Utaka, signed for �7million from Rennes this summer, appeared to have grabbed the limelight with an 82nd-minute strike, only for free transfer capture Todd to clinch a deserved point for the Rams moments later.

The first shot of the game arrived in the second minute, albeit a very wayward rightfoot effort from 35 yards from Pedro Mendes. Less than two minutes later Pride Park became a cauldron of noise with Oakley rifling the Rams into the lead.

A long goal-kick from goalkeeper Stephen Bywater was flicked on by Steve Howard into the path of former Southampton midfielder Oakley to fire a 15-yard drive beyond David James.

Then out of the blue came a Portsmouth equaliser, simply finished by Benjani Mwaruwari when the Derby defence were left exposed in the 27th minute. New signings Muntari and Nugent played their part, combining to set up Mwaruwari who skipped past the challenge of Andy Griffin with a body swerve before passing the ball from 15 yards underneath Bywater.

While the two sides probed at one another for the remainder of the game it was not until the 82nd minute that the tie exploded with two goals in two minutes to leave each side with a share of the spoils.