Portsmouth 2-1 Middlesbrough: Jermain Defoe's double sends message to Fabio Capello

Jermain Defoe fired two opportunist goals as Portsmouth came from behind to secure a deserved victory over a gritty Middlesbrough at Fratton Park.

Defoe may have been overlooked by England coach Fabio Capello for the midweek mauling of Croatia.

But he showed that he is still one of the best finishers in the Premier League as he twice penetrated Boro's mean defence.

Mido, making his first League start of the season, and playing only because of an injury to Tuncay, edged the visitors in front with his fourth of the campaign.

But after Harry Redknapp changed his system at the break Defoe took charge, and could easily have bagged a hattrick or more.

Redknapp said: "Defoe took his goals well, but Lassana Diarra was amazing. He is a scary talent. He is definitely one of the best midfielders in the Premier League."

And Redknapp was also impressed with second-half sub, Algerian Nadir Belhadj.

The Pompey boss said: "He has terrific pace,but doesn't speak a word of English. That's great because if I say 'wake your ******* ideas up', he thinks I'm saying 'well done!

Boro manager Gareth Southgate reflected: "We played well in the first half, but invited too much pressure in the second.

"We didn't keep the ball well enough, and were too deep.

When you do that you concede the type of goals we did."

Redknapp began with a three-man defence, allowing Glen Johnson and Armand Traore to show their pace and trickery as wing-backs.

But David James, beaten just the once in Croatia in midweek, might have been picking the ball out of the net in only the third minute, had Afonso Alves not just failed to make contact with Mido's low, slick cross.

Boro nosed ahead, however, following a mix-up between Sol Campbell and Kaboul.

Both tried to head away Chris Riggott's punt but succeeded only in knocking the ball to Alves, who sent in Mido to slide the ball under James.

With changes in personnel and formation for the second half, Pompey's urgency grew.

Belhadj, on for the uneasy Kaboul, began combining well with Traore, and the pressure paid off after 59 minutes.

Crouch rode two challenges and picked out Defoe, who shot past Ross Turnbull.

Defoe went within inches of grabbing a second when he shot across the face of goal.

But his persistence paid off when he latched on to Boro substitute Andrew Taylor's wayward header and guided a volley beyond Turnbull.

DID YOU KNOW?

This was the 105th match-up, and Pompey had not managed to beat the Teessiders at home since a Gary O'Neil goal won it 1-0 in April 2006.

Stat Attack at FRATTON PARK. ATT: 19,425

How they rated

PORTSMOUTH

Subs: Belhadj 7 (Kaboul), Utaka 5 (Diop), Hreidarsson 6 (Traore)

MIDDLESBROUGH

Subs: Taylor 6 (Digard), Johnson 6 (Mido)

Possession

61% 39%

Story of the game

6 Shots on Target 1

12 Shots off Target 4

3 Corners 2

9 Fouls Conceded 8

8 Offsides 2

2 Yellow 1

0 Red 0

MAN OF THE MATCH

9

Jermain Defoe The livewire striker's two goals gave England coach Fabio Capello a sharp reminder of his prowess

MANAGERS

HARRY REDKNAPP 8

Brave enough to change a system that wasn't working

GARETH SOUTHGATE 6

Constantly out of the dug-out urging on his Boro battlers

REFEREE

STUART ATTWELL 7

Played good advantage, allowing Crouch to set up the equaliser for Defoe.

Next four games

MAN CITY (A)

TOTT'HAM (H)

STOKE (H)

A VILLA (A)

SUN'LAND (A)

W BROM (H)

WIGAN (A)

CHELSEA (H)