Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough look to end a dismal run against Portsmouth on Monday evening - a game you can see live on Sky Sports 1.

Boro are in buoyant mood following their victory over champions Chelsea in midweek and they will look to continue their form against Pompey.

The win on Wednesday was Gareth Southgate's first as Boro boss and now he is looking to mastermind the club's first ever Premiership win over Portsmouth.

To date all Pompey's previous visits to The Riverside have ended in draws, with Boro's last win coming at Ayresome Park in 1994.

Southgate must decide whether to change a winning side, although substitutes Mark Viduka and Lee Cattermole both made major impacts against Chelsea and will hope for call-ups.

There are no fresh injuries concerns for Boro, with Julio Arca and Ugo Ehiogu still sidelined.

Portsmouth have made a very good start to the campaign and are still unbeaten, following victory over Blackburn and a draw with Manchester City.

Manager Harry Redknapp goes into the game without Pedro Mendes - who is still recovering after being on the end of Ben Thatcher's horror challenge at City.

Scottish international Richard Hughes is ready to replace Mendes, with Serb Ognjen Koroman stepping up to the bench where 16-year-old goalkeeper Nick Jordan will also feature.

Glen Johnson is also sidelined after picking up an ankle problem in training, with Noe Pamarot ready to fill in.

Tresor Lomana Lua Lua remains sidelined with his ankle problem.

Another brilliant night at the Riverside as Boro blasted back from behind to beat Champions Chelsea. Late goals by Pogatetz and a 90th minute strike by sub Viduka sealed the perfect comeback win. The Champions have been toppled by Boro again. Gareth Southgate has made his mark.Boro blazed back from a goal behind to shock Jose Mourinho's Chelsea and win 2-1. It was no more than we deserved to repeat last season's fantastic victory. What a great way to bounce back from the Reading loss and announce that the Southgate era is up and rolling.

No team is going to want to play us in a night match at the Riverside. We just don't know when we are beaten. So look out Pompey on Monday.

It was the 20th anniversary of Boro's back from the dead game at Hartlepool. Many of Rioch's babes were present to witness a battling comeback that was so reminiscent of the class of 86. Young substitute Super Lee Cattermole epitomises that never say die, run through mountains for the Boro, spirit. But he was far from alone. If Gareth Southgate's management is going to bring this approach then every Boro fan is going to be desperate to be a part of it and scrambling for seats in Fortress Riverside.

Southgate changed things around from Saturday's away defeat moving Parnaby into an extra midfield berth and going with just one up front. Mendieta was playmaker moving across from the right to open gaps in the Chelsea defence. Yakubu was given the chance to run Chelsea ragged as he did last season. Guess what? He had another storming game.

Taylor came in for the unlucky Arca and once gave a performance with far more maturity than his years. Andrew Davies was like a rock at right back and on occasion blasted forward down his wing. He was playing with real fire and passion but with discipline. The same can be said for goal scorer Emanuel Pogatetz. Could he be our centre half rock this season? Once again he showed he is not afraid to put his head in where it hurts. And what a tremendous header for the equaliser.

Boro started off like a house on fire. Raging bull Yakubu, the hare Downing and the invention of Mendieta gave Chelsea plenty of early headaches. Yak narrowly missed getting his head onto a screaming centre. Mendieta shot just wide of the woodwork.

Shevchenko scored against the run of play. A real blow as he evaded our rearguard and beat Boat to the ball. It was cruel the way the Ukrainian's scuffed effort just evaded Schwarzer.

The Boro crowd got behind their team immediately. It was the 12th man spirit that we demonstrated with the giant North Stand cards before the game. Boro continued to battle and take the game to Chelsea until half time. But we couldn't quite fashion a real opening.

It was a real battle and every player had to be right on the ball. Something Drogba wasn't when he wandered on late from the restart and was booked when he immediately took the ball. Not the best counting from ref Howard Webb and amazingly the second game in a row where an opposition player has come on the pitch without permission and taken the ball.

Anyway, with the clock running down manager Southgate made his first change. Super Lee Cattermole came on to add more fire to the midfield. Parnaby switched back to right back and Andrew Davies went off to deserved loud applause. Catt made a difference right away as he snapped into a challenge.

The second gamble came when Mendi was withdrawn for Viduka. His towering presence seemed to alarm Terry and Carvalho without the giant Cech behind them. But it was Pogatetz that headed home from Rochemback's inch perfect free kick. Get in - what a goal! A great comeback goal for the player pole-axed out of last season in Basel.

Rochemback was running the show. What an engine the Brazilian has. Boateng stepped up and Super Lee was working and working. We had 10 minutes to hold on for the draw. But Boat conceded a free kick 20 yards out from goal. Please let Lampard have his World Cup boots on.

We escaped as Schwarzer clung on. Then the ball was worked to Downing in space he whipped over a centre and the Chelsea centre backs could only half clear from the dual challenge of Viduka and Yakubu. Viduka turned sharply and struck a shot that took a couple of deflections but nestled in the net beyond Cudicini. 2-1. Bedlam.

Boro held out for the 3 minutes of injury time, torturous though they were. Rochemback racing away with the ball and winning a corner was the last meaningful action. He had played superbly but so had everyone. The Champions were beaten. It is now game on for the Premiership and game on for Boro's season. Gareth Southgate's red'n'white army.

Boro continue to be involved in transfer speculation but we are still waiting for another signing.

Following the arrival of Julio Arca and the departure of Franck Queudrue it seems to have gone a little quiet over the past ten days of so.

Boro were actively involved in discussions for Sylvain Distin and Brett Emerton but nothing has perspired. Robert Huth was close to signing a loan deal but nothing has been said since.

New names in the frame have included James Milner (Newcastle), Pascal Chimbonda (Wigan) and Ricardo Costa (Porto).

The transfer market will go crazy as we get towards the end of August, but we can't wait that long, we can't afford to start the season badly, particularly with Chelsea and Arsenal to play in the first few weeks of the season.

Meanwhile, two Boro players have started the season with new clubs. Goalkeeper Brad Jones has joined Sheffield Wednesday on loan for three months and forward Danny Graham has joined Blackpool on loan for a month.

Sheffield Wednesday have signed Middlesbrough goalkeeper Brad Jones on a three-month loan deal.
The 24-year-old will play against Preston on Saturday - and replaces Scott Carson, who is back at Liverpool following his season on loan.

"I would ask the fans to judge Brad by his own standards and not compare him to anyone," said boss Paul Sturrock.

"He has important experience - last season he played 16 Premiership games and two European ties."

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