North East | Portsmouth end Middlesbrough’s unbeaten start to the season

Portsmouth 1 - 0 Middlesbrough 

Portsmouth claimed a narrow home victory to end Middlesbrough’s unbeaten start to the Championship season.

Author | Jay Dean

Stadium | Fratton Park

The hosts, who had not won in their previous four games, took the lead when Tottenham Hotspur loanee Yang Min-hyeok finished with composure following a series of missed clearances by the visitors. Middlesbrough offered little threat to the Pompey goal, with goalkeeper Jo Bursik rarely called into action.

Before kick-off, the Teessiders had slipped to second place after Coventry City’s emphatic win over Sheffield Wednesday, but they remain two points clear of third-placed Leicester City. Portsmouth began strongly, with Conor Chaplin seeing a close-range effort blocked for a corner, but Yang soon opened the scoring, netting his second goal of the week from Jordan Williams’ low delivery.

Middlesbrough offered little response before the break, Chaplin’s shot narrowly missing after the interval. The visitors pressed more as the game progressed, but Matt Targett’s deflected strike, which went wide, was their closest opportunity to draw level.

Which Boro players performed ok?

Dael Fry | Strong defensive display at the back with Bishop leading the line for the hosts. Positive to see him complete the full 90 minutes with minimal issues.

Alfie Jones | Worked hard defensively and did what was required. There was little he could do to prevent Portsmouth’s goal, with Brynn not called into action much beyond that.

Callum Brittain | Returned to the side after his foot injury but struggled to make a significant impact. Improved in the second half when pushing forward, but was later moved back to full-back, which stalled Boro’s momentum.

Areas for improvement despite good start to the season

Despite beginning the weekend at the summit, Middlesbrough have scored only 12 goals in nine matches, one more than 20th-placed Derby County. They will aim to end a three-match winless run when they host Ipswich Town on Friday, 17 October, while Portsmouth travel to promotion-chasing Leicester City the following day.