Gordon Strachan admitted it felt like a defeat after Middlesbrough let slip a commanding two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Portsmouth at the Riverside. Boro were two up at the break through a Matthew Bates strike and a Barry Robson penalty but Pompey - who had not taken a point away from home this term before kick-off - pulled one back through a David Nugent header then levelled with a controversial late Liam Lawrence penalty. The spot-kick came as Boro cleared after a corner and Aaron Mokoena was left on the ground. After consulting with an assistant, referee Rob Shoebridge dismissed Robson but Strachan insists that the video evidence proved inconclusive. Strachan said: "I didn't see it. I don't think anyone saw it. I've seen the incident again on a grainy film from behind the goal but it was inconclusive. "But the referee or the linesman saw it and so they gave it and I am not going to complain about it. "I was very disappointed and it feels like a defeat because we were two goals up and in control. When you give someone a goal and get someone sent off like that, then yes it is disappointing. It feels like a defeat."
Source: PA
Source: PA