John Mousinho's honest admission on Middlesbrough's merit in Portsmouth draw

An honest John Mousinho admitted his Portsmouth side were fortunate to leave Middlesbrough with a point, with Boro's bad habit of gifting goals to the opposition cost them again.

Having cancelled out Christian Saydee's second-minute opener through Matt Clarke's header, the centre-back then clashed with his own goalkeeper Seny Dieng to ultimately hand the Pompey centre-forward his second on a plate. In what then looked like being a repeat from last weekend when they failed to get back into the game after falling behind against Derby, Michael Carrick's side dominated but were struggling to find a second equaliser.

That was until Isaiah Jones was fouled in the penalty area in the 90th minute. After coming on and adding a real spark to Boro's attack, Tommy Conway stepped up to dispatch the spot kick and at least earn Boro a point. It was a draw that Mousinho admitted was the least the home side deserved, having registered 29 shots on goal in the game.

READ MORE: Mixed feelings for Michael Carrick but largely positive reflections on Middlesbrough's draw

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Reflecting after, the Portsmouth boss admitted: "We probably tipped over a certain point in the second half and as it got closer to the second half I thought we might hold on in there, but ultimately we probably conceded a few too many opportunities and on balance, Middlesbrough deserved to win the game.

"To come away with a point is a really positive result. They didn't punish us with the chances they created. It's a really interesting one because if the game does go to 2-2 a bit earlier in the second half, I think we change our mentality and play better than we did.

"But we sat in and sat in and sat in and got away with a few bits. Will [Norris] dug us out of a couple of holes and there was some last-ditch defending, but I do think the mentality would have changed if we had conceded earlier. It did straight away as soon as it went to 2-2.

"It's difficult to come to places like this so credit to the lads for coming away with a point. We invited a bit too much pressure and sat deep and allowed Middlesbrough to play centrally. I look back at the goal and there's a run off one of our players and we give the penalty away. There's plenty to improve on but there was plenty of good play from Middlesbrough."