Pompey move clear of relegation zone

Portsmouth 1 Middlesbrough 0

Gary O’Neil’s 54th-minute strike lifted Portsmouth out of the Barclays Premiership bottom three for the first time since November.

O’Neil’s goal came from a pass by record signing Benjani Mwaruwari, who went through a 12th start without finding the target himself but was cheered when he was substituted in the 67th minute.

Only after that did opponents Middlesbrough, without several key players, look capable of denying Portsmouth a sixth successive unbeaten game – but Harry Redknapp’s men hung on for another crucial victory in their battle against relegation.

The home side were without Lomana LuaLua who 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 their attack but goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and centre-back Gareth Southgate did not even make the squad after Wednesday’s FA Cup replay win over Charlton.

Boro’s 56th game of the season saw them without Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Mark Viduka, who had scored 35 goals between them in all competitions.

Yakubu was utilised as a loan striker with England prospect Stewart Downing lurking on the left flank.

Although minus the free-scoring LuaLua – who had netted four goals in his last four games – Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp stuck to his basic shape for a third game in eight days.

O’Neil had an early shot blocked by young defender Andrew Taylor, before Sean Davis let fly from distance from a Pedro Mendes pass and only marginally cleared the crossbar.

Todorov then had a shot deflected for a corner with Jones way out of his goal. The goalkeeper lost his footing as the flag-kick came over from Andres D’Alessandro but luckily had skipper Ugo Ehiogu on hand to clear the problem.

Todorov went down in the box after 24 minutes as he raced on to a pass from Davis under a challenge by Taylor, but claims for a penalty were waved away.

Middlesbrough’s attrition under fire had to be admired as Portsmouth poured on one attack after another. Ehiogu and Matthew Bates defended coolly and were well supported by their midfielders.

They even managed one or two counter-attacks. Doriva shot over from 30 yards and Downing worked his way into the box where his shot was deflected wide off Linvoy Primus.

Todorov had a header was cleared off the line although the whistle had already gone for some pushing.

Pompey were content to leave two central defenders at the back while both their full-backs joined in the attack, and there was always the danger it could leave Boro to break free with the quality of Yakubu and Downing plus Brazilian midfielder Fabio Rochemback.

Just before the interval, Yakubu wriggled clear down the left and fired in a cross-shot which none of his team mates were quick enough to convert as it sped across the goal.

Portsmouth sent on Wayne Routledge in place of Davis at the start of the second half but they needed to be sound in defence.

Primus expertly steered Yakubu away from a potential scoring position and made the save easy for goalkeeper Dean Kiely in the 48th minute.

Six minutes later Pompey had made the vital breakthrough.

Zimbabwean striker Benjani cut in from the left and laid on the perfect pass for midfielder O’Neil who drilled home his sixth goal of the season and his third in the last four matches.

Two minutes later it needed an outstanding save by Jones to prevent Routledge heading home a second goal from Matt Taylor’s cross. Then Benjani went off to applause to be replaced by Azar Karadas and O’Neill was quickly shooting for goal again.

Jones went down to palm away his shot and Boro’s defenders completed the clearance.

Boro were enjoying more possession in the second half than in the first and Matt Taylor’s mistake allowed them an opportunity for an equaliser.

James Morrison set up Malcolm Christie, the substitute playing his first game of the season after a broken leg, but Kiely was equal to the shot and smothered the effort.

Only in the last 15 minutes did Middlesbrough come alive and really test Portsmouth’s resolve to keep their narrow lead.

During a hectic series of scrambles there were appeals for handball and several other offences as Pompey players flung themselves at the ball in a bid to keep it out of the net.

Christie, Yakubu and Rochemback all had shots charged down as Pompey hung on.