Middlesbrough 1(0) - 1(0) Portsmouth 7:45pm 5th November 1997 Nationwide League Division One Schwarzer, Fleming, Kinder (Whyte 55), Festa, Pearson, Emerson, Hignett, Maddison, Beck (Campbell 76), Merson, Townsend Subs not used: Summerbell Goals: Townsend 65 Booked: Pearson, Emerson, Campbell Sent Off:   Knight, Pethick, Awford, McLoughlin, Whitbread, Perrett (Enes 74), Durnin, Hillier, Aloisi (Carter 90), Foster (Igoe 74), Turner Subs not used:   Goals: Igoe 85 Booked: Hillier Sent Off:   Attendance: 29,724 Referee: A R Leake (Darwen)

Struggling Pompey snatched a point against promotion-challenging Middlesbrough with a late goal from substitute Sammy Igoe. Igoe had been on the field for only 11 minutes when he shot past Mark Schwarzer. The goal was a savage blow to Middlesbrough, who had dominated for spells without capitalising on their chances. Portsmouth manager Terry Fenwick will have been pleased with his team's battling performance on his return to his native North East. Middlesbrough should have taken full advantage of their first-half supremacy but the closest they went to a goal was when Denmark international Mikkel Beck hit the post. Paul Merson had the ball in the net in the 40th minute after goalkeeper Alan Knight had saved a piledriver from Slovakia international Vladimir Kinder. But Merson was ruled offside and a similar decision went against him just before the break. Portsmouth opened the second half more confidently and only a brilliant Kinder tackle denied John Durnin. Kinder was injured in the challenge and was stretchered off, Derek Whyte replacing him. John Aloisi shot wide for Portsmouth after 61 minutes and a minute later Craig Foster also sent an effort past the post. Portsmouth were suddenly playing with plenty of confidence and threatened to take all three points off Bryan Robson's side. But Republic of Ireland skipper Andy Townsend came to Middlesbrough's rescue when he put them ahead after 64 minutes. Craig Hignett, Emerson and Merson combined before Townsend came in on the blindside and slid the ball into the net. It was Townsend's second goal for Middlesbrough since his £500,000 move from Aston Villa, and his first at the Riverside Stadium. Portsmouth introduced two substitutes in the 74th minute in a bid to save the game. And the move worked when Alan McLoughlin slipped the ball through to Igoe, who quickly had the ball under control and shot into the net. It was an encouraging result for Pompey, who had picked up only three points from their previous 10 matches.