Middlesbrough earned a deserved point at Fratton Park to move further away from the Championship relegation zone.
Mid-table Portsmouth had the best of the first half, Hermann Hreidarsson's header hitting the bar.
Boro were the better side for much of the second period, Scott McDonald drawing a save from Jamie Ashdown.
Both teams had late chances to win, Boro keeper Paul Smith punching away David Nugent's header before Ashdown saved from Marvin Emnes.
Pompey manager Steve Cotterill named an unchanged side, despite Tuesday's defeat at Bristol City.
And he would have been happy with his decision after a positive opening spell, in which Nugent tested Smith's hands before Hreidarsson met David Cotterill's cross to slam against the woodwork.
A smart bit of defending from Rhys Williams stopped Dave Kitson from scoring but, shortly afterwards, Boro created their first real chance of the match, Ashdown parrying away Barry Robson's shot.
Ashdown was called into action again after Nicky Bailey drove at goal, and Tony Mowbray's side continued their pressure after the break, McDonald forcing a save from the Portsmouth keeper.
As the game drew to a close Liam Lawrence's long-range drive was comfortably saved by Smith, before Nugent and Emnes again found the keepers on top form.
Live text and stats
Saturday, 12 March 2011
Npower Championship
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Portsmouth
0-0
Middlesbrough
FT
(HT 0-0)
Portsmouth
01 Ashdown
02 Halford
05 De Laet
06 Hreidarsson
20 Ward (Lawrence 59)
33 Rocha
08 Mullins
14 Hogg yellow card
17 Cotterill (Kanu 69)
10 Nugent
18 Kitson yellow card
Substitutes
37 Flahavan,
03 Dickinson,
04 Mokoena,
07 Lawrence,
24 Ciftci,
36 Kilbey,
27 Kanu
Middlesbrough
13 Smith
24 Hines
25 Williams
26 Taylor
27 Bennett
29 McMahon yellow card
10 Bailey
17 Robson
33 Smallwood
07 McDonald (Emnes 61)
15 Lita (Zemmama 67)
Substitutes
39 Ripley,
03 Haas,
06 McManus,
05 Zemmama,
37 Tavares,
11 Kink,
32 Emnes
Ref: CrossleyAtt: 16,447
PORTSMOUTH
MIDDLESBROUGH
Possession
Portsmouth44%
Middlesbrough56%
Attempts on target
Portsmouth5
Middlesbrough5
Attempts off target
Portsmouth2
Middlesbrough1
Corners
Portsmouth5
Middlesbrough7
Fouls
Portsmouth12
Middlesbrough9
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+4:39 The referee blows for the end of the match.
90:00+4:27 Handball by Marvin Emnes. Direct free kick taken by Jamie Ashdown.
90:00+3:26 Nwankwo Kanu concedes a free kick for a foul on Seb Hines. Paul Smith takes the free kick.
90:00+2:34 The ball is crossed by Marvin Emnes.
90:00+1:06 The referee blows for offside against Nwankwo Kanu. Paul Smith takes the indirect free kick.
89:27 Unfair challenge on Marvin Emnes by Liam Lawrence results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Seb Hines.
88:26 Free kick awarded for a foul by Rhys Williams on Nwankwo Kanu. Free kick crossed right-footed by Liam Lawrence, Rhys Williams makes a clearance.
87:36 Free kick awarded for a foul by Marvin Emnes on Ricardo Rocha. Greg Halford takes the direct free kick.
84:16 Joe Bennett challenges Jonathan Hogg unfairly and gives away a free kick. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Liam Lawrence from right channel, Andrew Taylor manages to make a clearance.
81:12 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Tony McMahon from the left by-line, save by Jamie Ashdown.
80:58 Marvin Emnes takes a shot. Jamie Ashdown makes a save.
78:53 Outswinging corner taken by Liam Lawrence from the right by-line, David Nugent takes a shot. Save by Paul Smith.
77:59 Tony McMahon is penalised for a handball. Free kick crossed right-footed by Liam Lawrence from left channel, clearance made by Rhys Williams.
77:59 Booking Tony McMahon booked for unsporting behaviour.
77:16 Liam Lawrence takes a shot. Save by Paul Smith.
75:25 Marvin Emnes is caught offside. Greg Halford takes the indirect free kick.
72:59 Richard Smallwood gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nwankwo Kanu. Free kick crossed right-footed by Liam Lawrence from right wing.
71:29 David Nugent is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Tony McMahon restarts play with the free kick.
