Goal:

1-0: Pukki (58, poked in off Shotton after Friend’s attempt to nick the ball away in the box ended up teeing up the Finn)

Referee: Andy Davies (Hampshire) - James Linington’s replacement baffled everyone with the Klose red card incident - and infuriated Pulis by not awarding Boro a penalty just before City’s goal. 4

Bookings: Clayton (42, foul); Klose (59, foul), Stiepermann (62, foul), Leitner (88, foul)

Attendance: 24,642

Entertainment ***

NORWICH CITY (4-2-3-1): Krul 8; Aarons 7, Zimmerman 6, Klose 7. Lewis 7; Tettey 7, Leitner 6; Stiepermann 6 (Trybull, 77, 6), Buendia 6 (Vrancic 76, 4), Hernandez 6; Pukki 7 (Rhodes 84, 4). Subs (not used): McGovern (g-k), Godfrey, Marshall, Cantwell.

MIDDLESBROUGH (5-4-1)

7 Randolph: Really only had a few pot-shots from distance to get behind; unlucky deflection for the goal.

6 Shotton: Had the misfortune to deflect in the only goal but got forward when he could and propelled a few long throws too.

7 Ayala: The former Norwich man kept things tight at the back for most of the game and turned marauding right winger at one point in the first-half.

7 Flint: The big man formed a barrier at the back and became a menace at the other end from set-pieces.

6 Fry: The England Under-21 man had the finger pointed at him by Pulis for the goal.

6 Friend: Also to blame for the goal in Pulis’ eyes; certainly guilty of giving the ball to the goalscorer.

6 Downing: Was not in the game as much as you might expect.

7 Clayton: The man-bunned midfielder battled away and came away with a shin wound that required surgery

5 Besic: The ex-Everton man had minimal impact on the game and it was no surprise he was the first to be subbed.

7 Howson: Given a warm welcome back by the fans who used to cheer him. Had Boro’s best chance but couldn’t beat Tim Krul.

6 Assombalonga: Must have felt he was too lone a front-man at times and not given much quality service.

Subs:

Saville (for Besic, 53) Debutant showed some nice touches but couldn’t influence the game significantly. 6

Braithwaite (for Fry, 59): The Dane pleased Boro fans by deciding to stay and almost conjured up an equaliser. 6

Hugill (for Clayton, 70): On to provide even more physical presence up front and from set-pieces but couldn’t find the target. 6

(not used): Konstantopoulos (gk), Batth, McQueen, McNair.

Man of the match: Tim Krul The former Newcastle shot-stopper had a nightmare against Leeds but was rock solid in this one.