Jermain Defoe scored a late winner for Portsmouth to help his side collect all three points from their Premiership encounter against Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Boro had looked on course for another impressive victory after Mido had given them the lead midway through the first half but Defoe equalized for Portsmouth in the 59th minute before slotting home the winner four minutes from full time.

Portsmouth were searching for their first home win in six months but almost went behind in the 4th minute when Didier Digard crossed a brilliant ball into the area but Afonso Alves failed to connect to the shot from six yards out.

Pompey settle down to slowly start controlling the game but were dealt with a blow in the 24th minute when Boro took the lead when Alves controlled Mido's flick on before passing the ball for the Egyptian striker to slot the ball past David James.

Portsmouth stepped up the pressure in search of an equalizer but though they controlled the possession in the midfield, the hosts were lacking the final ball up front. It was a frustrated Portsmouth side that went into the second half in a desperate search of an equalizer and were rewarded in the 59th minute when Peter Crouch played in Defoe and the 25-year old made no mistake from close range.

Boro had a penalty appeal dismissed after it looked as if Nadir Belhadj had fouled Stewart Downing inside the area. The visitors were content to play out for a point late in the match but Defoe secured all three points for Portsmouth when he snatched the ball from Downing to slot the ball past Ross Turnbull in the 86th minute.