Conor Chaplin's 97th minute goal at the Riverside Stadium sent Blues fans into delirium on their longest away day of the season.
The Blues had to hold firm towards the end of the match and capitalised on Boro's shortcomings in front of goal to claim a shock victory in the North East.
Despite Portsmouth only recording 3 shots the entire match, John Mousinho’s side found a way to pick up a huge win.
Oxford United did defeat Watford 2-0; however, with the Blues remain 21st in the Championship standings, on 45 points, one above The U’s, who still sit 22nd.
There were 2 changes to the side that secured a point at home to Oxford on Easter Monday.
In came Madiodio Dia for Conor Shaughnessy, and Jordan Williams was in from the start for the suspended Connor Ogilvie, whose red card appeal was unsuccessful.
Kim Hellberg’s side tested Pompey early on, as Jeremy Sarmiento cut the ball back to Alan Browne, whose shot was saved by Nicolas Schmid.
The save then rebounded out to David Strelec, who went down in the penalty area, but referee Thomas Kirk declined Boro’s appeal.
Matt Targett’s corner posed a threat as it found the head of Dael Fry, but the defender’s header was caught by Schmid.
HALF-TIME: Middlesbrough 0-0 Portsmouth
In the second 45, Jordan Williams almost put the ball in his own net when Tommy Conway played a through ball that deflected off Williams and out for a corner.
Terry Devlin pumped a ball into the box, where it met Colby Bishop, but the number 9’s flick at goal went just wide of Sol Brynn’s net.
A Riley McGree then smashed the ball on the half-volley, when a corner spilled out to the Aussie midfielder.
Sontje Hansen then pumped a shot at goal, but Andre Dozzell headed the ball off the line to deny Hellberg’s side an opener.
But in the 90+7th minute, a Pompey spilled free-kick fell to the feet of Chaplin, who tapped the ball home to win it for the Blues in the dying moments of the action, to secure a huge 3 points at The Riverside.
FULL-TIME: Middlesbrough 0-1 Portsmouth
Next up: Back to Fratton Park, John Mousinho’s side, who on the third attempt at playing this game, will welcome Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Town in a 8pm kick-off.
Middlesbrough: 31. Brynn (GK), 2. Brittain, 6. Fry (C), 29. Mandala 3. Targett (12. Ayling), 16. Browne, 18. Morris, 8. McGree (14. Gilbert), 45. Sarmiento, (27. Hansen), 13. Strelec (20. Sène), 9. Conway (44. Ibeh) (Formation: 4-2-3-1)
Unused subs: 32. Wildsmith (GK), 15. Munroe, 22. Silvera 25. Edmundson
Bookings: Fry 90+3’
Head coach: Kim Hellberg
Portsmouth: 1. Schmid (GK), 24. Devlin, 5. Poole, 55. Dia (6. Shaughnessy), 2. Williams (17.Bowat), 7. Pack (C), 21. Dozzell, 47. Caballero, 36. Chaplin, 37. Anderson (27. Alli), 9. Bishop (Formation: 4-2-3-1)
Unused subs: 26. Bursik (GK), 8. Swift, 10. Segečić, 16. Le Roux, 27. Alli, 29. Blair, 40. Brown
Goals: Chaplin 90+7’
Bookings: Williams 26’, Anderson 72’, Pack 90+9’
Head coach: John Mousinho
Referee: Thomas Kirk
Venue: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 27, 017 (including 1,235 Pompey fans)
For more reaction to the match, be sure to download and listen back to the latest Pompey Live: Extra-Time podcast, which was recorded LIVE on Express FM from the Riverside Stadium press box with Jake Smith, Kirsty Roxanne and Danny Thompson behind the mics.
Jake will return on Monday (April 13th) evening at 6pm with 2 more Blues supporters to further analyse this game and look ahead to the midweek meeting with Ipswich Town at Fratton Park - The Football Hour airs twice a week, every week on Portsmouth's Express FM!
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