70:09 Hermann Hreidarsson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Merouane Zemmama. Free kick crossed left-footed by Barry Robson, clearance by Hayden Mullins.
68:04 Substitution Nwankwo Kanu on for David Cotterill.
67:02 Corner taken left-footed by Barry Robson from the right by-line to the near post, Liam Lawrence manages to make a clearance.
66:35 Substitution Merouane Zemmama is brought on as a substitute for Leroy Lita.
65:26 Inswinging corner taken by Tony McMahon from the left by-line.
62:33 Unfair challenge on Barry Robson by Ritchie De Laet results in a free kick. Tony McMahon fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick, save made by Jamie Ashdown.
61:51 Free kick awarded for a foul by Greg Halford on Leroy Lita. Tony McMahon delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, clearance made by Dave Kitson.
60:49 Substitution (Middlesbrough) makes a substitution, with Marvin Emnes coming on for Scott McDonald.
59:42 David Nugent concedes a free kick for a foul on Barry Robson. Paul Smith takes the free kick.
59:22 Foul by Tony McMahon on Dave Kitson, free kick awarded. Liam Lawrence takes the direct free kick.
58:23 Substitution Liam Lawrence replaces Joel Ward.
57:46 Centre by Andrew Taylor, save made by Jamie Ashdown.
56:49 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Seb Hines.
54:29 Dave Kitson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Seb Hines. Free kick taken by Nicky Bailey.
54:29 Booking Booking for Dave Kitson for unsporting behaviour.
50:31 Booking Jonathan Hogg receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.
49:20 Scott McDonald takes a shot. Jamie Ashdown makes a save.
48:43 Short corner taken by Barry Robson from the right by-line.
47:19 Inswinging corner taken by David Cotterill from the left by-line, Rhys Williams manages to make a clearance.
46:29 The assistant referee signals for offside against Scott McDonald. Free kick taken by Greg Halford.
45:51 The ball is crossed by David Nugent.
45:01 The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.
Half Time
45:00+1:09 The referee calls an end to the first half.
45:00+0:39 Effort from just outside the area by David Nugent goes over the bar.
44:42 Nicky Bailey takes a shot. Save made by Jamie Ashdown.
Correction - 44:01 Scott McDonald produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that clears the crossbar.
44:01 Scott McDonald produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that goes over the bar.
43:00 David Cotterill takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Rhys Williams.
40:34 Tony McMahon challenges David Nugent unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by David Cotterill.
39:21 Free kick awarded for a foul by Hayden Mullins on Barry Robson. Barry Robson restarts play with the free kick.
38:02 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Joe Bennett by Jonathan Hogg. Tony McMahon takes the free kick.
36:15 The ball is crossed by David Cotterill.
35:42 Free kick awarded for a foul by Barry Robson on David Nugent. Hermann Hreidarsson takes the direct free kick.
34:12 Corner from the right by-line taken by David Cotterill, Paul Smith makes a save.
31:01 Corner taken by Tony McMahon.
Correction - 29:44 Corner from right by-line taken by Barry Robson.
29:44 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Barry Robson.
29:21 Barry Robson takes a shot. Jamie Ashdown makes a save.
28:48 Dave Kitson takes a shot. Blocked by Rhys Williams.
28:12 The assistant referee flags for offside against Scott McDonald. Jamie Ashdown takes the free kick.
27:07 Unfair challenge on Seb Hines by Dave Kitson results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Barry Robson.
23:00 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ritchie De Laet by Barry Robson. Free kick taken by Jamie Ashdown.
22:24 Hermann Hreidarsson takes a shot.
21:18 Free kick awarded for a foul by Nicky Bailey on David Cotterill. Free kick crossed right-footed by David Cotterill from right wing.
19:34 The assistant referee signals for offside against Scott McDonald. Free kick taken by Jamie Ashdown.
19:02 David Nugent challenges Leroy Lita unfairly and gives away a free kick. Tony McMahon takes the free kick.
17:06 Joel Ward takes a shot. Save made by Paul Smith.
15:38 Dave Kitson is caught offside. Paul Smith restarts play with the free kick.
14:19 Inswinging corner taken by Barry Robson from the right by-line.
12:19 Free kick awarded for a foul by Dave Kitson on Seb Hines. Free kick taken by Paul Smith.
11:37 The official flags Barry Robson offside. Free kick taken by Jamie Ashdown.
9:32 David Nugent takes a shot. Save made by Paul Smith.
2:45 Corner taken by David Cotterill from the left by-line, save made by Paul Smith.
0:00 The match has kicked off.
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