BIRMINGHAM (4-4-1-1):
Legzdins 6; Caddis 7 (Spector 89), Morrison 4, Shotton 6, Grounds 5; COTTERILL 8, Gleeson 7, Kieftenbeld 7, Davis 6 (Solomon 86); Fabbrini 6 (Robinson 79); Donaldson 5.
Subs (not used): Trueman (gk), Vaughan, Lafferty, Buckley.
MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1):
5 Konstantopoulos: Made a fine late save from Cotterill but should have done much better with Gleeson’s opening goal
6 Nsue: Made some effective charges down the right-hand side and always looked defensively secure
7 Gibson: Another effective display from the centre-half, who ensured Donaldson barely had a look-in all night
8 Ayala: Dominated the heart of Boro’s back four all night and should have been celebrating a winning goal
4 De Laet: His shakiest performance in a Boro shirt – never looked comfortable and helped tee up Gleeson’s opener
7 Leadbitter: Never stopped battling all evening and almost brought the house down with the 89th-minute strike that crashed against the crossbar
7 Clayton: Shook off an early knock to produce another effective display at the heart of midfield – won some important tackles
7 Adomah: Delivered an excellent cross that led to Ramirez’s goal and looks much more effective now he is back to the right flank
8 RAMIREZ: Was Boro’s chief creative presence all evening, prompting from the ‘number ten’ role and calmly converted his goal
5 Downing: The quietest of Boro’s attacking players and is still to produce a really telling performance in a big game
7 Rhodes: Wasn’t always the most polished and missed two good first-half chances – but still ended with a goal and an assist
Subs:
Stuani (for Downing, 85)
Nugent (for Rhodes, 87)
(not used): Agazzi (gk), Kalas, Husband, de Sart, Forshaw.
Man Of The Match: GASTON RAMIREZ – The Southampton loanee has been Boro’s most important player in recent weeks, and his performance in next weekend’s decider against Brighton could be decisive.
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