Goals:

0-1: Wing (37, slid inside the six yard box to finish off Saville’s ball across the face of goal)

1-1: Adams (79, turned inside the area before picking out the inside of Randolph’s far post with a low finish)

1-2: Assombalonga (82, clipped a lovely finish above and beyond Camp after latching on to Wing’s through pass)

Referee: Graham Scott (Oxfordshire) – at the centre of a number of debatable decisions to incense the home supporters, and Tony Pulis. 4

Bookings: Kieftenbeld (29, foul); Adams (55, simulation); Wing (56, foul)

Attendance: 21,420

Entertainment: ***

Birm Boro

Shots on 4 5

Shots off 4 2

Corners 2 4

Offsides 0 1

Fouls 12 11

BIRMINGHAM CITY (4-4-2): Camp 6; Colin 6, Morrison 5, Dean 7, Pedersen 7; Jota 5, G Gardner 5 (C Gardner 46, 5), Kieftenbeld 6 (Vassell 80), Maghoma 6; ADAMS 7, Jutkiewicz 6. Subs (not used): Trueman, Harding, Dacres-Cogley, Mahoney, Solomon-Otabor.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-1-4-1):

6 Randolph: Didn’t get anywhere near the equaliser and not tested that often otherwise because of the men in front of him;

7 Fry: Had the tricky Maghoma to occupy his mind and did well against him as a right-back

8 Ayala: Fortunate to get away with a penalty appeal against him and otherwise strong in the air and on the deck

7 Batth: Linked well with Ayala and stuck to his task to show Flint might not be missed too much for the second league game in a row

7 Friend: Turned in his usual non-stop display and defended well against the dangerous Jota;

6 Clayton: After a shaky opening he grew into the game and did well in front of the back four;

6 Howson: Did most of his work in a defensive sense even if he did make a couple of strong runs down the flank

8 WING: A goal, an assist and an overall display that had the tenacity and quality required to hold down a first team shirt

6 Besic: Neat and tidy on the ball without ever dictating things like he can and never really got involved in the final third

6 Saville: Sent over the lovely pass for the opening goal and did what was asked of him again out wide;

6 Hugill: Wasted a couple of great chances in the first half as well as seeing an effort cleared off the line

Subs:

Downing (for Besic 69): Provided the fresh legs that was required. 5

Assombalonga (for Hugill 69): Took his goal like a striker full of confidence. 7

McNair (for Wing 87)

(not used): Lonergan (gk), Tavernier, van la Parra, Fletcher.

MAN OF THE MATCH: LEWIS Wing – the former non-league man shone from start to finish in an attacking and defensive sense.