Mills so close to sinking Pompey
Middlesbrough 0 Portsmouth 0 [ Saturday 6 December 2003 ]
Pompey seemed to threaten more in the first half, with Yakubu in particular testing the miserly home rearguard. Bustling past Colin Cooper the stocky forward quickly made his way into the 18 yard box before being denied by England international Gareth Southgate's timely intervention.
Yakubu came close once again in the sixth minute when he headed over from Pompey's second corner after Patrik Berger's long-range effort was deflected wide.
Middlesborough were affording Yakubu far too much space in the box and he curled a more hopeful effort evert over the bar two mintues later.
Pompey's form seemed to diminish quickly as Boro seemd to enjoy most of the possession.
Recalled striker MIchael Rickets shot into Pavel Srnicek's arms from a tight angle in the 10th minute and five mintues later he reached Mills' fine right-wing cross in front of goal but headed over.
Teddy Sheringham sporadically threatened for Pompey, blazing a long-range effort wide of Mark Schwarzer's right-hand post in the 17th minute.
Three minutes later Sheringham could have done better with a free header at the far post from Matthew Taylor's left-wing free-kick.
Gaizka Mendeta's 29th minute corner caused some problems in the Pompey box while Srnicek failed to punch clear before Juninho's attempted hook shot dropped well wide.
With Boro's front men still misfiring, their best chance appeared to rest with Pompey keeper Srnicek who was looking less than convincing.
Boro's Zenden also tried his luck in the 34th minute, but his long range left-foot shot flashed well wide.
Sheringham gave Schwarzer a rare test two mintues later with a low shot which the keeper easily saved.
The pace did not noticeably pick up in the second period, Sheringham sumoning the best chance with a long-range free-kick over Schwarzer's bar.
The impressive Taylor denied Zenden a shooting chance with a fine chalenge into the box just past the hour.
Pompey's vocal support were doing their best to inject some passion into the proceedings, but both sides continued to meekly swap possession in centre field.
Mendieta is still trying his best to spark his side into life and his deep 63rd-minute cross from the right was turned out for a corner by Taylor.
Boro boss Steve McClaren's decision to replace Rickett with Massimo Maccarone in the 68th minute seemed to spark his side belatedly into life.
Mills, on loan from Leeds United stormed into the box in the 74 minute and received a delightful lay-off from the Italian striker before seeing his powerful shot agonisingly clatter the woodwork.
Boro began to press and things got shakier for Redknapp's men three minutes later when the battling Stone was dismissed for his second bookable offence after fouling Maccarone.
But they played out the remaining minutes with the minimum of fuss to earn the stalemate both sides deserved.
Middlesborough (4-4-2)
Schwarzer, Mills, Southgate, Queudrue, Cooper, Juninho (Nemeth 68), Greening, Boateng, Mendieta, Zenden, Ricketts (Maccarone 67).
Subs (not used) Riggott, Nash, Davies.
Booked Greening, Nemeth.
Portsmouth (4-4-2)
Srnicek, Zivkovic, Foxe, De Zeeuw, Taylor, Smertin, Stone, Berger (Sherwood 90), Faye (Quashie 66), Sheringham (Primus 81), Ayegbeni.
Subs (not used) Wapenaar, Burton.
Booked Foxe, Stone, Berger.