PORTSMOUTH, like Derby County, are in the very early stages of life back in the Championship after League One promotion last term but Michael Carrick expects today's visitors to the Riverside to approach the Middlesbrough challenge very differently to the Rams last weekend.

Paul Warne admitted he "went against everything he believes in" when setting Derby up to stifle and frustrate Carrick's side last week, with County victorious despite having just three shots on goal compared to Boro's 20.

Carrick knows that is something Boro will have to get used to this season and is part of parcel of life as a fancied promotion contender. But that doesn't necessarily mean Portsmouth will approach today's game at the Riverside that way.

It's Pompey's first season back in the Championship after a 12-year absence but their first two games suggest they're not going to shut up shop in an effort to survive.

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John Mousinho's side went toe to toe with Leeds in a thrilling six-goal draw at Elland Road on the opening weekend before enduring frustration similar to Boro's at Derby last weekend. Portsmouth had 15 shots on goal but had to settle for a 0-0 draw at home to Luton, though the Hatters did have their goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski sent off after just half an hour.

Still, two points is a fine return from games against two sides expected to be in the promotion mix.

“On paper, it was a really tough start for them but they’ve had two decent results - gone to Leeds and scored three goals, good performance against Luton last week," said Boro boss Carrick.

"It’s credit to the manager and the players, coming into a new league and approaching it and attacking it in the way that they have.

"They’ve played in an expansive and attacking manner, putting a lot of bodies forward, so credit to them for that.

"I think they’ve done really well and had a really good start and we know that we’re in for a very tough game. It’s been good to watch from my perspective to see how they’ve gone about it."

Carrick quickly put last week's Derby frustrations behind him, though admits his side need to be able to grind out results in those sorts of games.

He said: “I think largely the game was decent enough when you take the goal out of it. They put a lot of bodies behind the ball to defend the goal and it’s not easy to break that down, that proved the case.

"Going forward, we have to find a way to do that and we have to be better against that. But there were still a lot of good things in the game. To have that level of control of the game from pretty much start to finish was positive. It’s early days, but, for sure, we don’t want to be losing points and losing games. But it wasn’t too extreme a reaction after. There is plenty of football still to play.

“We always try to take the positives, albeit being realistic and balanced in that. We know they’re the kind of games we need to try and find a way to pick up more points from - last season proved that and we know that.

"The way the game panned out, we definitely should have taken at least a point, but it is what it is. We’ll definitely be better for it in terms of understanding as a group what we need to do at certain stages of the game. The fact that we have created a number of chances - and we did that throughout pre-season - is a real positive to take.

"It’s still early, so the boys are still finding that bit of sharpness in and around the box which is the hardest part of the game really. We’ve done a but of work on that and hopefully that will show as the weeks go on."

Carrick believes he has the tools in his squad to deal with the different tactical challenges Boro will face this season.

He said: "You’ve got to adjust and adapt and find ways of winning a game. That’s the beauty of the game.

"Teams will come and some will go man to man and try and press us all the way up the pitch, while others will drop off.

"We adapt and change to whoever we’re playing against. Sometimes it’s about picking individuals based on their individual strengths, other times it’s that little bit of sense and feel about how you can make a difference. I’m sure over time we will find a way of doing that.”

BORO PROBABLE XI: Dieng, Ayling, van den Berg, Clarke, Engel; Hackney, Morris; Jones, Azaz, Burgzorg, Latte Lathdpk