Goals:
1-0: Asoro (11, poked a finish over the line after Matthews’ throw was flicked on by Maja and not dealt with by the defence)
1-1: Bamford (49, controlled Friend’s knock down before brilliantly turning and picking out the bottom left corner)
1-2: Leadbitter pen (53, rolled into the bottom corner after Assombalonga was tripped by Camp)
2-2: Williams (57, side-footed Oviedo’s cut back inside Randolph’s bottom right corner from ten yards)
2-3: Bamford (68, flicked the ball away from Camp before finding the empty net after getting behind O’Shea)
3-3: McManaman (90, arrived unmarked at the back post to cushion a volley from Oviedo’s corner beyond Randolph)
Bookings: Maja (45, foul); Leadbitter (55, dissent); Honeyman (65, foul); McGeady (84, foul); Oviedo (90, foul); McManaman (90, dissent)
Sending-off: Clarke-Salter (24, dangerous foul play); Traore (37, violent conduct)
Referee: Tim Robinson (Middleton-on-Sea) – there might have been complaints, but difficult to see how he could have given anything other than two red cards for the big calls. 7
Attendance:
Entertainment: ****
Bolton Sund
Shots on 7 4
Shots off 10 7
Corners 4 2
Fouls 14 10
Offsides 2 3
SUNDERLAND (3-5-2):
5 Camp: Didn’t make the saves required to keep Boro at bay and conceded a penalty too;
6 Kone: Looks like he is enjoying playing again after a lengthy period away from the first team picture
6 O’Shea: Had a couple of shaky moments and will be annoyed to have let Bamford slip in behind him for Boro’s third
4 Clarke-Salter: Hampered Sunderland’s bright start with a stupid lunge into Traore when they had the lead;
7 Matthews: Defended well and sent over a number of decent deliveries including the throw for the opener
7 Cattermole: Was clearly intent on making his mark against the club where it all started
6 McNair: Had started well but took a couple of heavy blows and had to be withdrawn
6 Honeyman: Put in the usual yardage in terms of his workrate but could do with influencing things more in final third
6 Oviedo: Heavily involved with plenty of moments in both halves of the pitch and sent over the crucial corner;
8 ASORO: Got a goal his recent displays have deserved and he has become one of the first names on the teamsheet
6 Maja: Worked tirelessly in the final third and flicked on for the opening goal
Subs
Williams (for McNair 40): Struck Sunderland’s second goal to give everyone a lift. 6
McManaman (for Maja 65): Looked like the sort of player he was at Wigan, scoring the leveller and almost had a second
McGeady (for Honeyman 78)
(not used): Steele (gk), Jones, Robson, Browning.
MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1):
6 Randolph: Had a couple of nervy moments but also made his fair share of stops including one from McManaman;
6 Shotton: Not as effective as he has been defensively but that was similar to the whole defence
6 Ayala: Partially to blame for the opener with the rest of the backline but otherwise solid enough
6 Gibson: Got in a mess with Friend for Asoro’s goal but then steadied himself after that without being brilliant
6 Friend: After missing the header in build up to Asoro’s opener, he played well and almost teed up a goal for Traore;
7 Leadbitter: Can be satisfied with his contribution on an emotional return to where it all started and scored too
7 Besic: Impressed in the middle without totally dictating things because of Cattermole’s presence;
4 Traore: Even if he was not completely to blame he shouldn’t have raised his hands and Boro now lose him for four games
6 Downing: Played some nice passes but could have done with posing a threat to Camp’s goal for himself
8 BAMFORD: His goals were like the Bamford of a few years ago and he successfully switched roles too;
5 Assombalonga: Earned the penalty that gave Boro the lead early in the second half but that was about it
Subs:
Harrison (for Assombalonga 64): Might find himself playing more in the absence of Traore. 5
Clayton (for Leadbitter 75)
Howson (for Downing 75)
Subs (not used): Konstantopoulos (gk), Cranie, Fry, Baker.
MAN OF THE MATCH: PATRICK Bamford – proved the hottest forward by striking two goals that came close to earning Middlesbrough maximum points.
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