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Yakubu strikes to deny Portsmouth

15/10/2005

A Yakubu header denied Portsmouth all three points as they drew 1-1 with Middlesbrough at the Riverside.

The former Portsmouth hitman levelled the scores with a far post header in the 53rd minute after Gary O'Neil had given Pompey a second-half lead.

The goals brought a previously dour game to life, with neither side imposing themselves during a poor first half, greeted with a chorus of boos at half time.

However, the game turned just a minute into the second half, when O' Neil netted from close range after good work from Svetoslav Todorov.

Pompey's lead lasted seven minutes, when Yakubu benefited from some slack marking to head home from a Fabio Rochemback corner.

Boro piled on the pressure in the closing stages, with Steve McClaren throwing on Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Mark Viduka in an attempt to seal the points.

Viduka and Yakubu both came close to giving the home side the lead, before Jamie Ashdown produced a fine save to deny George Boateng at the death.

However, defeat would have been harsh on a disciplined Portsmouth side, who deserve to head back to the south coast with a point.

The draw moves Pompey up to 15th place in the Premiership, while Boro remain in tenth.

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