MIDDLESBROUGH came from behind to beat West Brom on Saturday.
Here is how we thought they fared.
Goals:
0-1: Saville (16, nipped in to prevent a pass to Barry from the keeper and made the most of the space to fire low inside the bottom left corner from 20 yards)
1-1: Rodriguez (42, was on hand at the back post to turn in Harper’s shot into the ground after Boro failed to deal with a ball into the area properly)
2-1: Gayle (63, struck through a crowded box and found the net via a deflection and the post)
2-2: Assombalonga (75, followed up a fine turn and finish by drilling low inside the far corner)
2-3: Assombalonga (83, cut on to his left foot and powered in a decent winner after Brunt’s mistake fell to him)
Referee: Tim Robinson (Sutton-in-Ashfield) – gave some strange decisions throughout the afternoon to frustrate both teams. 4
Bookings: Saville (36, foul); Holgate (40, foul). Wing (46, foul); Shotton (55, dissent)
Attendance: 24,863
Entertainment: ***
WBA Boro
Shots on 4 5
Shots off 9 10
Corners 6 1
Offsides 3 2
Fouls 6 19
WEST BROMWICH ALBION (4-3-3): Johnstone 4; HOLGATE 7, Dawson 6, Hegazi 6, Gibbs 6; Field 5 (Brunt 83), Barry 5 (Livermore 79), Harper 7; Gayle 7, Rodriguez 7, Robson-Kanu 5 (Murphy 75). Subs (not used): Bond, Bartley, Adarbioyo, Montero.
MIDDLESBROUGH (5-4-1):
6 Randolph: Made a couple of stops;
6 Shotton: Delivered a strong enough display on the right
7 Ayala: Went close with a header in the second half
6 Flint: Not as effective as he can be but still showed composure at times
6 Fry: The man to make way to accommodate an extra striker
7 Friend: Always looked to attack when he could
6 Mikel: Didn’t give the ball away in the middle
7 Wing: Always the most likely Boro starter to do some damage
4 Besic: Lacked the quality in possession he is known to have
8 Saville: Took his goal well to cap a good display;
5 Hugill: Stuck to his task without looking threatening
Subs:
Howson (for Besic 54): Didn’t disappoint. 5
Assombalonga (for Fry 64): At the double to help Boro. 8
Van la Parra (for Mikel 75)
(not used): Konstantopoulos (gk), McNair, Clayton, Downing.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Britt Assombalonga - a true super sub to seal the points.
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