Goals:
0-1: Robson-Kanu (82, reacted first to bundle over the loose ball after Randolph had denied Edwards)
Referee: Oliver Langford (West Midlands) – kept up with play and tried not to get his cards out unless it was needed. 7
Bookings: Austin (15, foul); Tavernier (48, dissent); Livermore (80, foul)
Attendance: 20,174
Entertainment: ***
Boro WBA
Shots on 7 4
Shots off 10 13
Corners 6 7
Offsides 2 2
Fouls 10 13
MIDDLESBROUGH (5-1-3-1):
6 Randolph: Hardly had a save to make but was unable to hold the effort that led to the winner;
7 Howson: Plenty of graft down the right hand side and he will be an important figure in that role
5 Fry: Not as confident as he can be and caught out a few times in the new three-man defence
6 Ayala: Got his head on plenty as the man in the middle without ever being as commanding as he can be
7 Shotton: The pick of the defenders with a couple of great blocks even though he was done in the first half once by Pereira
7 Johnson: Enjoyed himself at wing-back even though he had a tough day defensively to track Diangana;
5 Wing: Not himself at the moment even though he did look to get on the ball and get things moving;
7 McNair: Decent enough in the middle and tested the keeper in the first half with a beauty
6 Tavernier: Lively in behind the striker and will be encouraged to be getting a nice run in the side
6 Saville: Had his moments at both ends on his return to the team and he should have scored when Johnstone denied him an opener;
5 Assombalonga: Failed to test the keeper but was given the task of working the line on his own
Subs
Fletcher (for Tavernier 72)
Browne (for Saville 87)
(not used): Dijksteel, Clayton, Bola, Liddle, Pears (gk).
West Bromwich Albion (4-2-3-1): Johnstone 7; Furlong 5, Bartley 7, Ajayi 6, Ferguson 6; Livermore 7 (Hegazi 90), Sawyers 6; Pereira 7, Krovinovic 5 (Edwards 62, 6), DIANGANA 8; Austin 5 (Robson-Kanu 62, 6). Subs: Brunt, Townsend, Bond (gk), O’Shea.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Grady Diangana – Boro could do with a player of his quality down the flanks and in the final third.
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