Harry Redknapp finished his postmatch press conference and glanced at the television screen on the wall. “Hang on,” he said. “Robinho at a free kick.” The Brazilian curled the ball into the net, giving Manchester City a 1-0 lead against Chelsea and the Portsmouth manager marvelled at his skill. “He looks cheap,” Redknapp said.

Cheap and cheerful, that’s ’Arry, but he can dream on. He may have assembled a decent squad at Fratton Park at no little expense, especially in the wages department, but players such as Robinho are way out of his reach. Still, the FA Cup is in the bank and Europe beckons. Portsmouth take on Vitória Guimarães, of Portugal, at home in the first leg of their Uefa Cup first-round tie on Thursday and are savouring continental combat for the first time in their 110-year history. “These are great days,” Redknapp said. “If I had said six years ago that you would be seeing these type of players playing for Portsmouth, you’d have said I was off my head.

“Vitória will be a hard game. They beat Middlesbrough in preseason and have some good Brazilians.”

On Saturday, Portsmouth emulated their Uefa Cup opponents by beating Middlesbrough, two goals from Jermain Defoe completing an exhilarating, second-half revival. Redknapp conceded that his initial 3-5-2 system had failed, with Mido having given Middlesbrough the lead, and switching to a more fluid 4-4-2 formation reaped its reward.

Defoe was omitted from the England team who demolished Croatia, but showed that he has much to offer. “I didn’t feel that I had a point to prove after being left out,” Defoe said. “After all, if you are in the squad, you are still part of it.”

Peter Crouch, Defoe’s strike partner, also missed the romp in Zagreb and produced a performance that Fabio Capello should also take note of.

Portsmouth (3-5-2): D James 5 – Y Kaboul 5 (sub: N Belhadj, 46min 7), S Campbell 5, S Distin 5 – G Johnson 5, P Bouba Diop 4 (sub: J Utaka, 46 6), L Diarra 7, S Davis 6, A Traoré 7 (sub: H Hreidarsson, 84) – J Defoe 8, P Crouch 6. Substitutes not used: J Ashdown, D Nugent, N Pamarot, A Mvuemba. Booked: Defoe, Johnson.

Middlesbrough (4-4-2): R Turnbull 7 – J Hoyte 5, R Huth 4, C Riggott 4, E Pogatetz 4 – J Aliadière 4, G O’Neil 5, D Digard 5 (sub: A Taylor, 70 5), S Downing 5 – Afonso Alves 4, Mido 7 (sub: A Johnson, 84). Substitutes not used: B Jones, D Wheater, N Porritt, J Walker, T Craddock. Booked: Mido.

Referee S Attwell Attendance 19,425