It wasn’t quite set to be a copy and paste repeat of Derby but it wasn’t far off and for Middlesbrough the outcome and the overriding emotion was very nearly the same: a defeat they’ll feel they didn’t deserve and deep frustration.

That was until substitute and new signing Tommy Conway kept his cool to slot home from the spot in the last minute and snatch a point against Portsmouth. It was the very least Michael Carrick’s side deserved.

Before Isaiah Jones was fouled inside the box and Conway sent goalkeeper Will Norris the wrong way, Boro looked set to endure more frustration. Frustration at the fact they’ve been unable to turn dominance into a positive result and frustration at another defensive disaster that had given the opposition a headstart and a lead to defend.

And in the second half, Portsmouth set out to defend that lead and do not much else. As was the case at Derby last week, Boro found themselves having to try and pick the lock against a team sitting deep with next to no attacking intent. This time, eventually, they found a way - with their 29th effort on the visitors' goal!

But they’ll still feel that one point should have been three. And if Boro are to start winning games, they need to cut out the defensive errors.

Carrick will have hoped the type of mistake that gifted Derby the goal and win at Pride Park last week was a one-off but Boro once again gave their opponents a leg-up with a shambolic defensive mix-up against Portsmouth. And that came after Boro had recovered from making a nightmare start, with Matt Clarke cancelling out Christian Saydee’s second minute opener.

Saydee’s first was an easy finish for the striker, unmarked in the box after Boro’s defence had shuffled over following Lukas Engel’s decision to go walkabout. But that was nothing compared to the second. There looked to be little danger when a hopeful Portsmouth throw down the line bounced towards the Boro box but Dieng inexplicably opted to charge out and Boro paid the price for a lack of communication as the keeper and Clarke both jumped for the header on the edge of the box, collided and allowed the pleasantly surprised Saydee to tap into an empty net.

What made that goal all the more frustrating was the fact Boro had responded well to falling behind early and got themselves back on level terms when Clarke met Finn Azaz’s corner and guided his header into the bottom corner.

At that stage, the home looked well set to kick on. But defensively, Boro – and particularly Dieng – were nervy and shaky. Come half-time, Dieng was the subject of ironic cheers from the Portsmouth fans anytime he gathered safely.

But the visitors had their own keeper to thank at the interval. On the stroke of half-time, Finn Azaz set Emmanuel Latte Lath away with a perfectly measured through-ball but Norris stood his ground and denied Boro’s striker.

Azaz created another glorious opportunity just after the break, this time finding Morris in the box. The advanced midfielder rounded the keeper and two defenders only for Andre Dozzell to make a last gasp-goal saving block. From the resulting corner, Hayden Hackney’s shot deflected narrowly wide then moments later Burgzorg’s low drive was kept out by Norris.

Portsmouth were fortunate to still be ahead and fortunate to still have 11 men on the pitch. Substitute Harvey Blair was booked less then a minute after coming on and then wiped out Anfernee Dijksteel on the edge of the box but referee Matthew Donohue – who was struggling to keep control – opted against a second yellow for the forward.

Goalkeeper Norris had also been booked for timekeeping and infuriated the Boro fans when he went down and called for treatment after saving well to deny Azaz.

Tommy Conway was introduced and was immediately involved in a move which led to Norris tipping over a Hackney strike. And the Scotland international then went close himself, dragging a shot just wide of the far post.

When Jones went down inside the box, it was Conway who stepped up to earn Boro a point.