'Let's be honest...': Delighted Portsmouth bosses' frank Middlesbrough admission after dramatic win

John Mousinho hailed a huge Pompey victory and admitted: We got lucky.

The Blues were under the cosh for the vast majority of their clash at Middlesbrough, particularly in the second half, with Nicolas Schmid - and an Andre Dozzell clearance of the line - keeping them in it.

Then, in the seventh minute of time added-on, Adrian Segecic volleyed Marlon Pack’s corner, with the shot deflecting off Conor Chaplin and into the net for a dramatic triumph.

The 1-0 triumph represented a classic ‘smash and grab’ according to the Blues’ head coach, nonetheless it was a first win in nine matches.

And in a season in which Pompey have enjoyed very little good fortune, he was savouring a rare occasion when Lady Luck was smiling on them.

‘It’s something we just haven’t had this season’

Mousinho told The News: ‘It’s an amazing result. At this stage of the season, it’s all about picking up points - and we have managed to do that today.

‘We’ve come here to hopefully win the game, we’ve managed to do it in those circumstances, which was different to what we’ve been doing in the past few weeks and it has brought a few points for us.

‘Smash and grab? I think so. In the first half obviously Middlesbrough had a lot of the ball, but we didn’t concede too many chances. We tried to get a bit more pressure on the ball in the second half and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

‘Middlesbrough had a lot of pressure and a lot of chances, particularly from set-plays, which we managed to throw our bodies on the line, brilliant goal-line clearances, Nic made some big saves.

‘We did get lucky today, let’s be honest, it’s something we just haven't had a lot of this season. It tends to be the case when you are down at the bottom.

‘It probably sums up the afternoon when we’ve had our second or third corner, a volley from the edge of the box and it hits someone’s backside and goes on. It’s a cliche for a reason, but that’s just what we needed.

‘We’ve been sat here after games, after Sheffield United at home, after Hull at home, scratching our heads thinking how on earth have we not won that? Probably the boot has been on the other foot.

‘Today we clearly came here to make sure it was a difficult game for Middlesbrough and to try to keep it tight - and we snatched something at the end with the last kick of the game, which was perfect for us.’

Second goal in 34 appearances this season

That was only a second goal in 34 appearances for Chaplin during a frustrating second spell at Fratton Park, yet his contribution was priceless.

Pompey would have slipped into the bottom three had it finished goalless - instead they remain one place above the relegation zone with a game in hand.

That fixture is at Fratton Park on Tuesday night in a match Chaplin is unavailable for against his parent club.

Mousinho added: ‘This is such a good Middlesbrough team, they have been in the top-two for 90 per cent of the season.

‘They have brilliant attacking players, defensive players as well, they are so, so dangerous and that was part of the reason why we decided to set up like we did.

‘We had to defend for large parts of the game, we had to put bodies on the line, we had to get through some dark moments for a couple of the boys at the back there.

‘Terry was ill yesterday, he was absolutely running on empty, Regan you come to expect that sort of performance form. That was Jojo’s third start in English football, which is an incredible achievement for him to do today.

‘And Willo was his first start for a long, long time for us, not since 2025. So to be able to do that and get a clean sheet was very, very good.’