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.
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