Conor Chaplin the stoppage-time hero as Portsmouth stun Middlesbrough with epic survival win
Conor Chaplin was the late, late hero as Pompey picked up a huge survival win at Middlesbrough.
Chaplin deflected in Adrian Segecic’s 97th-minute drive to deliver the only goal of the game at the promotion chasers.
John Mousinho’s men were dropping into the bottom three with Oxford United beating Watford - until the moment of huge drama.
Boro laid siege to Pompey’s goal in the second half, after an impressive and organised first-half defensive display.
Mousinho’s men rode their luck at times and defended for their lives - before delivering a smash-and-grab success deep into stoppage time.
That leaves Pompey one point above the bottom three - and four clear off Leicester City, who lost at home to Swansea City.
The first half was a tale of impressive and organised defending from Pompey to deny the home side any space to exploit, with an organised press effective.
Alan Browne’s effort from the edge of the box was pushed away by Nicolas Schmid after nine minutes, though the keeper was struggling with his kicking.
Pompey were limiting the home side in their organised structure, with murmurs of discontent evident from Boro fans after 28 minutes.
Gustavo Caballero was putting a shift in, both in and out of of possession, but slipped on the edge of the box to put paid to a promising Pompey attack just before the break.
Schmid was equal to Riley McGree’s effort two minutes after the restart from close range, as Pompey were opened up for the game’s best chance.
Madiodio Dia then got Bishop out of jail as his sloppy pass put Tommy Conway clear on goal, but the defender got back to get a key touch to put paid to the attack after a further Poole block.
There was then a heart-in-mouths moment as Williams slid in to deny Riley McGree with the ball trickling inches the right side of the post for Pompey.
Pompey mustered their first effort with 23 minutes left, as Bishop flicked his effort wide from six yards after Devlin’s cross.
Schmid immediately came to Pompey rescue with a sprawling near-post save to deny Alan Browne from a tight angle.
Then the Austrian excelled himself with a superb reaction stop to tip over Browe’s 20 yarder.
The Blues’ goal was now under siege with Sontje Hansen firing at Schmid with seven minutes left.
Sub Conor Shaughnessy then made an immediate block to deny Alex Gilbert from close range.
Pompey dug deep in six minutes of stoppage time - then came the moment to spark delirious scenes in the away end with Chaplin’s winner with virtually the last touch of the game.