Portsmouth ends Middlesbrough’s Championship unbeaten start

Portsmouth edged Middlesbrough 1-0 to end the visitor’s unbeaten start to the Championship season.

The home team, who came into the match without a win in four games, took the lead when Tottenham Hotspur loanee Yang Min-hyeok finished with real quality after the away side failed to clear a couple of attacks.

Boro failed to really threaten the Pompey goal throughout and Jo Bursik was not forced into a save of note.

The Teessiders had dropped down to second prior to kick-off after CoventryCity’s thumping win at Sheffield Wednesday but stay two points clear of third-placed Leicester City.

Despite starting this weekend in top spot, Boro have now managed just 12 goals from their nine matches, one more than 20th-placed Derby County.

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They will look to end their three-match winless run when they host Ipswich Town on Friday, 17 October, while Pompey are back in action the following day with a trip to promotion-chasing Leicester City.

“We spoke on Thursday about the importance of this game and how it would shape how the start of the season for us has been mentally.

“Getting the win was great, and it feels like we have had a good start to the season. Results matter in this game and today we managed to get the job done,” John Mousinho, Portsmouth manager, told BBC Radio Solent.

Rob Edwards, Middlesbrough manager, said his team were not clinical enough. According to him, Boro had more shots but not enough on target.

“It was frustrating in the end. I’m gutted for the fans that we’re not able to take something away and they enjoy the journey back.

“Once they got the goal, which was obviously avoidable from our point of view, it gave them something to hold on to as well. We weren’t quite good enough in the final third, ultimately,” Edwards said.