The verdict as Middlesbrough lose to a last-minute Portsmouth goal
It was smash and grab from Portsmouth at the Riverside as their last-minute winner left Middlesbrough’s automatic promotion chances in critical condition.
Boro looked to be headed for a sixth consecutive game without a win anyway when Portsmouth won it with the final kick of the game. Bouncing in off Conor Chaplin, it was their first shot on target all game.
But, in many ways, Boro only had themselves to blame. Yet again, the lack of attacking conviction meant their possession counted for little. The draw wouldn’t have been good enough, the defeat feels like it could be a killer blow.
Kim Hellberg made two changes from the side that drew at Swansea City on Monday. Both came in defence, with Dael Fry preferred to Luke Ayling for his aerial presence, while Matt Targett returned to replace the injured Alex Bangura. Sammy Silvera returned to the bench after injury.
Boro were looking to end a five-game winless run in this one. The pressure was on after Ipswich Town’s win over in-form Norwich City earlier in the day.
It’s been no secret what’s been costing Boro in recent weeks. Their lack of conviction in attack has been their Achilles heel and looked to be really impacting them.
Looking low on confidence and over-thinking everything the moment they worked the ball up to the final third, Boro didn’t look like scoring in the first half after a bright enough opening ten minutes.
Alan Browne saw a shot pushed away after eight minutes. Adilson Malanda saw his effort from the resulting corner deflected up onto the roof of the net.
Beyond that, however, it was genuinely difficult to think about a genuine opportunity either side had thereafter. Portsmouth are in trouble and arrived with no wins in eight. They played like a side comfortably in mid-table with nothing else to play for.
It meant Boro enjoyed 70% of the possession. But as for doing anything with it, the first 45 minutes was a long way short of the required levels.
They looked ponderous, they looked predictable and they looked like a group of players who were doubting themselves. So uninspired were supporters, even the boos that came on the half-time whistle lacked much effort.
There was little surprise then that two changes came at the interval. Jeremy Sarmiento’s latest Boro outing had once again proven frustrating. He made way along with a clearly unfit Targett, with Ayling and Sontje Hansen introduced.
Boro enjoyed their best chance of the game to that point just three minutes into the second half. Good work on the edge from Strelec saw him slide the ball through the last line.
Summing up the doubt and confidence issues in Boro’s attack, Browne and Riley McGree both looked to run onto it, before stopping to allow the other to take it on. The moment’s hesitation proved costly. When McGree did take the shot on, the angle was no longer in his favour, and Nicolas Schmid made the save.
Another wasted Boro moment came shortly after. Tommy Conway latched onto a slack backpass and nicked the ball from the last defender. Driving to the box, instead of shooting he opted to try and slide across for the Strelec tap in. He got it wrong and Madiodio Dia made a crucial interception.
There was life in Boro at least. Ten minutes after the restart, Conway was driving towards goal again, this time with defenders between him and the goal. He attempted to slide McGree in. Jordan Williams was to the ball quickest but, on the slide, he very nearly turned it into his own net. It ended just wide of the post.
Kaly Sene was next on, just after the hour mark, replacing Strelec. Boro were continuing to push though, and continuing to look far more lively than the first half. With just over 15 minutes left, McGree’s volley from the edge forced a great reaction save out of Schmid.
With more urgency to their play in the second half, Boro fans implored their side on as they searched desperately for a late winner. More akin to an attack vs defence training session, Portsmouth had just one shot and it was off target.
But they defended resolutely. Alex Gilbert was next off the bench, and he very nearly scored with his first touch. Running onto the ball as Fry headed it back into the danger area, Gilbert’s well-hit volley was blocked by a committed Pompey block.
It was the same story again on 90 minutes. The bright Hansen drilled one at goal as it was cleared to him from a corner. His effort was a peach. Regan Poole’s header on the line killed Boro’s last hope.
As the game appeared over, disaster struck. A last-minute corner for the visitors. Headed clear by Fry, Adrian Segecic smashed it back in from the edge. It bounced off Chaplin and ended in the back of the net. Boro wanted offside. Portsmouth were celebrating the ultimate robbery.
But Boro were punished yet again for their own deficiencies in attack. When they don’t score, they leave themselves vulnerable to exactly what they got. It’s now six without a win.
Ayling fumed with the officials at full-time. There were suspicions that Chaplin was offside for the goal. But Boro should look no further than the mirror for someone to blame. Their automatic promotion hopes are fast fading.
Ahead of the trip to Ipswich next weekend, they trail the Tractor Boys by two points, and Kieran McKenna’s side have two games in hand and a superior goal difference. Boro’s top-two hopes are fast looking fanciable at best.
