Another late goal sinks Boro at Fratton Park
By Shaun • Sep 13th, 2008 • Category: Match NewsIt is becoming a worrying trend for Middlesbrough this season, a goal conceded in the dying minutes of a Premier League game. Two nil up at home to Tottenham and Robert Huth glances a free kick into his own net 3 minutes into added on time. One nil up at Anfield with 5 minutes to go and we concede two goals, one deep into added on time.
Today with five minutes to go England striker Jermaine Defoe grabbed his second goal of the game to take all three points for Portsmouth.
If truth be told I had expected this game to be a tough one and I predicted a 1-1 draw, I believe we did enough to earn the draw but once Portsmouth got the equaliser there was only going to be one winner and we allowed them to come onto us and paid the price.
Mido scores the opening goal
Middlesbrough started the game missing three players who had started the previous Premier League encounter. Tuncay and Shawky picked up injuries on international duty and David Wheater was on the bench following a bout of tonsilitis.
Boro started the game well with Didier Digard, making his first Premier League start, imposing himself and creating an early chance. A right wing cross from the Frenchman beat the Portsmouth defence but Afonso Alves could not convert. Portsmouth had started to settle into a rhythm with Lassana Diarra pulling the strings in the midfield but it was Middlesbrough who took the lead.
A mix up in the Pompey back line between Kaboul and Campbell allowed Afonso Alves to link up well with Mido and the Egyptian fired his shot past David James. The goal appeared to take the wind out of the home team’s sails and they struggled to threaten Boro for the remainder of the half, Ross Turnbull having to make a couple of routine saves.
Pompey improve, referee loses plot
Harry Redknapp made a couple of changes at half time including a formation change and it appeared to have the desired effect. By reverting to a 4-4-2 formation and bringing in Nadir Belhadj and John Utaka Portsmouth enjoyed a lot more possession and immediately put Middlesbrough under pressure.
Boro appeared to have weathered the storm but on the hour mark, Jermaine Defoe took a pass from Peter Crouch and fired his shot past Ross Turnbull to draw the home team level. The goal left a bitter taste in the mouth for Gareth Southgate and Boro fans, Didier Digard had been off the field receiving treatment. Middlesbrough wanted to get him back on the field but the referee would not wave him on. Mido was also hurt during the build up to the goal and lay prostrate on the ground effectively reducing Boro to 9 men.
Middlesbrough’s anger at the referee was flared enver further when he denied what looked a clear cut penalty as Stewart Downing was brought down in the Portsmouth box.
Following the Defoe equaliser Portsmouth piled on the pressure and it eventually gave as a poor clearance from Stewart Downing presented Jermaine Defoe with a chance and he cooly converted to give Harry Redknapp’s team the 3 points.
Middlesbrough Player Ratings
Ross Turnbull - 8 - Ross will be disappointed with the first goal, to be beaten at his near post was not great. Overall though I thought Ross played very well, made some excellent saves and coped well with the aerial threat of Portsmouth.
Justin Hoyte - 6 - Pretty average performance from Justin, caught out defensively a couple of times and never really got forward to help in the attack.
Emanuel Pogatetz - 7 - Coped well with the aerial threat for the most part.
Chris Riggott - 7 - A few very good last ditch blocks.
Robert Huth - 6 - A solid first half but struggled to contain Defoe in the second half.
Didier Digard - 7 - Looked every inch the player we hope he will become and we looked visibilly poorer when he went off injured.
Stewart Downing - 6 - Pretty poor performance from Downing but he should have had a penalty in the second half.
Gary O’Neil - 6 - Struggled in the centre of the park where Portsmouth’s Lassana Diarra had firmly stamped his authority on the game.
Jeremie Aliadiere - 6 - Caused a few problems with his pace but the end product was not there.
Afonso Alves - 7 - Not his best performance and nowhere near as dangerous as Defoe at the other end. Had a hand in Boro’s goal.
Mido - 7 - Another game and another goal for Mido, he is on form and we must now keep him fit and playing.
Shaun is A Boro fan and owner of BoroMania.com. Born and brought up in the North East. Favourite players are Juninho, Slaven and David Wheater.
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Gutted we lost this one. I thought we sat back and allowed them onto us way too much in the second half and definately missed Digard when he went off. Downing was poor but it was a stonewall penalty for me, the ref was awful (for both sides really).
Though O’Neil was awful today and Diarra ran him ragged, one Digard went off we had no midfield and it was a matter of time before they scored. Turnbull was very good, yeah should have done better with the first goal but he was hung out to dry a number of times and made some good saves to keep us in it.
Bad day at the office, need players back soon though.
Turnbull was a bright spark in a poor team performance. The first goal he conceded was his fault, but the defense shouldn’t have let Defoe take that shot in the first place. The defense was left wanting at times and i feel Turnbull did the best he could under the circumstances. His game was spot on otherwise and i have no ill feelings towards him for it.
I’m a fan of O’Neil, but he was utterly useless. He got ran off the ball and beaten to it most times. Diarra had him for pace and acceleration and he just didnt have a part to play in the game at all.
I hope these injuries arent lengthy, this is the last thing we need for a start to such a promising season