Portsmouth 0 - 1 Middlesbrough

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Saturday Dec 29 2007 03:00

Sanli Tuncay continued Portsmouth's dismal home form as Gareth Southgate's side pulled off their first victory at Fratton Park for 17 years.

The Turkey international pounced on 20 minutes after David James had kept out a volley from former Pompey favourite Gary O'Neil on his return to the south coast.

Portsmouth have now gone 540 minutes without a goal at home and showed little to suggest this embarrassing statistic will be changed any time soon.

In a dull and dreary opening of little consequence with both teams appearing weary from the busy Christmas period, Niko Kranjcar struck the first shot on target as Lauren's deflected cross found the Croatian in space on the edge of the penalty area.

The tedium was showing few signs of lifting until Boro took the lead on 20 minutes after O'Neil's free-kick from the far touchline was only half-cleared.Stewart Downing popped up on the right-hand side of midfield to swing in a well-flighted centre for Lauren to get his bearings hopelessly wrong and O'Neil promptly volleyed towards goal.

James managed to get a hand to take the sting out of the shot, but Tuncay was free to tap into the unguarded net from close range for his fourth goal of the season.

With a virtually silent Fratton Park crowd doing little to spur their side on, Pompey attempted to hit back and went close through Papa Bouba Diop from long-range.

That was not without a further scare for the home side as Lauren was caught napping trying to play offside, allowing Downing to expose his lack of concentration.

The England winger progressed down the touchline and teed up Tuncay, but he mis-kicked and Dong-Gook Lee then further failed with a second attempt.

Minutes before the break and Pompey spurned a decent opportunity to draw level when Benjani Mwaruwari crossed back into a crowded penalty area only for Diop to arrive late and spoon over from just eight yards out.

The second half proved far more frenetic than the pedestrian nature of the first as O'Neil teed up Lee only for the Boro striker to have his first effort blocked on the line by Lauren and then saved on the second occasion by James.

Portsmouth tried as they might to carve an equaliser but it was a desperately off day for the home side as they resorted to throwing long balls into the area which were calmly dealt with by the rock-solid Jonathan Woodgate and Robert Huth.Nwankwo Kanu did strike a post from close range after a goalmouth scramble, but it was far more than Pompey deserved as it proved an extremely bad day at the office for Harry Redknapp's side.

