A LATE horror show denied Middlesbrough their first victory under Chris Wilder as Preston North End scored two late goals to stun the Riverside.
A Ched Evans header and an Emil Riis Jakobson finish, handed to him on the plate, gave the Lilywhites a smash and grab win after Paddy McNair's header put Boro in front.
Digital Sports Writer Matty Jones was watching at the Riverside Stadium...
Goals: McNair 33’ (defender headed home from a Howson corner), Evans 77’ (powerful header from a Whiteman corner), Jakobson 81’ (a smart finish after a gift from Bamba)
Bookings: Browne 63’ (sliding challenge on McNair), Evans 75’ (a late aerial challenge on Bamba)
Referee: Andy Woolmer – Pretty inconsistent all night. Some poor decisions from corners to fouls.
Entertainment: ***
BORO:
6 Daniels – A steady performance from the keeper but not convincing enough for me. Yet to show he can keep Boro in a game.
8 McNair – Brilliant tonight. Scored the goal that put Boro in the lead and didn’t deserve to be on the losing side.
4 Bamba – It might seem harsh but he’s cost Boro a point with a horror show for Preston’s second. What was he doing?
7 Peltier – Another good performance from left centre back and showed that he can be the overlapping centre-back.
6 Bola – Marshalled the left hand side well but perhaps delayed the cross too much when good openings came up.
6 Jones – Was tricky and dangerous all night but perhaps could have done better with chances in the box.
7 Howson – Mopped things up in the middle of the park really well but just couldn’t help Boro get over the line.
7 Crooks – Another great presence in the midfield and played some really neat passes. Should have stuck a chance away in the first half.
7 Tavernier – Bright and energetic all night and gave Preston plenty to think about. But needs to find more of an end product.
8 Watmore – Brilliant again tonight. Showed energy going forward and wanted to make things happen. Unlucky to be brought off early on.
6 Sporar – Was desperate for a goal and perhaps was trying t
Subs:
6 Hernandez (53’) – Was really bright and energetic but doesn’t have enough end product.
NA’ Ikpeazu (84’)
Subs not used: Stojanovic, Dijksteel, Taylor, Lea-Siliki, Coburn
PRESTON: Iversen 8, Van Den Berg 7, Whiteman 7, Bauer 7, Browne 7, McCann 6 (Johnson 71’), Hughes 6, Riis 8, Maguire 7 (Evans 53’ 8), Barkhuizen 7 (Sinclair 71’), Earl 6
Subs not used: Hudson, Lindsay, Cunningham, Ledson, Johnson, Sinclair, Evans
Man of the Match: Emil Riis Jakobson – Was a menace to Boro all night and once again found the net against them. Ched Evans ran him close this evening.
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