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.