IT'S four changes for Pompey this week as Lauren, Sulley Muntari and Kanu and John Utaka are all out of the side that lost at home to Blackburn last weekend.

Muntari is sidelined with a rib injury, Utaka is out with an ankle problem, Kanu is rested, while Lauren is among the substitutes.

In come Hermann Hreidarsson after his one-match ban, Milan Baros partners Jermain Defoe in attack, Niko Kranjcar is restored to the midfield, while Arnold Mvuemba is drafted in on the right flank.

Middlesbrough £12m striker Alfonso Alves leads the line for the home side, but Blues old boy Gary O'Neil is out with an ankle injury.

Pompey: Ashdown, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Mvuemba, Bouba Diop (Davis, 67), Diarra, Kranjcar, Defoe, Baros (Nugent, 67). Subs: Begovic, Lauren, Hughes.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Young, Riggott, Wheater, Pogatetz, Arca, Boateng (Cattermole, 88), Rochemback, Downing, Alves (Aliadiere, 62), Tuncay. Subs: Turnbull, Taylor, Johnson.

We've obviously stepped through a time warp up here - and very pleasant it is too.

Forget the rubbish dancing or ear-splitting PA systems at other grounds, we've got a proper marching band complete with red uniforms and bearskin hats.

They're even playing Sylvain Distin's unofficial soundtrack for when he bombs forward - the Indiana Jones theme - It's surely a sign that he will break his Pompey goal duck today!

00 - Kick off.

03 - Positive start from Pompey as they knock it around with purpose. Niko Kranjcar's dangerous free-kick causes a few problems, but Hermann Hreidarsson inadvertently pokes it away from goal.

05 - Great move from Pompey as Sylvain Distin sprays a fine pass out to Arnold Mvuemba, whose cut back finds Milan Baros - only for David Wheater to make a fine block. Glen Johnson lashes the follow-up just wide.

06 - Boro hit back as Alfonso Alves tests Jamie Ashdown with a low drive from the edge of the box, which the keeper does well to save.

20 - A carbon copy of the earlier move sees Mvuemba escape down the right again and Baros balloon one way over the top. He never even looked like hitting the target there, let alone scoring.

25 - Mvuemba - who has had a very impressive start to the game - makes a fine last-ditch tackle to deny Fabio Rochemback a clear shot at goal from 12 yards out. It looked a good chance but Arnie terminated it in the nick of time...

28 - Alves looks a handful and his snapshot whistles past the near post. Like Distin's choice of hairstyle, that was a close shave.

40 - GOAL - MIDDLESBROUGH 1 POMPEY 0 As the pressure mounts on the Pompey goal through a series of corners, Chris Riggott rises totally unchallenged to power home a header from Rochemback's corner. Poor defending from Pompey and Ashdown had no chance with that one.

45 - Lassana Diarra's in the book for a trip on Rochemback.

HALF TIME: BORO 1 POMPEY 0

46 - Off and running again. No changes from either side.

48 - Diarra bounces off three Boro players and Julio Arca is cautioned for pulling his shirt.

53 - GOAL - BORO 2 POMPEY 0 - More horrible marking from Pompey at a corner as Tuncay runs across the face of his marker and glances home a header from Stewart Downing's corner. Harry Redknapp will not be a happy bunny at conceding two goals so easily.

61 - Still nothing for Boro keeepr Mark Schwarzer to do, but he looked a bit anxious as Kranjcar's 35-yard free-kick grazes the woodwork.

62 - First change for Boro as Jeremie Aliadiere replaces Alves.

64 - Kranjcar goes close once again as he cuts in from the left and bends his shot just past the far post. Still nothing on target for the goalkeeper to deal with...

67 - The game's up for Baros and Bouba Diop as David Nugent and Sean Davis are on.

77 - Stewart Downing should have sealed the points there as a fine Boro passing move carves Pompey wide open. But Ashdown stands tall and makes a fine block. If Pompey can just nick one, it might all change.

88 - Last change for Boro as Lee Cattermole replaces George Boateng.

90 - FULL TIME: MIDDLESBROUGH 2 POMPEY 0