The South Coast derby got off to a stinging start when Brooker's volley forward smacked Diabate in the face and pole-axed him right by the centre spot.

The recalled midfielder was soon back in the action after treatment, but the incident was just what the crowd needed to come to life in the midday kick-off.

Brooker, making his first home start for a month, came close to repeating the last goal he scored at Portsmouth in August.

In the fifth minute the winger surged on to Zamora's layoff to hit a right-foot shot on the run from 20 yards into the top of the side netting.

Stone collected the first caution of the contest a minute later for a late tackle on Jones in front of the dugouts.

Roberts made a confident start, cleanly catching a corner from Taylor before launching the ball upfield.

There was a scare for the Seagulls shortly afterwards as Merson's quickly taken free kick released Todorov inside the area. He went sprawling as he tried to round Roberts, but ref Messias ruled there was nothing wrong with the keeper's challenge.

Todorov was perhaps a little fortunate in that case to escape without a booking for diving.

Albion put together a promising four man move from a throw-in gifted to them midway inside Portsmouth territory by Quashie's misplaced pass meant for Taylor.

Barrett was involved in the build up with Watson and Carpenter before Zamora set him up for a shot from 15 yards which was blocked by the sturdy Primus.

Albion put more pressure on the Pompey defence from their first corner, taken short by Carpenter to Brooker. Mayo's overhead kick from his cross had to be headed away by Tavlaridis.

Albion missed a great chance to go ahead in the 20th minute. Jones' speedily taken throw caught Portsmouth napping and found Brooker with freedom down the left.

He pulled the ball back for Zamora, whose right footer from close range went inches past the far post.

Brooker was proving a real irritation to Portsmouth in his roving role behind the strikers.

His clever back heel from Watson's pass created a shooting chance for Zamora which he uncharacteristically wasted with a wild effort high and wide.

Merson, like Brooker playing a free role for Pompey, found Oatway in close attention whenever he was in possession.

Albion were certainly carrying the game to the highflying visitors and they had a sell-out crowd right behind them.

Zamora picked out Jones with a square pass across the face of the area, but the Welshman sidefooted tamely straight at Hislop.

Although mainly on top so far, Albion received a warning just beyond the half hour that they could not afford any lapses in concentration.

Oatway lost out to Quashie and he advanced to try a shot from 25 yards just wide.

Portsmouth were awarded a corner, which suggested the diving Roberts had got a slight touch to Quashie's drive.

Tavlaridis had his name taken in the 33rd minute for a crude tackle on Barrett after his Arsenal colleague got the better of him on the right flank.

Portsmouth were forced into a substitution approaching the break, Harper replacing the injured Stone on the right flank.

Roberts continued to impress with his handling on the rare occasions he was called upon.

He made another clean catch at the near post from a cross by Primus, marauding up field on to Merson's pass.

Pethick, fresh from his first goal for Albion at Norwich, fancied another against his former club.

He went for goal from a free kick in a central position 35 yards out, but his effort lacked both power and direction.

Watson collected his seventh caution of the campaign just before half time for a foul on Taylor.

A quickly taken free kick by Brooker to Jones from midway inside the Albion half launched a rapid counter attack which again caught Portsmouth flat-footed.

It finished with Barrett crossing across the face of goal and away from any team-mates when Zamora had made his run to the near post.

Albion had Roberts to thank for remaining on terms in first half stoppage time following a rare mistake by Cullip.

The captain's mis-kick let in Todorov to set up Quashie for a shot from close range which Roberts, coming quickly off his line, smothered for a corner.

A goal for Portsmouth then would certainly have been against the run of play and the Albion players went off to an enthusiastic ovation from their fans.

Half-Time: Albion 0 Portsmouth 0
Portsmouth played with a bit more control in the early stages of the second half and the Seagulls were saved by the woodwork within five minutes of the restart.

Harper's pass infield found Quashie in space. The former Nottingham Forest midfielder's left footer from 25 yards struck the base of a post with Roberts beaten.

The slight concern for Albion was their failure to make their first half superiority count, but Zamora changed all that with a superbly taken goal on 54 minutes.

Portsmouth's inability to deal with a bouncing ball midway inside their own half enabled Brooker to lob Zamora into space through the inside right channel.

He cut inside, showing good strength to hold off challenges by both Tavlaridis and Primus, before planting a left foot shot past Hislop into the bottom corner.

It was Zamora at his best and it ended a famine for the talismanic marksman stretching back seven matches to the home game against Ipswich in December.

Portsmouth responded to their deficit by introducing new Nigerian signing Yakubu upfront for Pericard.

A right foot drive by Merson deflected narrowly wide off a team-mate on the hour mark as they searched for an equaliser.

At the other end Watson thought he had been shoved over by Tavlaridis from Barrett's back heel, but referee Messias rejected the fullback's penalty claim.

The influential Brooker almost doubled Albion's advantage on 63 minutes with a low right footer from outside the area which Hislop parried at full stretch.

Yakubu nearly levelled with his first meaningful contribution.

He got the better of Mayo and Cullip to hit a low shot from 10 yards which forced Roberts into a brilliant one-handed stop. The ball was still rolling slowly towards the net when Pethick completed the clearance at the expense of a corner.

It proved to be only a temporary reprieve for Albion as Portsmouth pulled level on 64 minutes.

Todorov, with his back to goal, turned away from Pethick from Quashie's pass to slot his second of the season against Albion past Roberts.

The visitors had been stung into life by falling behind and were suddenly looking much more dangerous.

Diabate headed wide an opportunity to put them in front from a cross by fellow African Yakubu in the 68th minute.

Portsmouth made a final change a minute later, Crowe coming on for Tavlaridis at the back.

Steve Coppell made two late changes bringing on defender Blackwell for Oatway and Paul Kitson in the closing stages for his first appearance since September at the expense of Barrett.