Middlesbrough’s poor form continued as their run stretched to just one win in seven after their 2-1 defeat at Portsmouth.

Mimicking so many other defeats this season, Boro actually put themselves in a good position when taking the lead through Emmanuel Latte Lath on the half-hour mark. However, a poor second half made life all too easy for the home side to get back into the game.

Once again struggling with game-management, Boro let their lead slip, with Matt Ritchie scoring twice to down Boro and cost them more points that saw them slip out of the play-off places. Here’s the game at a glance.

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The game-changing moment

You can probably point to two big moments in the game. The first came just moments after Latte Lath gave Boro the lead. Another good attack down the left, Delano Burgzorg cut back from the byline and Hayden Hackney timed his run into the box perfectly. Unmarked, he fired his shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

It was a big miss that would have given Boro a two-goal lead. Not as clear-cut a miss, but Burgzorg saw a shot flash narrowly wide just a moment before Pompey’s equaliser too. Boro have squandered two and three goal leads this season, so there’d be no guarantees, but it certainly could have been a game-changer to get a second goal.

The second big moment came as Boro tried to manage the game. Fratton Park is a difficult place to go and, buoyed by their equaliser, Pompey fans got right behind their side. For about ten minutes or so after the first, Boro actually managed it well. Josh Murphy had one big chance, but beyond that, Boro restricted Pompey and you could feel the momentum and atmosphere starting to drain, even if Boro lacked much attacking threat at the other end.

That was until Rav van den Berg underhit a backpass towards Tom Glover, which was seized upon by Callum Lang. Through on goal, the Pompey forward was thwarted by good Glover goalkeeping, but the damage was done. That Fratton Park atmosphere was ramped up and that energy in the stadium clearly lifted the home side. It was referenced by Rob Atkinson after, and within minutes, Ritchie scored his second.

When we talk this season so much about Boro throwing points away, about being poor at managing games and being soft-bellied, these are the moments that highlight it. They just can’t seem to stop putting themselves under unnecessary pressure.

Boro's best player

Ultimately, this was another day in which too many Boro players were below par. There were a couple of bright notes though. Dael Fry was solid at the back again and could do little with either goal that came from the opposite side he was on. With Boro unable to gain any kind of control of the game throughout really, he was tested often - be it taking care of Colby Bishop well throughout, or often having to come across and sweep against Josh Murphy, who caused Van den Berg all sorts of problems as the Dutchman was forced to fill in at right-back.

Emmanuel Latte Lath added his 11th goal of the season and battled hard throughout as he continues to prove he won’t let transfer talk and a potential exit this month distract him in any way.

But our man of the match went to Delano Burgzorg who was Boro’s brightest on the day, and Boro’s only real credible attacking threat. He set up the goal after an excellent touch to beat his man on the touchline and drive towards the box. He created Hackney’s big chance with more good play down the left and good vision for the cutback, and he was heavily involved in Latte Lath’s first-minute chance too. He went agonisingly close to doubling Boro’s lead after the break as well. Boro were unable to establish much control in the game, but Burgzorg ensured they had a counter-attacking threat and an outlet for longer balls throughout.

The positive

There were few positives to take from the game in truth, but it was good to see Seny Dieng, Luke Ayling and Aidan Morris back in the squad. In the bigger picture, the return of Morris could prove a big moment.

Another game that just passed Dan Barlaser by, there can be no argument that Boro are a better side with Morris in the midfield alongside Hackney. The USA international came on for the final 20 minutes of this one and immediately looked keen to make an impact.

His usual all-action style was quickly on show as he put in a crunching, but fair, tackle within minutes of coming on. Not far from the Boro away end, they seemed to enjoy that one. He couldn’t help Boro see out at least a draw at Portsmouth, but moving forward his return could prove important.

The negative

Boro have stopped scoring freely and have found attacking a little tougher since they netted three in the first half against Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day. A need to re-balance after that game which highlighted their defensive deficiencies when being too committed to attack, it has ultimately come at the expense of their free-flowing attacking play.

The problem is, they remain a side who just cannot defend well for 90 minutes regardless. In their defence, in the first half, there weren’t too many clear-cut Pompey chances. And even in the second half, when Pompey really had momentum in their favour, Josh Murphy might have done better when played through, while Glover had to make the big save from Van den Berg's error. But beyond that, the two goals were the only big chances.

That’s all it took though, because the two goals were ultimately so easy to score. The first saw Ritchie simply run inside off Neto Borges, beat the offside trap and receive the through ball to finish. The second, he was given far too much space by Lukas Engel and produced a great finish.

The defeat came on the same day that Boro target Ryan Giles was left out of the Hull City squad. That comes as the Tigers continue talks with Boro over a transfer and have a growing expectation that he will leave for the Riverside this month.

His detractors on Teesside point out that Giles struggles defensively, and indeed, the reality is, had Giles not been a Boro player with success in the past, his performances since would not see him make any Boro scouting list. That said, he suited the way Carrick wants to play down to the ground - with the Boro boss keen to have his left-back attack the wing, complementing Giles’ strengths.

While neither Borges or Engel have been able to do that effectively, neither have actually been that convincing defensively either - as the two Pompey goals showed again. It’d be ideal to have a left-back who could do both, but the reality is they probably wouldn’t be an attainable target for a Championship side if they could - they’d be the want of every club in the land!

If Boro can land Giles this month and get back to the style they had during their run to the play-offs in Carrick’s first season, they’ll have a better chance. Giles offers an extra attacking threat Boro have otherwise lacked since the end of his loan, and he can take a decent set-piece too, which would be nice.

The verdict

Yet more disappointment and frustration for Boro and yet more dropped points. Boro remain in the play-off race but seem determined to make it as difficult as possible for themselves. We keep referencing the same old problems time and again and yet they never seem to be rectified. Unless they sort them quickly, even making the play-offs will be a push.

If they do make them, their weaknesses will be exactly why few will go in with much hope or expectation. The frustrations of the fantastic sold-out away end was keenly felt at full-time. Carrick made sure to face up to it and show his appreciation. Now he has to find a way to turn this around and put a smile back on their faces.