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Matt Ritchie scored twice as
Pompey fought from behind to continue their fine home form with a 2-1
victory over Middlesbrough. Emmanuel Latte Lath had scored against the run of play to give the visitors from Teesside an interval lead. But Ritchie levelled after the break and then fired home a late winner to boost the Blues’ Championship survival hopes. John Mousinho made three changes from the side beaten on a controversial night at Blackburn earlier in the week. Isaac Hayden was handed a full debut in the centre of midfield, while there were also starts for Ritchie and Jordan Williams. Andre Dozzell and Zak Swanson both dropped to the bench, but Paddy Lane missed out with a knee injury. Pompey received an early scare after some sloppy play at the back led to Latte Lath’s low drive being turned around the post by Nicolas Schmid. The hosts soon settled, though, and began to look the more dangerous side as the first half progressed. A couple of Josh Murphy crosses caused problems, but Freddie Potts shot wide and a Callum Lang header was held by Tom Glover. And when a corner from Potts somehow made its way through a host of bodies in the box, the visitors were able to scramble the ball clear. The on-loan West Ham midfielder had a chance after Glover’s clearance flew straight to Lang, but he dragged the shot narrowly wide. Still the chances kept coming and Rob Atkinson nodded Ritchie’s free-kick wide following Ben Doak’s crude challenge on Connor Ogilvie. When Boro did get the ball up the other end, Williams slid in with a superb challenge to halt Doak’s surge. But the Blues fell behind on 30 minutes, as Delano Burgzorg got free on the left and cut inside the pitch. He then slipped a pass through for Latte Lath, who rounded Schmid before coolly angling the ball into the net. It might have got even worse soon after, but Hayden Hackney ballooned Neto Borges’ cut-back over the bar. Pompey were soon back on the attack, though, and a fine Williams delivery was turned behind before Pack’s flicked header was cleared by Rav van den Berg. Half Time: Pompey 0 Middlesbrough 1 Both sides looked to get forward once the action restart, although it was the visitors who were first to threaten. Burgzorg was given too much time and space inside the box to get a shot away, but dragged it wide of the target. Just as Boro’s goal came out of nowhere, though, Pompey suddenly found themselves back on level terms on 54 minutes. It was an excellent pass from Potts to pick out RITCHIE in the box and he showed a great first touch before sliding in a maiden goal for the club at Fratton Park. A second might have arrived straight away after George Edmundson had been booked for bringing down Lang. Potts tapped the free-kick to Ritchie, who hit a swerving long-range shot that just about cleared the crossbar. Middlesbrough then had an opportunity of their own and Schmid had to scramble across his goal to keep out Finn Azaz’s scuffed attempt. Mousinho made a switch on 69 minutes, with Hayden making way for Dozzell in the midfield engine room. A chance quickly followed, as Murphy stole possession and swapped passes with Lang before shooting just past the post. Two more changes followed for the hosts, with Ryley Towler and Swanson on for Atkinson and Williams. Fratton Park then erupted when Lang played the ball out to RITCHIE, who advanced in from the right and hit a shot that struck the inside of the post on its way into the net. And the closing stages passed by without too much incident to ensure Pompey’s excellent run on the south coast continued. |
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