Middlesbrough welcomed Portsmouth to the Riverside Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Middlesbrough returned to the Riverside in the wake of their 1-0 defeat vs Derby County last weekend.
Michael Carrick was looking for a response from his side, who dominated last time out but could not find a goal.
Portsmouth were expected to sit deep against Boro, much like the Rams did at Pride Park in the previous gameweek.
However, the away outfit took the lead inside just two minutes on Saturday via Christian Saydee.
Middlesbrough quickly responded, however, with Matt Clarke heading in an equaliser after 10 minutes.
But Boro were behind once again in the 25th minute when Saydee capitalised on a mistake at the back to make it 2-1 to Portsmouth.
Neil Maddison criticised Middlesbrough player against Portsmouth
Middlesbrough were solid going forward for much of the first 45 but their defensive work was dismal.
Lukas Engel was largely at fault for the opening goal while Seny Dieng’s lack of communication with makeshift centre-back Luke Ayling led to the second.
It was a tough watch at the Riverside and one man who was not happy with Boro’s display was Neil Maddison.
Speaking live on BBC Tees Radio on Saturday [3:24pm], the former Middlesbrough man made his feelings clear and told Carrick that Boro need a player who will be a loud voice at the back.
He said: “What a mess. You talk about communication skills, I don’t think Boro have got any there because if you have that loud voice there, you get a shout to say ‘you deal with it’.
“It’s an absolute mess. Just take charge of the situation and twice there it didn’t happen. It’s cost you there, it’s cost you a goal. [Boro need] someone with a loud voice to warn of the danger.
“The three goals that we have conceded, how frustrating is it. All the goals we have conceded are stoppable. You have gifted three goals to the opposition.”
Middlesbrough must sign a defender
Boro’s defensive howlers in the first 45 were not excusable in any way but it has highlighted the need for Carrick to sign another centre-back.
Rav van den Berg, Dael Fry and Darragh Lenihan all missed the meeting with Portsmouth due to injury.
The latter two of that trio have been out since last season, with Middlesbrough’s defensive ranks seriously depleted.
Had Boro opted to sign another centre-back this summer, they may have avoided that first-half diaster on Saturday.