Goals:
0-1: Wheeler (2, arrived in behind Fabio to convert Freeman’s cheeky pass into the area)
1-1: Baker (36, controlled Johnson’s perfect pass into space and then slotted beyond Smithies)
1-2: Mackie (50, tapped into an empty net with a simple finish after Gibson and Randolph mix up)
2-2: Fletcher (56, glanced a lovely header beyond the keeper from Smithies’ cross)
3-2: Assombalonga (60, dived in the six yard box to power Johnson’s cross into the net)
Bookings: Luongo (32, foul); Clayton (34, foul); Leadbitter (39, foul); Wszolek (47, foul); Smithies (52, unsporting behaviour); Christie (66, foul); Mackie (66, foul); Baker (66, foul)
Sending-off: None
Referee: Darren Bond (Preston) – a couple of debatable decisions but on the the whiole he had a decent game in the middle. 6
Attendance: 24,790
Entertainment: **
Boro QPR
Shots on 8 2
Shots off 8 8
Corners 6 1
Offsides 3 2
Fouls 17 14
MIDDLESBROUGH (4-1-2-3):
5 Randolph: Made a few saves but beaten twice and made a mess of the second along with Gibson;
6 Christie: Improved after a shaky start and delivered the perfect cross for Fletcher to equalise
6 Fry: A solid performance again in the middle despite having plenty to do against the Hoops
5 Gibson: Was just as culpable for QPR’s second as Randolph even if he was decent otherwise
5 Fabio: Looked better going forward but allowed Wheeler in for the opener;
6 Clayton: Picked up a fifth caution to rule him out of the trip to Villa and withdrawn early
6 Leadbitter: Looked to get on the ball when he could without influencing things in the way he would like;
8 JOHNSON: Impressed from start to finish and supplied two of the goals with excellent assists
7 Baker: Struck a sweet first half goal and lively enough throughout without dictating things
6 Downing: Frustrated early on when a few passes went astray but got stronger
7 Assombalonga: Worked hard again in the final third and grabbed the winner
Subs:
Fletcher (for Clayton 46): Enjoyed a positive impact and a goal. 7
Howson (for Leabditter 56): Decent enough showing after his introduction. 6
Forshaw (for Downing 78)
(not used): Konstantopoulos (gk), Friend, Shotton, Bamford.
QUEENS PARK RANGERS: (4-2-3-1): Smithies 7, Furlong 6, Baptiste 6, Robinson 6, Bidwell 6; LUONGO 7, Manning 6; Wheeler 7 (Sylla 67, 5), Freeman 7, LuaLua 4 (Wszolek 46, 6); Smith 4 (Mackie 46, 5). Subs (not used): Lumley, Borysiuk, Ngbakoto, Osayi-Samuel.
MAN OF THE MATCH: MARVIN Johnson – slotted in from the start to ensure Boro didn’t miss Adama Traore too much.
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