Goals:
0-1: Bryan (8, applied the side-foot finish inside the far corner after lay-off from Wilbraham)
Bookings: Wilbraham (37, foul); Ayala (90, foul)
Referee: Paul Tierney (Halifax) – could have given Boro a first half penalty and strangely gave Bristol City a decision after the restart which was nowhere correct. 4
Attendance:22,236
Entertainment: PP
Boro City
Shots on 6 4
Shots off 13 8
Corners 8 1
Offsides 2 3
Fouls 12 9
MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1):
7 Konstantopoulos: Made a couple of stops in the first half which should have helped Boro earn a result;
5 Nsue: Was Boro’s most dangerous wide-man in the first half but faded after the restart
7 Ayala: Made his fair share of blocks and had a couple of chances to score himself
5 Kalas: Not convincing at the heart of the defence and looks more comfortable as a right-back
6 Friend: Steady enough defensively and regularly joined in with the attacks;
6 Clayton: Kept the ball ticking over but with the power in his boot it would be great to see him have a shot
6 Leadbitter: Would be nice to see him break beyond the striker more often, if Karanka allows it
5 Stuani: Denied a first Riverside goal by Hamer but was not as sharp as he was when he started at Oldham
7 Downing: Never gave the ball away and when he moved out to the left Boro created clear cut chances
5 Wildschut: Got in to good areas but was wasteful with his final ball when it mattered
5 Nugent: Was the hold up man rather than the predatory striker because he was basically feeding off scraps
Subs:
Fabbrini (for Wildschut 46): Did little bits to spark Boro to life but it still wasn’t enough. 5
Adomah (for Stuani 61): Brought greater width but unable to deliver that elusive goal. 5
Kike (for Nsue 76)
(not used): Mejias (gk), Gibson, Stephens, Forshaw.
BRISTOL CITY (4-2-3-1): HAMER 8; Ayling 6, Flint 7, Williams 7; Little 6 (Fredericks 70, 5), Smith 6, Pack 6, Reid 7 (Wagstaff 78), Bryan 7; Wilbraham 7, Kodjia 7 (Burns 61, 5). Subs (not used): O'Leary, El-Abd, Robinson, Agard.
MAN OF THE MATCH: BEN Hamer – made three second half saves of the highest quality to frustrate Boro and the Riverside.
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