Portsmouth missed the chance to move fifth in the Barclays Premiership as a Jonathan Woodgate-inspired Middlesbrough held firm at Fratton Park.

The often-injured on-loan Real Madrid defender underlined what a class act he is when fit as he outshone Pompey's Sol Campbell and Linvoy Primus.

Portsmouth made a few chances and had much of the play but that was little consolation following their home loss to struggling Charlton and FA Cup exit at Manchester United.

Primus twice went close for Pompey in a fast-moving first half, volleying wide when Boro could not clear a Matt Taylor free-kick and then heading inches wide from a corner from the same player.

But Primus and his centre-back role model Campbell also had to get their last-ditch tackles spot on to deny former team-mate Yakubu on his barnstorming runs.

Pompey started with Kanu back in their firing line in place of Andy Cole after the Nigerian claimed his 11th goal of the season in the gallant loss at Old Trafford.

Boro had skipper George Boateng back from a ban but they were still without injured striker Mark Viduka and had to give reserve keeper Brad Jones a game after Mark Schwarzer pulled out with back trouble.

Jones, making his first Boro league start of the campaign after a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday, had two early scares.

First Kanu, fed by Lauren, fired a low drive just wide in the first minute before Pedro Mendes' long-range effort suffered a similar fate 60 seconds later.

In between Boro went close when Stewart Downing's fine cross from the left just eluded James Morrison's stretch at the far post.

Morrison, again deputising for Viduka following Massimo Maccarone's free transfer back to Italy with Siena, needed only a touch to score from two yards out but Boro were lucky soon afterwards when Lauren's attempted shot bounced off Abel Xavier straight into Jones' arms.

Kanu went close again on 10 minutes with a cross-shot that was just off target but then Campbell had to show all his experience and strength to snuff out Yakubu's determined run, at the expense of a corner, with a superbly-timed tackle.

Pompey claimed a corner came in the 34th minute and Primus, who scored twice against West Ham on Boxing Day, outjumped Xavier only to head wide.

But after a lively first half when all the game lacked was penetration on either side, the second was drab - even allowing for Pompey's inevitable late surge.

Lomana LuaLua, out for eight weeks through injury, and Cole were both sent on as late substitutes even after winger Roudolphe Douala replaced the injured Djimi Traore.

But Redknapp's team could not find their shooting boots and Woodgate was a rock in the Boro defence as they dug in for five additional minutes to mark their seventh successive game without defeat.

Taylor wasted a great chance 20 minutes from time when perfectly found by skipper Gary O'Neil, only to make a hash of his first touch and finish up firing over the bar from a narrowing angle.

It needed another heroic intervention by Primus to stop Boro sub Malcolm Christie in the closing minutes and Christie also fired a low rocket just before the end which the previously unemployed David James needed two attempts to hold.

Jones was much busier but seldom looked like being beaten as Pompey suffered a second successive home shut-out.

Teams:

Portsmouth (0) 0 Middlesbrough (0) 0

Portsmouth James, Johnson, Primus, Campbell,Traore (Douala 69), O'Neil, Lauren, Pedro Mendes, Taylor,Mwaruwari (LuaLua 73), Kanu (Cole 81).

Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Hughes.

Middlesbrough Jones, Xavier, Woodgate, Pogatetz, Taylor,Morrison (Christie 81), Boateng, Cattermole, Arca, Downing,Yakubu (Euell 90).

Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Rochemback, Davies.

Booked: Downing.

Att: 19,820

Ref: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).