Palace Extend Unbeaten Run

Crystal Palace extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to eight matches after being held to a goalless draw by Portsmouth at Selhurst Park.The result left Portsmouth still looking for their first away victory in the npower Championship this season and they shaded a game of few chances.Portsmouth defender Ricardo Rocha did well to block a shot from Nathaniel Clyne before the visitors took control and Jason Pearce hit the crossbar with a header.Neither side took control at the start of the second half but Portsmouth had a half-chance when Joel Ward mis-hit a cross which Speroni had to claw away and Palace cleared away the resulting corner.Liam Lawrence saw a free-kick deflected just over before Luke Varney got away down the right and Speroni came rushing off his line but the Pompey frontman failed to get the lift on his shot with the goal gaping.An evening of frustration got worse for Lawrence when he hobbled off late on to be replaced by Erik Huseklepp and Palace pushed forward winning a succession of corners. However they could not make the breakthrough and had to settle for a point and a sixth consecutive clean sheet.

Pompey move to strengthen weak squad

Portsmouth are on the verge of adding to their thin squad with the signing of Norwegian international winger Erik Huseklepp.Huseklepp, 26, is set to sign a three-and-a-half year deal at Fratton park in a deal that will cost the club an estimated £1.5 million.The player spent last season in the Italian Serie A with Bari, where he made 14 appearences, scoring two times in the process.The move will provide Pompey fans with more reason for optimism, with boss Steve Cotterill appearing to be backed by the new owners in spending money on the squad.
"All is not yet set but the clubs have agreed (a transfer) and I will make it over to England for a medical test within a short while," The winger told Bergens Tidende.
Speaking of his new club, Huseklepp added: "The club is in a rebuilding phase and that is something I want to be part of. In the long run the club wants to get back to the Premier League and that is of course exciting."