Goals:
0-1: Tunnicliffe (17, swept a lovely first time finish inside Pears’ bottom right corner after Potts’ delivery was not dealt with properly)
Bookings: Cranie (37, foul); Berry (43, foul); Ruddock-Mpanzu (78, dissent)
Referee: Jarred Gillett (Australia) – did well to keep the game flowing as much as he did in blustery conditions and with Luton delaying play. 6
Attendance: 19,734
Entertainment: *
Shots on 7 10
Shots off 1 1
Corners 8 9
Fouls 9 14
Offsides 2 2
MIDDLESBROUGH (3-5-2):
6 Pears: Did well enough to gather balls into his area;
5 Howson: Not as effective as he can be but did improve
5 Moukoudi: Made plenty of blocks and looked comfortable to help keep trouble away
5 Friend: A strong enough return to the side after such a long lay-off but looked a little rusty;
5 Spence: Had his moments down the flank without being effective with the final ball
4 McNair: Never looked like he was really going to grab hold of the game
5 Wing: Unable to have the influence in the final third he has of late
4 Saville: Failed to control the tempo from the middle
6 COULSON: Darting run and cross almost led to a leveller
4 Nmecha: Never looked comfortable on the ball or likely to threaten in the final third
4 Fletcher: Unable to threaten the Luton goal and was given a tough afternoon
Subs
Assombalonga (for Saville 59): Went closest to scoring for Boro, but wasted it. 5
Gestede (for Spence 68): Made things a little harder for Luton, but not by much. 5
(not used): Mejias (gk), Shotton, Johnson, Tavernier.
LUTON TOWN (4-4-2): Sluga 6; PEARSON 7, Bradley 7, Carter-Vickers 7, Potts 7; Ruddock-Mpanzu 6, Cranie 6 (Rea 76), Berry 6 (Bree 72), Tunnicliffe 7; LuaLua 7 (Brown 83), Collins 5. Subs (not used): Shea, McManaman, Hylton, Shinnie.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Matty Pearson – out of position and restricted Boro when they got in to decent positions.
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