Goals:
1-0: Traore (44, skipped round Bacuna before unleashing a powerful left foot shot that Mannone could only help in)
2-0: Traore (49, charged at the defence and picked out the far corner with a right foot drive)
2-1: Martin (79, given the freedom to take a touch and pick his spot from the edge of the area through a crowded box)
Bookings: van den Berg (60, dissent); Friend (73, foul); Gunter (83, foul); Clayton (88, dissent); Bacuna (90, dissent)
Referee: David Coote (Northamptonshire) – annoyed Reading players by awarding a penalty but otherwise did well to control things, even near the end when the players clashed. 6
Attendance: 23,491
Entertainment: **
Boro Read
Shots on 3 2
Shots off 11 5
Corners 6 8
Offsides 2 3
Fouls 13 11
MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1):
6 Randolph: Didn’t have the busiest of matches and not to blame for the goal;
6 Shotton: His long throws weren’t as effective as Boro would have liked
7 Ayala: Continued his recent good form and that’s a welcome boost for everyone
7 Gibson: Made his fair share of blocks and clearances when the Royals did make progress
6 Friend: Had played well in both directions but made a silly late tackle in a dangerous area;
6 Leadbitter: Looked to get on the ball and unlucky with a free-kick that hit the post
6 Howson: Back in the side again and got through plenty of work;
8 TRAORE: The Spaniard is displaying the sort of performances that is going to get top teams calling
6 Downing: Had one first half volley that bounced wide of the far post
5 Bamford: Had a couple of half chances without showing the sort of confidence he is looking for;
5 Gestede: Didn’t provide the threat on the Reading goal that was required
Subs (not used):
Clayton (for Bamford 66): Got involved in plenty and a bit of a pushing and shoving. 5
Assombalonga (for Gestede 79)
Cranie (for Downing 90)
Subs:
(not used): Konstantopoulos (gk), Fry, Besic, Harrison.
READING: (4-2-3-1): Mannone 5; Gunter 6, Moore 6, ILORI 7, Bacuna 4; Kelly 6 (Clement 63, 5), van den Berg 6; McCleary 5 (Kermorgant 74), Edwards 5, Aluko 5; Bodvarsson 4 (Martin 63, 7). Subs (not used): Jaakkola (gk), Blackett, Richards, Smith.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Adama Traore - lit up the Riverside every time he got on the ball.
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