Portsmouth 0-0 Middlesbrough

2Slick

Middlesbrough came away from Fratton Park with the point they needed to move into the top half of the table after an uninspiring encounter in Portsmouth.

Despite a decent tempo in an end-to-end match on the south coast, clear-cut chances were few and far between.

Yakubu twice strode clear for Boro's best openings, only to be denied by Sol Campbell and Linvoy Primus tackles.

Primus had the hosts' best chances but twice missed the target, while Lomana LuaLua curled inches wide late on.

Interview: Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate
Interview: Portsmouth assistant boss Joe Jordan

With Portsmouth entering the game hoping to move into fifth spot and Boro looking to earn a fourth consecutive league victory, a lively clash was fully expected.

However, in contrast, the virtual dominance of both sides' defences was in evidence right from the first whistle.

With both teams boasting rejuvenated centre-halves in Campbell and Jonathan Woodgate, clear-cut chances were in short supply and, in truth, a point apiece was the right result.

In a strangely subdued atmosphere, Primus twice came close to opening the scoring in the first half, firing a dipping half-volley narrowly over the bar, and then heading inches wide and into the side-netting from Matthew Taylor's corner.

Kanu also caused the odd problem for the hosts, most significantly when he sliced wide of the far post from right on the touchline with Brad Jones beaten, while Pedro Mendes's shoot-on-sight policy twice brought comfortable saves from the Boro keeper.

606 DEBATE: Your views on the match

For their part Middlesbrough, inspired by the effervescent Stewart Downing, came closest when Yakubu twice broke clear of the Pompey defence, only to be denied by Sol Campbell's diving tackle and then Linvoy Primus' block.

James Morrison also went close with a 20-yarder in the first half but, as the game went on, the visitors were increasingly put on the back foot by Pompey's probing attacks.

The introduction of Rudolph Douala - for the injured Djimi Traore - and Lomana LuaLua's first appearance for eight matches further invigorated the home attacks.

Full of pace and tricks, the pair ensured Boro's defence were kept full on their toes and LuaLua so nearly broke the deadlock when he cut in from the left and curled narrowly wide on 80 minutes.

Yakubu, Malcolm Christie and Stewart Downing reminded Pompey not to get too comfortable late on when they forced David James to save smartly with neat long-range drives.

But the game drifted to a stalemate that neither side appeared too unhappy with, as Middlesbrough earned their first-ever Premiership point at Fratton Park.

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Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp:
"It's amazing when you get up there in the table and expectations rise. Perhaps clubs come to Fratton Park and treat us with a bit more respect as well, who knows.

"Boro came down here and made it hard for us. There are no easy games anymore.

"Given the players both sides have in defence - top top players - maybe the way today's game panned out is no surprise."

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Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate:
"I'm happy to finally get a point at Portsmouth - I'm sure supporters have been shoving that down our throats for a while!

"We looked very resilient, played good football, and created a couple of half chances too. We fully deserved a point.

"I must pay credit to the players this year. We are a squad with great ability and belief and we have to keep grinding it out."

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Primus, Campbell, Traore (Douala 69), O'Neil, Lauren, Pedro Mendes, Taylor, Mwaruwari (LuaLua 73), Kanu (Cole 81).
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Hughes.

Middlesbrough: Jones, Xavier, Woodgate, Pogatetz, Taylor, Morrison (Christie 81), Boateng, Cattermole, Arca, Downing, Yakubu (Euell 90).
Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Rochemback, Davies.

Booked: Downing.

Att: 19,820

Ref: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).