Southgate's side had been heading for defeat after Peter Crouch's first-half volley until Marlon King's injury-time equaliser secured a possible lifeline for Boro in their fight against relegation.

Boro fans had booed several players and started chanting "We've only got one player" - in reference to Turkish striker Tuncay, who had an impressive game.

But Southgate was unhappy with the reaction of the fans.

He said: "It's one of those situations where I am going to get slaughtered whatever I say, so I'm going to say what I believe.

"Some of the chants were disrespectful to the rest of the team.

"The crowd are right to laud Tuncay's efforts but we will win and lose as a team. The other lads may not have been as eye-catching but they were making important saves, blocks and interceptions.

"It's hurtful for a lot of the other players. We will survive as a club and as a town by everyone pulling together."

Southgate said he could not understand Matthew Bates' dismissal for a second yellow card, given by referee Martin Atkinson for diving. But he said that had been the turning point of the game.

Southgate added: "He is an excellent referee but it was a strange decision.

"But it changed the course of the game because the crowd then came back behind us.

"It could be a crucial point and we are still in there fighting."

Portsmouth manager Paul Hart refused to blame his players for allowing victory to slip away by sitting back after Boro had been reduced to 10 men following Bates' sending off.

Hart said: "Sometimes in desperation to get a result you just try to hang on. We have shown our desire and our determination to stay in this division.

"I could quite easily have pushed somebody - I could have opened up the game - so on that score I don't think you can blame the players but we decided to shore up and try to get a result.

"If you look at most of the game we had coped with everything and some of our performances were tremendous."

David James had been the bed-rock of Portsmouth's performance with some top-class saves - "he was magnificent," added Hart, who admitted the late equaliser had been hard to take.

He said: "It is very, very disappointing because going into the last minute in front you think you've cracked it. But if you had asked me before if I would have settled for a point I would have said yes.

"We are not shipping goals like we were, and goal difference could turn out to be important in the final reckoning."

Crouch's goal was his first in 10 games and Hart said the England striker had been inspirational since he took over as manager.

Hart added: "I think this could be very important for Peter. I have been delighted with his performances, he's thoroughly deserved that goal and he took it brilliantly."