Goals:
0-1: Chester (20, bundled the ball over the line from Grealish’s corner after losing Batth and then Fry)
0-2: Abraham (62, slid in inside the six-yard box to convert Bolasie’s low cross after he was left in acres of space)
0-3: Whelan (83, saw his drive from 25 yards helped in off the post by Randolph after a Hogan effort was stopped)
Referee: Andy Davies (Hampshire) – could have given Villa a couple of penalties which would have made things worse for the home side. 6
Bookings: Friend (71, foul)
Attendance: 23,424
Entertainment: **
Boro Villa
Shots on 3 7
Shots off 7 13
Corners 2 7
Offsides 2 3
Fouls 12 10
MIDDLESBROUGH (4-3-2-1):
4 Randolph: Made an excellent early save and then his day worsened after that with mistakes;
5 Fry: Didn’t have one of his better days by his usual standards and forced off through injury
5 Flint: Given a tough afternoon by Abraham and not as commanding as he can be
4 Batth: Lost his man for the first and has turned in better displays
5 Friend: Not at his best in either half of the pitch, cautioned and could have conceded a penalty;
5 Clayton: Played the ball around in the middle without every getting hold of the play
4 Howson: Gave the ball away too cheaply and didn’t do enough damage
6 BESIC: Arguably Boro’s liveliest player and did at least try a couple of things;
5 Tavernier: Never looked like adding to the two goals in his last two games
5 Downing: One second half effort which flew over but nothing too serious;
5 Hugill: Hammered the crossbar late on
Subs:
McNair (for Fry 58): Given a tough half an hour down the flank. 5
Braithwaite (for Tavernier 61): Unable to cause any problems. 5
Assombalonga (for Besic 61): Struck his one chance well wide. 5
(not used): Konstantopoulos (gk), Ayala, Saville, Wing.
ASTON VILLA (4-3-2-1): Nyland 6; Elmohamady 6, Chester 8, Tuanzebe 7, Taylor 6; McGinn 7 (Whelan 81), HOURIHANE 8, Grealish 7; El Ghazi 7, Bolasie 7 (Kodjia 73); Abraham 8 (Hogan 81). Subs (not used): Bunn (gk), Jedinak, O’Hare, Revan.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Connor Hourihane – dictated play in the middle to get Villa rolling forward.
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