Last term, Tony Mowbray's side conceded a glut of stoppage-time goals that turned victories into draws and draws into costly defeats. One game into the new campaign, and the malaise shows no sign of abating. The season has barely started, but Boro are already two points adrift of where they really should be.
Deservedly in front as the clock ticked past the 90-minute mark thanks to goals from Marvin Emnes and Rhys Williams, which sandwiched a second-half strike from Pompey skipper David Norris, the Teessiders were heading for their first opening-day victory since 2008.
Cue the inevitable sting in the tail. Substitute Christian Dailly shot from distance, Stephen McManus' outstretched boot deflected the ball into Matthew Bates' face, and the rebound fell invitingly for Luke Varney to stroke home from the edge of the area.
The strike was as inevitable as it was unfortunate, and instantly took much of the shine off an otherwise encouraging display. If Boro are to make the progress they desire this season, they are going to have to start seeing games like this out.
"I think we probably deserved the three points, so ultimately it's frustrating and disappointing," admitted Mowbray. "Credit to Portsmouth for keeping going. They are a big powerful team and they ask questions of you. They put the ball in the box and, while most of the time we were okay, we were a bit naive for the second goal."
In truth, that naivety had been apparent in last season's home game with Portsmouth, another 2-2 draw that featured a dramatic late leveller from the visitors.
Back then, tempers boiled over in a feisty second half, Barry Robson was sent off for retaliating to a punch from Aaron Mokoena and Liam Lawrence profited with a last-minute penalty.
Things were similar this time around, with Portsmouth's physical approach gradually dragging Middlesbrough's players into a bad-tempered scrap they should really have avoided.
Referee Graham Salisbury brandished seven yellow cards in an increasingly tempestuous second period, and from a position of considerable strength, in which the quality of their attacking play was repeatedly too good for their more limited opponents, Boro lapsed to Portsmouth's baser levels.
These are still early days, but the Teessiders will have to ensure they do not pick up a reputation for being a side that can be roughed up and knocked out of their stride.
Perhaps Mowbray should also reflect on his own approach. When the board went up displaying five extra minutes, most managers would have disrupted the rhythm of stoppage time by making substitutions, particularly if none of their replacements had been used.
Mowbray didn't, only introducing Merouane Zemmama after Varney's strike had flown in. His refusal to pander to football's dark arts is commendable, but at the final whistle on Saturday, it was hard not to conclude that it had also been counter-productive.
"For me, you only use your bench if you think it can influence the game," he said. "At 2-1 up, and with the way the game was going, I didn't feel the necessity to do it for the sake of it, and I don't see that as a negative."
Enough of negatives anyway. This has been a summer in which the prevailing mood around Middlesbrough has veered from downbeat to doom-ridden, so it is pleasing to note that Saturday's display contained more than enough positives to suggest the new campaign could yet result in a significant step forward from last term.
Yes, experienced players have left. But the opening day provided a timely reminder of the quality that remains, and in as open and competitive a league as the Championship, it would be wrong to rule anything out.
Boro were particularly lively up front, with Scott McDonald and Marvin Emnes combining effectively throughout. The former will always be an industrious presence, while the latter, who signed a three-year contract extension last week, already looks like being one of the key figures in the squad.
He provides the kind of pace and energy that defenders despise, and having scored in two of his final six outings of last season, appears to be discovering a welcome composure in front of goal.
He certainly took Saturday's opener well, turning adroitly in the area after receiving a square ball from McDonald and caressing a neat finish into the bottom right-hand corner.
"Marvin has played one game and scored one goal, so he has a 100 per cent strike rate and has the capability (to be a regular scorer)," said Mowbray. "He has force, power and technical ability, and that's why we extended his contract.
"He has the talent, we just need to try to channel it in the right direction. Hopefully, he will be a big player for us as the season unfolds."
The same will surely be true of Rhys Williams, and after Norris drilled home an equaliser two minutes after the interval, the Australian re-established Boro's lead in the 54th minute. Nicky Bailey unlocked the Pompey defence with an incisive pass, and Williams steadied himself neatly before slotting home.
The 23-year-old is the most coveted player still left in the squad, and Boro's promotion hopes will increase greatly if Mowbray is able to hold on to him in the next three-and-a-half weeks.
He ran the show at the weekend, dominating the central midfield area with a string of crisp passes and decisive interceptions. His partnership with Bailey already looks well balanced - Williams tends to push forward while his partner tends to sit - and while it remains to be seen whether Joe Bennett can be as effective at left midfield as he was at left-back, Boro's central unit look strong.
"Wherever you play Rhys, he can influence the game," said Mowbray. "My own personal view is that his best position is centre-half, but yet again he has shown in midfield that he has the athleticism, ability and fighting qualities to be very effective there."
Source: Northern Echo
Source: Northern Echo