Lualua ankle lets him down

Lomana Lualua failed a late fitness test on the ankle he damaged against Arsenal on Wednesday and was replaced by Svetoslav Todorov in the Portsmouth attack.

Middlesbrough, who face Steaua Bucharest in the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup on Thursday and then West Ham in the semi-finals of the FA Cup next Sunday, made wholesale changes.

Former Pompey striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu led the front line but goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and centre-back Gareth Southgate did not even make the squad after Wednesday’s FA Cup replay win over Charlton.

Portsmouth: Kiely, Priske, Primus, Stefanovic, Taylor, O’Neil, Pedro Mendes, Davis, D’Alessandro, Mwaruwari, Todorov. Subs: Ashdown, O’Brien, Karadas, Hughes, Routledge.

Middlesbrough: Jones, Parnaby, Ehiogu, Bates, Taylor, Morrison, Rochemback, Doriva, Boateng, Downing, Yakubu. Subs: Knight, Christie, Wheater, Kennedy, Johnson.

Referee: A Marriner (W Midlands)