YORK 0 MIDDLESBROUGH 1

MIDDLESBROUGH’S pre-season campaign began in the worst possible fashion as the club’s only summer signing, Alex Baptiste, was stretchered off with a serious leg injury.

Bradley Fewster scored the only goal of the game as Boro beat League Two York City at Bootham Crescent, but the success meant little when posited against the loss of Baptiste, who was immediately dispatched to hospital for an X-ray and scans.

Baptiste only joined Middlesbrough from Bolton at the start of the month, and his first appearance for the club was curtailed in the cruellest of fashions after less than half an hour.

The right-back made a 50-50 challenge with Middlesbrough-born Danny Johnson, who is on trial at York following his release from Cardiff City, and while there was nothing malicious in the tackle from either player, it was immediately obvious that Baptiste was in considerable pain.

Boro’s medical staff immediately signalled for a stretcher, and after five minutes of treatment, Baptiste left the field with his leg heavily strapped.

It was not immediately obvious whether he had broken his right leg or ankle, but either way the injury is a serious one that will rule him out of the start of the season, and potentially a lot longer.

Only last week, Karanka had been speaking glowingly about Baptiste, claiming his experience and defensive versatility would make him a hugely influential addition. Already, the Boro head coach might well have to reassess his plans.

Baptiste’s injury cast a long shadow over an otherwise uneventful first half that saw Boro’s youngsters give a decent account of themselves without ever really threatening to take York apart.

Dael Fry was the pick of the young starters at centre-half, with Callum Cooke also catching the eye with some neat touches in the hole behind lone striker Kike.

Kike had the best of Boro’s early chances, but after the Spaniard was denied by York goalkeeper Scott Flinders after breaking clear in the second minute, he prodded another effort narrowly wide after a fine through ball from James Husband midway through the first half.

Husband came within inches of a breakthrough with a low shot that rebounded off the upright six minutes before the break, and while both Kike and Junior Mondal attempted to score with follow-up efforts, Flinders was on hand to deny them.

York’s players grew into the game after a shaky start, and the League Two side almost claimed the lead with their best attack of the opening period.

Russ Penn played Johnson into the left-hand side of the area, but while the striker’s shot eluded the onrushing Dimi Konstantopoulos, a backtracking Fry was on hand to hack the ball clear.

Boro changed nine of their outfield players at the break, with the likes of George Friend, Adam Clayton and Lee Tomlin getting a run out in the second half.

Clayton fired in the first shot of the second period – a 25-yard strike that was saved by Michael Ingham – but despite Friend and Adam Reach linking up effectively down the left-hand side, Boro continued to struggle to fashion a breakthrough.

York threatened when Callum Rzonca squeezed in a shot that was deflected wide, but Boro finally broke the deadlock with 12 minutes remaining.

Tomlin produced a deft through ball to release Fewster through the middle, and the striker drew the goalkeeper from his line before slotting home a crisp low finish.

 

York First Half (4-4-2): Flinders; Nolan, Swann, Winfield, McCombe; Platt, Penn, Berrett, Straker; Trialist A (Johnson), Oliver.

York Second Half (4-4-2): Ingham; McCoy, Lowe, Trialist B, Ilesanmi; Meikle, Summerfield, Godfrey, Carson; Rzonca, Trialist A (Johnson) (Hirst 75).

Middlesbrough First Half (4-2-3-1): Konstantopoulos (Mejias 35); Baptiste (Bennett 29), Ayala, Fry, Husband; Leadbitter, Maloney; Wildschut, Cooke, Mondal; Kike.

Middlesbrough Second Half (4-2-3-1): Mejias (Ripley 64); Bennett, Burn, Jackson, Friend; Clayton, Kitching; Chapman, Tomlin, Reach; Fewster.