Middlesbrough 0 Pompey 1: Neil Allen's verdict - Iconic moment earns improbable win as Blues ramp up the fight
The Blues remain one place above the Championship relegation zone following a dramatic Riverside Stadium win
Curiously, the subject of the Riverside Stadium pre-match interview was from Hayling Island. Even more curiouser, he was of staunch Middlesbrough persuasion.
As part of their usual entertainment fare beamed onto the big screen before kick-off, the PA announcer’s tour of the ground brought him into contact with several supporters, in this instance somebody with absolutely no split loyalties.
Proudly sporting the Middlesbrough badge and flanked by his wife and two friends, apparently the 628-mile round trip was a common occurrence and a necessary evil in order to roar on the club he loves.
What’s more, the Hampshire-based fan confidently predicted a 4-0 landslide for the promotion chasers, without an ounce of remorse. How the crowd chuckled at his lack of south-coast allegiance.
The confidence was not entirely misplaced, in fairness, irrespective of Kim Hellberg’s side having gone five home matches without victory. As one of three clubs tied with 72 points in second place, they remained firmly in the hunt for the Premier League.
In truth, very few of the 1,325 visiting faithful would have disagreed with the Hayling Island ex-pat’s prediction, although perhaps some may have disputed the actual size of the anticipated defeat. Certainly hope was not strong given the circumstances.
Portsmouth without a win since January 31
John Mousinho’s men had gone eight games without a win, 12 matches without a clean sheet, while had mustered up just 12 goals between their entire starting XI this term - and five of those have arrived from the 22-year-old right-back.
As the away fans buckled themselves in for a bumpy ride, the game’s opening period suggested it was going to be a long day.
Indeed, the customary goalkeeping injury, this time Nicolas Schmid theatrically acting out a problem to his left shoulder to allow the impromptu team talk, was only 11 minutes in. An emergency meeting to rectify a worrying start.
Except what unfolded, was a remarkable Pompey performance and an improbable outcome, capped by a special moment which has now entered Fratton folklore.
In positive terms, there has been little memorable about this latest Championship relegation battle. Why even the leading scorer has only six goals - the last of which was in mid-January at Watford.
Putting aside Ebou Adams’ equaliser and celebration against Southampton and the circumstances behind Minhyeok Yang’s 98th-minute winner against Charlton, it has been a season of unrelenting misery.
Bordering on toxic in the aftermath of the 6-1 humiliation at QPR, with many calling for John Mousinho’s head and the creation of a new protest group directed at owners Tornante amid the rise of anti-Eisner critical banners, these are uncertain times at Fratton Park.
Then, amid the gathering gloom, Conor Chaplin intervened to supply a beacon of light and a wonderfully iconic moment.
A 97th-minute winner
The match was entering the final minute of six added-on by referee Thomas Kirk when substitute Milli Alli won a corner on the break, thereby eating up more precious seconds as the Blues clung on for a hard-earned point.
Marlon Pack delivered the flag kick from the left which was powerfully headed out by a Middlesbrough player from the six-yard box, comfortably clearing the penalty area, only for Adrian Segecic to pounce on the loose ball some 25-yards out.
His left-footed volley was hard and accurate, yet nobody could have foreseen it taking a wicked deflection off team-mate Chaplin’s knee from six-yards out to wrongfoot goalkeeper Sol Brynn and find the net.
It was Pompey’s third shot of the match, their first on target, from their second corner - and in the 97th minute they had won the game 1-0. It was outrageous good fortune, the very dictionary definition of smash and grab, while preventing them dropping into the relegation zone.
It had to be Chaplin too. The prodigal son whose return was so enthusiastically received in September, fresh from a Premier League stint last season and possessing an immense passion for Pompey which could never be questioned.
Heading into Saturday’s match, he had scored once in 33 appearances and, bafflingly, consistently struggled for form. Tellingly, despite potentially being available on a free this summer, few of the Fratton faithful have talked about a permanent return.
This was no game for attackers either. Mousinho afterwards admitted the gameplan was focused on defending and frustrating Middlesbrough: ‘It’s not the beautiful game, but, when you are against a side as good as Middlesbrough, you just have to do it.’
In the second half especially, Schmid pulled off a stunning save to deny Riley McGree’s powerful shot outside the box, Andre Dozzell headed off the line, last man Madiodio Dia thwarted Tommy Conway.
It was wave after wave of attacks, with the gutsy Blues defending their box for their lives. Surely the winner would come, it had to arrive sooner or later - and it did. For the visitors.
No doubt the pain of the long journey back was somewhat eased, a source of celebration and joy, basking in a memorable day in the north-east. Well, apart from if you’re a Middlesbrough fan living in Hayling Island.