Goals:

1-0: Fletcher (6, reacted first to seeing Besic’s drive being spilled to tuck away a low finish)

1-1: Shotton OG (70, sliced Dalsgaard’s low drive into his own net after Saville’s weak headed clearance)

1-2: Benrhama (73, drilled low into the bottom corner after Dalsgaard had found space again)

Referee: Jeremy Simpson (Lancashire) – made a number of inconsistent and strange decisions to frustrate everyone inside the Riverside. 3

Bookings: Assombalonga (32, foul); Mikel (38, foul); Konsa (68, foul); Fry (72, foul); Howson (90, simulation)

Sending-off: None

Attendance: 22,069

Entertainment: **

Boro Brent

Shots on 6 3

Shots off 13 11

Corners 3 3

Offsides 3 3

Fouls 14 10

MIDDLESBROUGH (3-4-2-1):

7 Randolph: On hand a few times including an incredible second half stop from Canos;

6 Ayala: Had to focus on a dangerous Bees’ forward line that caused problems

5 Shotton: Not as composed in the middle as he has been and scored in his own net

5 Fry: Was given a tough afternoon by Canos which was why Friend was introduced;

6 HOWSON: Could have scored early on and delivered his usual tenacious display down the flank

6 Mikel: Not quite as impressive has he has been but still did relatively well despite booking

6 Besic: Improved on the previous week’s display at Wigan and his shot led to the opening goal

5 Saville: Could have scored, but guilty of the error that led to the equaliser;

5 Wing: Still put the yards in without ever looking like he would hit the heights he has previously

6 Fletcher: Put the work in and got his reward with the opener

5 Assombalonga: Not effective or threatening enough after the early stages

Subs:

Friend (for Assombalonga 61): Had to deal with being the defender who replaced the striker. 5

Hugill (for for Besic 74)

Tavernier (for Saville 88)

(not used): Konstantopoulos (gk), Clayton, McNair, Downing.

BRENTFORD (3-4-2-1): Bentley 6 (Gunnarsson 75); Konza 6, Sorensen 6, Barbet 7; Dalsgaard 8, Mokotjo 6, Sawyers 6, Odubajo 6; CANOS 8 (Marcondes 84), Benrahama 7 (Watkins 78); Maupay 6. Subs (not used): Da Silva, Forss, Oksanen.

MAN OF THE MATCH: SERGI Canos – caused allsorts of problems.