Boro into fourth round with Shrews win (From The Northern Echo)

Boro into fourth round with Shrews win

4:56pm Saturday 7th January 2012 in Middlesbrough FC Match Reports

MARVIN EMNES fired Middlesbrough into the next round of the FA Cup in an entertaining third round fixture at the Riverside.

 

Shrewsbury deserved a goal for their efforts against Boro, but their 917 travelling fans left the ground disappointed.

In front of a season-low attendance of 12,631, Boro spurned numerous chances to put the tie to bed after Emnes had given his side a 40^th minute lead.

The Dutchman struck when he collected Malaury Martin's deep cross and scooped over Shrews goalkeeper Chris Neal, after both sides had traded chances, Lionel Ainsworth squandering the visitors' best opportunity of the first half when he stabbed wide.

Boro never looked fully comfortable with their lead, Ogbeche and McDonald particularly wasteful in front of goal, which was almost punished by Shrewsbury on the break through Terry Gornell and the dangerous Marvin Morgan.

The hosts survived a penalty shout on 80 minutes when substitute James Collins was beaten to Matt Richards' cross by substitute goalkeeper Danny Coyne, who replaced the injured Jason Steele midway through the second half.

But Boro hung on to avoid defeat and go into the draw for the fourth round, an improvement on last year's return when they were dumped out at the first hurdle by Burton Albion in a 2-1 defeat.