Portsmouth 2-1 Middlesbrough

Striker Jermain Defoe shone for Portsmouth as they came back from a goal down to beat Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Boro had taken the lead when Mido was found by striker partner Afonso Alves and drove in a low shot.

Pompey bounced back in determined fashion and the impressive Defoe lashed in a shot after Peter Crouch's pass.

Boro were denied a penalty after Nadir Belhadj appeared to push Stewart Downing and Defoe secured the win when he volleyed in.

Portsmouth had gone into the game having not won at home since 29 March and almost went behind after four minutes.

Didier Digard crossed a ball across the home side's six yard box but Brazilian striker Alves failed to make contact with only keeper David James to beat.

Pompey's main threat came from the left of midfield where Armand Traore was up against former Arsenal team-mate Justin Hoyte.

Traore crossed for Crouch at the far post and the striker's eyes must have lit up as he prepared to nod the ball home only for defender Chris Riggott to steal in and flick the ball wide.

Crouch hooked a shot high as Boro failed to clear a Sean Davis corner and Pompey were starting to build up a head of steam before going behind.

Two Pompey players failed to clear a long ball from Riggott and Mido, who was sandwiched in between them, inadvertently got in a header which fell to Alves.

Alves then played a low ball into the run of Mido and he clinically held off Sol Campbell and fired in a low driven shot.

Pompey picked themselves up and tried to engineer an equaliser but, despite good build up play, they were lacking a cutting edge in the final third.

But they had an extra air of determination about them after the break and raised the tempo of the match.

Some quick passing unsettled Middlesbrough and a deserved leveller came when Defoe angled in a quickly-taken strike after Crouch's pass.

The game opened up into an exciting affair and Boro thought they should have had a penalty for the clumsy challenge by Belhadj on Downing.

Boro were forced to wait on opportunities to mount a threat on the counter-attack as Pompey pushed forward for the win.

The impressive Defoe was the main architect behind the home side's play and his backheel gave Davis a clear sight of goal.

The midfielder attempted to chip keeper Turnbull from the edge of the box only to send his effort disappointingly high.

Defoe wriggled his way through the Boro defence but Turnbull saved as the striker tried to put shot through his legs.

The England striker was not to be denied and latched on to ball over the top of the Boro defence and volleyed in.