Defoe on the double

Injury-hit Boro led against the run of play when Mido slotted in his fourth goal in four games after good work by Afonso Alves but the Egyptian was lying injured when Defoe rammed in a 59th-minute equaliser - after Pompey boss Harry Redknapp scrapped his new 3-5-2 system at half-time.

Defoe hit the winner, hooking home on the turn following a header by Glen Johnson into the area and twice had great chances to complete a hat-trick in the closing minutes as Boro fell apart.

Middlesbrough took the lead against the run of play when burly striker Mido slotted in a 24th-minute chance created by Alves. Until then it had needed the cool expertise of young goalkeeper Ross Turnbull to keep Pompey at bay.

Peter Crouch hooked over the crossbar and shot wide from distance as well as working hard in search of the ball from midfield, while Defoe cleverly made space before forcing a save from Turnbull at full-stretch.

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp scrapped Pompey's new 3-5-2 system at the interval and switched back to the orthodox 4-4-2 - with newcomer Nadir Belhadj and Nigeria winger John Utaka replacing Younes Kaboul and Papa Bouba Diop.

The effect was immediate, with Lassana Diarra shooting just too high from 18 yards after Utaka twice split open the Boro defence down the left.

After Defoe had drilled just wide, he finally capped a spell of Pompey pressure by taking Crouch's pass, gliding past a defender and beating Turnbull at his near post.

The Boro players were trying to attract referee Stuart Attwell's attention to the fallen Mido during the build-up to the equaliser, but the goal was allowed to stand.

Turnbull twice kept Defoe out before the little striker wrapped up the points four minutes from time, hooking home on the turn after Glen Johnson headed the ball forward.