Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough player ratings: Yang shines while 4/10 struggles again
Portsmouth delivered an admirable performance against Middlesbrough at Fratton Park and earned a morale-boosting 1-0 victory.
Yang Min-hyeok opened the goalscoring in a first-half where the home side had the best chances. Conor Chaplin had an effort cleared off the line in the first half too.
Middlesbrough were better in the second half, but they couldn’t create too many clear-cut chances.
Below, Pompey News rates the Portsmouth players out of 10 after from this encouraging result.
Yang Min-hyeok stars again for Portsmouth
Yang Min-hyeok was the star man in the 2-2 draw against Watford on Wednesday, scoring his first Portsmouth goal with a well-taken half-volley.
His goal was against Middlesbrough was very similar. Jordan Williams fired a low cross from the right-hand side, and it reached Yang at the back post, who showed great technique to keep his half-volley and powerful enough to beat the goalkeeper.
Yang was full of energy on the left wing and willing to work hard when Portsmouth didn’t have the ball.
There was barely anything in between these teams, with chances few and far between, so Yang can feel he is heavily responsible for this huge result.
His performances have allowed Portsmouth to miss injured Josh Murphy just a little less.
John Swift hauled off early for Portsmouth
Portsmouth were upset that John Swift was given another start after his poor performance against Watford.
Swift didn’t give the ball away as often in this game, although all of Portsmouth’s moments came through other attackers.
Mark Kosznovszky came on in Swift’s place, and he wasn’t particularly bright either.
It seemed like a no-brainer when Swift signed for Portsmouth on a free transfer, but it’s fair to say that the jury’s still out on the former West Bromwich Albion midfielder.
Portsmouth ratings vs Middlesbrough
Bursik – 6
Williams – 7
Knight – 6
Poole – 6
Ogilvie – 6
Pack – 6
Dozzell – 6
Chaplin – 6
Swift – 5
Yang – 7
Bishop – 6
Substitutes
Kosznovszky (for Swift 60′) – 6
Devlin (for Williams 62′) – 6
Segecic (for Chaplin 62′) – 6
Blair (for Yang 82′) – 5
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