Live Commentary

  • 94
    It's all over, and a deserved win for Southgate's men, with Portsmouth continuing to struggle at home.
  • 93
    Muntari's free kick is chipped to the edge of the box, before the ball is cleared back to him for him to fire wide in what could be his side's last attack.
  • 92
    Portsmouth are throwing everyone forward now, with Taylor leading the way before Young clears the danger.
  • 90
    This will be the first time that Middlesbrough have beaten Portsmouth in the Premier League, with four minutes being added on.
  • 90
    The Portsmouth fans are leaving now, with Middlesbrough in possesion.
  • 87
    Portsmouth free kick from 20 yards out is smashed into the wall after a strike from Kranjcar and sums up the home side's afternoon.
  • 86
    The impressive and hard working O'Neil is replaced by Adam Johnson.
  • 85
    Young is booked for a foul on Kanu, despite his protests.
  • 83
    Portsmouth free kick from the left hand side, is collected easily by the Middlesbrough keeper.
  • 81
    Into the last ten minutes now and nothing new to report, Schwarzer is still yet to be truly tested by Pompey.
  • 80
    Tuncay plays a great ball into the substitute Hutchinson, but as the attack builds, the linesman raises his flag for offside.
  • 78
    Middlesbrough have only won once in their last eight away games, this would be a priceless three points for Southgate.
  • 77
    Luke Young makes a superb challenge on Nugent to prevent the substitute making an impact for the home side.
  • 75
    Dong-Gook Lee is replaced by Ben Hutchinson. The striker has played well today and deserves the applause.
  • 74
    Middlesbrough appear to have weathered the storm, the crowd are quiet again.
  • 71
    Sulley Muntari replaces Hughes for Portsmouth in their final change of the game.
  • 71
    Great defending from Woodgate, clears the ball away after a cross from Taylor.
  • 69
    It's a booking for Woodgate.
  • 69
    The more lively the game becomes, the more it suits Portsmouth. Middlesbrough will be happy for the game to peter out into a victory.
  • 67
    The game has suddenly burst into life, a chance for both sides in a frantic couple of minutes.
  • 66
    Great chance for the away side straight away, James spilt the ball and Lee nearly found the back of the net.
  • 66
    The resulting free kick from Taylor, is met by Kanu who strikes the post with a close range effort - great chance.
  • 65
    Nugent's first involvement is to slip over while in possession, and win a free kick in a good position for his side.
  • 63
    Things certainly haven't worked that well for Nugent since joining Portsmouth, today would be a good day to grab himself a goal - his side need it.
  • 62
    Here is that substitution, David Nugent replaces Utaka.
  • 61
    Looks like Redknapp could be making a change soon, there is plenty of movement coming from the home bench.
  • 59
    Dong-Gook Lee strikes the ball from 25 yards out, but his effort goes just wide. The striker is having one of his best games for Middlesbrough, it must be said.
  • 58
    Benjani is robbed of the ball by Huth, great defensive work from the German. Middlesbrough are working so, so hard to hold onto their lead.
  • 56
    Frustration grows around Fratton Park as yet another attack doesn't result in a chance.
  • 54
    Tuncay has a great chance as the away side hit Pompey on the counter attack, his lobbed shot is too heavy thoough and goes over the bar.
  • 53
    Portsmouth free kick is taken by Niko Kranjcar and deflected behind for a corner, which is headed away by Downing.
  • 50
    It's 500 minutes and counting as we await a Portsmouth goal, the second half has started quietly for both sides.
  • 49
    Downing plays the ball over the top for Lee, who is prevented from having a clear run on goal by Taylor. Fantastic ball from Downing there.
  • 47
    Lee wins the ball ahead of Campbell, before setting Downing away but Richard Hughes makes a crucial challenge to clear the danger.
  • 46
    Matthew Taylor has replaced Hermann Hreidarsson at the break for Portsmouth.
  • 45
    Second half is underway, can Middlesbrough hold on for a priceless victory or can Portsmouth record an overdue home win?
  • 45
    Half time at Fratton Park, with Middlesbrough deservedly leading by one goal to nil.
  • 45
    Bouba Diop strikes over the bar from close range, surely the last chance of the half.
  • 45
    Two minutes remaining in the first half, as signalled by the fourth official.
  • 43
    Hermann Hreidarsson's shot is deflected behind for a Portsmouth corner, which is headed behind by Kranjcar for a goal kick.
  • 42
    Middlesbrough are rather prone to conceding just before half time, they will be looking to avoid such an occuring today.
  • 40
    Downing threatens down the left again, his attempted cross is blocked by England team mate Sol Campbell.
  • 39
    The home crowd are getting louder, they now realise they are needed by their players. They need encouraging.
  • 37
    Utaka's free kick from 20 yards is fired straight into the wall, another wasted chance for the home side.
  • 36
    O'Neil is booked for not staying ten yards away for a Portsmouth free kick.
  • 35
    Ten minutes to go in the first half and Southgate will be extremely happy, they must go in ahead at the break.
  • 34
    Free kick in a dangerous position for Middlesbrough is taken by O'Neil, who strikes the ball over the wall and subsequently over the bar, if anything it was too close to the goal.
  • 33
    Huth and Jonathan Woodgate have been very solid at the back so far, they have a good understading.
  • 31
    Another wasted shot from Bouba Diop, his strike fails to find the target from 30 yards - much to the frustration of his manager.
  • 29
    There is still a long way to go but Harry Redknapp must be concerned about his side's inability to score at home. They need today to be the day they score otherwise it's a defeat.
  • 28
    Quickly taken free kick from Pompey finds Papa Bouba Diop, who strikes the ball wide of the post. They are yet to significantly test Mark Schwarzer.
  • 27
    Middlesbrough are on course to become only the second team to win at Fratton Park this season, only Tottenham have left the South Coast with all three points.
  • 25
    Great play from Downing again, his ball into the box finds Lee who is only prevented from firing home a second by Sylvain Distin.
  • 24
    Downing takes on Lauren and beats him for pace, before the former Arsenal man recovers to concede a throw in. It's going to be a tough afternoon for Lauren.
  • 22
    Utaka is brought down by Pogatetz, but the referee waves away protests. Utaka made the most of that.
  • 21
    Fully deserved opener for Middlesbrough, they have been by far the better side in the opening 20 minutes.
  • 19
    Goal for the away side, Tuncay scores after a great ball from Stuart Downing.
  • 18
    O'Neil wastes the free kick, he couldn't even beat the first man - wasted opportunity.
  • 18
    Tuncay avades two challenges, after being put through by Lee before being brought down for a free kick.
  • 16
    Benjani claims his shot took a deflection off a Middlesbrough player, but the referee signals a goal kick.
  • 16
    Gareth Southgate will be happy enough with his team's start, they have had plenty of the ball and the home crowd are fairly quiet.
  • 15
    Good work from Luke Young and O'Neil on the right hand side, results in a chance for Dong-Gook Lee who has his shot blocked.
  • 13
    Robert Huth knocks the ball forward for the away side, the right idea from the German but his pass is overhit and the attack breaks down.
  • 12
    No clear cut chances so far for either side, it's been a long time since Portsmouth scored a goal here - 450 minutes of football to be precise.
  • 10
    O'Neil certainly seems committed to the cause, the former Pompey man is working very hard in the middle of the park today.
  • 9
    First meaningful attack from the away side results in a corner taken by O'Neil before Nwankwo Kanu clears the ball away.
  • 6
    John Utaka makes his way into the penalty area, before his blocked shot falls to Niko Kranjcar who sees his effort saved by Mark Schwarzer. Good pressure from Pompey.
  • 5
    A warm reception for Gary O'Neil today, who lines up for Middlesbrough against his former side.
  • 4
    Julio Arca gives the ball away cheaply to Benjani Mwaruwari, but good defending from Emanuel Pogatetz stops any danger for Middlesbrough.
  • 2
    Early shot from Sanli Tuncay, who turns well before putting the ball wide of David James' post.
  • 1
    A 0-0 draw must be the most likely result today, five of the last seven games at Fratton Park have ended without a goal being scored.
  • 0
    Underway at Fratton Park, with Portsmouth searching for their third home win of the season against a Middlesbrough side who have only won once on the road in eight games.

Statistics

Portsmouth
Shots on target 9
Shots off target 8
Shots off bar/post 1
Fouls 10
Offsides 1
Corners 4

Middlesbrough
Shots on target 7
Shots off target 6
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 17
Offsides 5
Corners 4

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