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Match Report

Portsmouth v Middlesboro 15 May 2004

YAK ATTACK HITS BORO FOR FOUR

Portsmouth 5-1 Middlesbrough

Graeme Bailey reporting

Yakubu Aiyegbeni grabbed four goals as Portsmouth thrashed a sorry Middlesbrough 5-1 at Fratton Park.

Pompey began full of energy looking to make sure the recent tensions between manager Harry Redknapp and chairman Milan Mandaric did not spill over on to the field and they did not disappoint as they completely dominated against Boro.

Aiyegbeni's first came after just four minutes, before he tucked away a 14th minute penalty after Danny Mills had pulled him down in the area.

Boudewijn Zenden then struck a terrific 25-yard effort to pull Boro back into the game, but Pompey soon restored their two-goal advantage when Aiyegbeni stroked the ball home after getting the better of Ugo Ehiogu.

Into a largely uneventful second period, Pompey added another two late on as Teddy Sheringham - on his farewell appearance scored - and Aiyegbeni hit a deserved fourth.

Portsmouth's opener came with the first meaningful attack of the game and it was created by Israeli star Eyal Berkovic - who tormented the Boro midfield - as he played a perfect through ball for Aiyegbeni to curl the ball past Mark Schwarzer from the edge of the area.

Boro were not at the races and just 10 minutes later the deficit was doubled when Aiyegbeni fired home from the spot, after he was hauled down by Mills.

The Aiyegbeni-Berkovic partnership combined again on 20 minutes and the African should have slotted in his third from just five yards, but he sliced wide.

Pompey maintained the pressure and Nigel Quashie fizzed a shot just wide, as Boro's make-shift defence struggled to get into the game.

Boro did manage to pull one back on 27 minutes when Zenden - pushing forward from left back - got on the end of a Joseph Desire Job lay-off and hammered the ball home from outside the area.

The goal was the only respite Boro had in the opening period and it was not too long before they were broken down again.

Pompey third came just after the half hour and it was an error form Ehiogu as he headed a clearance into the chest of Aiyegbeni, who brought the ball forward and turned back past the England man before firing home.

Aiyegbeni should have had a fourth before half time when again Pompey broke with pace, but he could not make proper contact with the ball as Steve Stone lashed a cross into the six-yard box.

Into the second period and Boro produced more effort without much product, with only long range efforts from Gaizka Mendieta and Job threatening to test the home goal - while Szilard Nemeth fied wide from 12 yards when well placed.

Just when the game looked to be over, Pompey suddenly added two in quick succession with ten minutes remaining.

The fourth came when Aiyegbeni picked the ball up on the left and crossed into the area for Matthew Taylor - he turned and played the ball across goal for Sheringham - who was waiting unmarked at the far post to score what could turn out to be his last goal in English football.

The Pompey fans were delighted for Sheringham, but more was to come as Aiyegbeni as he added a fifth for the home side as he weaved and turned in the area before firing past a beleaguered Schwarzer.

The margin of victory did not flatter Portsmouth who could have easily won by more, but it was great way for Redknapp's men to finish the season - while Boro will be happy to retreat to the North East and plan for next season, which will see their first ever European adventure.

Report From , For full report and stats, click here.