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.
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