass - headed in an 89th-minute own goal to earn Hull a point.
Seeing Defoe limp on to the field before the start to collect a player of the month award was not a welcome sight for the home fans who were aware that only Crouch and Nadir Belhadj - with a solitary strike at Sunderland two weeks ago - were the only fit Pompey players to have scored in the previous 12 games.
In only the second minute England right-back Johnson crossed from the right and Papa Bouba Diop - who has yet to score for Portsmouth - soared above the Hull defenders but saw his fierce header hit the underside of the bar.
The ball bounced down, desperately close to crossing the line, and Pompey's appeals to referee Stuart Attwell, at 25 the youngest in the Premier League, appeared to be correctly waved away.
A fine pass by Sean Davis gave Diop another shooting chance and the powerful Senegal midfielder struck a perfect drive which goalkeeper Boaz Myhill tipped away for a corner.
However, for all their early promise Pompey were fortunate to survive a Hull breakaway in the 14th minute when Marlon King's through-ball caught Daniel Cousin just offside.
Pompey got their reward, though, in the 21st minute when Crouch's close-range header went in off a defender after Kaboul provided a perfect cross for the 6ft 7in centre forward.
The hosts could have doubled their advantage soon after when the luckless Diop screwed his shot wide when it seemed easier to score, after Crouch had headed back John Utaka's cross.
The visitors were bright and ambitious in their build-up, gradually quelling Pompey's early fire.
They should have been at least level by the interval after King twice spurned clear chances set up by Geovanni and Cousin, before Geovanni unleashed a 30-yard curler which crashed off the angle of post and bar - with David James rooted to his line.
However, the visitors were level in the 54th minute when Dean Marney's corner was headed further across goal by defender Kamil Zayatte for Turner to head his third set-piece goal of the campaign at the far post.
Marney's shot was well saved by James as Phil Brown's troops sought another unexpected success on the road.
But three minutes after the equaliser, Adams made the positive double-change which refreshed Pompey - and it took just six minutes to pay off.
Misfit £6million striker David Nugent went on for his first appearance of the season having recovered from a second hernia operation, while Armand Traore replaced the impressive Nadir Belhadj.
But it was Johnson who had the hosts back in front with a stunning drive that flew past the startled Myhill from all of 25 yards - completing a wonder week for the England defender who was on top of his game in Berlin against Germany and again here.
However, Pamarot's own goal silenced the Fratton Park faithful and earned the top flight newcomers a point.
