In a dramatic turn of events, Portsmouth scored a late winner to secure a crucial victory and boost their chances of avoiding relegation. The winning goal came in the seventh minute of stoppage time, with Conor Chaplin's strike deflecting off Andre Dozzell to seal the win.
This result dealt a significant blow to Middlesbrough's fading hopes of automatic promotion, leaving them three points behind second-placed Ipswich, who have two games in hand. Despite dominating possession, Boro struggled to create meaningful opportunities and have now scored just four goals in their last six games.
Portsmouth's win marked the end of an eight-game winless run for John Mousinho's side, keeping them a point and a place above the relegation zone. The visitors had 20 shots compared to Portsmouth's three, but it was the home side who capitalized on their limited chances. Middlesbrough's manager, Kim Hellberg, expressed disappointment and frustration with his team's performance, describing it as 'poor' and 'boring.' In contrast, Portsmouth's John Mousinho hailed the result as 'amazing' and acknowledged that his team had been fortunate to secure the win.