HOW did Middlesbrough's players perform against Sheffield Wednesday?

Goals:

0-1: Besic (49, first touch got him away from his marker before applying finish after neat work involving Downing and Howson)

0-2: Assombalonga (55, rewarded for putting Lees under pressure by being on hand to turn in Besic’s lay-off into an empty net)

1-2: Reach (82, struck the sweetest of right foot volleys from the edge of the area)

Referee: Peter Bankes (Merseyside) – infuriated Pulis with a couple of decisions but nothing major. 6

Bookings: Clayton (59, foul); Ayala (81, foul); Friend (88, foul)

Attendance: 23,284

Entertainment: **

Sheff Wed Boro

Shots on 1 5

Shots off 11 7

Corners 1 8

Offsides 3 2

Fouls 10 18

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (4-3-3): Dawson 6; Palmer 5, Lees 4, Thorniley 8, Penney 5; Hector 6, Pelupessy 5, Bannan 7; REACH 8, Fletcher 7, Joao 5 (Nuhiu 63, 7). Subs (not used): Pudil, Onomah, Wildsmith, Kirby, Fox, Preston.

MIDDLESBROUGH (5-3-1-1):

6 Randolph: Made a stunning save from Reach in the first half and had to work harder in the closing stages;

6 Shotton: Still managed to get down the line to get the balls into the box even if he has played better

6 Flint: Not as effective as he has been this season but still provided protection to the Boro goal

6 Ayala: Only went close once to scoring and gifted the Owls the free-kick that led to Reach’s goal

7 Fry: Back in the thick of things and performed well having been unlucky to have lost his place before

6 Friend: Not overly tested that much down his side but alert when he had to be. Booked;

6 Clayton: Back in the side and saw plenty of the ball as he looked to keep it moving

8 BESIC: Lively enough throughout despite his international commitments and struck the opener too

6 Howson: Had not made his mark in the final third until teeing up Besic for the opening goal

7 Downing: Had battled away without getting much change out of the home defence before his backheel led to Besic’s goal

6 Assombalonga: Given a rough first half by Thorniley and Co but then hit an easy fifth of the season after his work paid off

Subs:

Hugill (for Assombalonga 79)

Saville (for Downing 84)

Batth (for Besic 90)

(not used): Lonergan (gk), McQueen, McNair, Gestede.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Mo Besic – a lovely finish and an assist capped a solid night from the Bosnian after a hectic couple of weeks.