Middlesbrough 1-1 Portsmouth - Report

Aiyegbeni Yakubu came back to haunt us after Middlesbrough earned a 1-1 draw in the late Saturday kick-off.

The Nigerian's second half header cancelled out Gary O'Neil's finely-taken opener just after half time, as both sides shared the points in the North East.

On a calm evening at The Riverside Stadium, there were few chances in a cagey opening 45 minutes.

It was the home side that had more endeavour to get forward, with Yakubu failing to make the most of a George Boateng cross with his strike.

Massimo Maccarone should have tested goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown with an overhead kick after we failed to deal with a Fabio Rochemback corner.

Yakubu then threatened with another chance but the ball failed to settle for him in front of the goal, while Rochemback had an effort go over the bar from the Nigerian's lay-off moments later.

We provided little in terms of an attacking threat, with Laurent Robert sailing a strike over the bar, while Zvonimir Vukic forced an easy save from Boro goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

Our bast goalscoring chance came just before the break.

Robert sent Andy Griffin down the right flank and his early cross nearly found Dario Silva at the far post but the Uruguayan failed to connect with the ball, as both sides went into half time goalless.

The second half proved far more entertaining, as we stunned the Riverside crowd with an opening goal a minute after the restart.

Substitute Svetoslav Todorov's byline cross from the right found Vukic, whose mis-hit shot fell to O'Neil and he made no mistake from close range to give us the lead.

In typical Pompey fashion, the advantage lasted just eight minutes.

Rochemback's corner from the left found an unmarked Yakubu at the far post and the Nigerian headed home with relative ease for 1-1.

The goal got the home side into the match again and a break forward saw substitute Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink set up Gaizka Mendieta on the edge of our box but the Spaniard's poor strike flew high and wide.

Boro kept pressing and Mark Viduka forced a save from Ashdown with a turn and shot, while Yakubu failed to hit the target with an excellent chance on the break.

Hasselbaink curled an effort at Ashdown moments later, while Colombian John Viafara was woeful with a long-range strike at the other end.

Dutchman Boateng then went ever so close with a low strike in the dying stages but both clubs had to settle for a draw, despite a better display all round in the second half.

wanc.co.uk's Pompey Man of the Match: Gary O'Neil