Steve Stone played within 24 hours of completing his free transfer from Aston Villa and said: "I wouldn't have left the Premiership for any other club."

Stone, who last started for Pompey during his loan spell six weeks ago, signed a two and half year contract just before Friday's registration deadline, writes SIMON WALTER.

A welcome Christmas present for Pompey fans, Stone was still not as well received as chairman Milan Mandaric's promise of a 35,000 all seater Fratton Park by 2007.

Replaced on 88 minutes by Kevin Harper, the 31-year-old Stone could not inspire Pompey to a win but said: "I enjoyed myself a lot last time and realised that Harry (Redknapp) had assembled a squad that can win promotion.

"I was desperate to come here when I knew that Harry wanted me, I wasn't at all tempted to stay at Villa.

"Coming here has given me the chance to play first team football. I've got four years left in me and I want to make the most of them."

Svetoslav Todorov gave Pompey a 19th minute lead from close range after Ipswich keeper Andy Marshall could only parry Matt Taylor's drive at the near post.

And Stone himself had a chance to double the home side's lead just before the break but his first time volley from Taylor's deep, hanging cross was well blocked by Marshall.

A 2-0 half-time lead would have been harsh on an Ipswich side who could have been ahead at the break.

"Ipswich had the better chances,"admitted Stone.

Pablo Counago missed the best of them.

He spooned the first over the bar from six yards and scuffed another wide from ten, while Richard Naylor grazed Shaka Hislop's bar with a snap shot from the edge of the area.

But Ipswich were rewarded eight minutes after the break, when Danish midfielder Thomas Gaardsoe's texbook downward header from former Saint Jim Magilton's corner beat Hislop.

Then the Tractor Boys found Hislop in inspired form.

Hislop was not needed when Counago made it a hat-trick of missed sitters midway through the second half, putting a cross from substitute Marcus Bent wide from six yards.

But two saves within a minute, at point-blank range from Bent and a low dive to deny a Hreidarsson header, helped Pompey win a point.

The home side's frustrations coninued though and Paul Merson showed obvious disappointment at his withdrawal, chucking his captain's armband on the turf after seeing his number go up.

"I thought we needed an extra body in midfield and Merse had to have injections in his ankle before the game and at half-time," said Redknapp on his decision to replace Merson with Gary O'Neil.

Pompey's dominance in the closing stages vindicated the substitution. Chris Makin was sent off after receiving a second booking for hauling down Mark Burchill, another Pompey sub, at the end of normal time.

And Burchill had an injury time header tipped behind by Marshall as the home side looked to finish off the visitors in front of a Pompey crowd of 19,130, Fratton Park's biggest of the season.

Redknapp added: "I'm not bothered about the gap between us and Leicester. What matters is that we're 12 points clear of third place at Christmas, I'd have settled for that at the beginning of the season."