How did the players fare in Middlesbrough's 1-0 win over Swansea?


MIDDLESBROUGH (3-5-2):

6 Daniels: Made a couple of routine saves, but would have had his heart in mouth when he dived in at Paterson’s feet in the first half

7 Dijksteel: Defended solidly throughout and has helped bring about a marked defensive improvement since returning to fitness

8 BAMBA: Rock solid once again at the heart of the Boro defence – and produced a sublime piece of skill to set up Jones’ winner

8 McNair: Kept Swansea’s forwards in check for the vast majority of the game and made a brilliant goalline clearance from Piroe

7 Jones: Opened his goalscoring account for Boro in fine style and looked perfectly at home playing at wing-back

6 Crooks: Covered a lot of ground at the heart of midfield but wasn’t able to get on the front foot as he would have liked

6 Howson: Held things together at the base of midfield, preventing Swansea’s central midfielders from breaking too far forward

6 Tavernier: A fairly quiet afternoon for the midfielder, although Wilder is right to state he looks more dangerous in an advanced role

6 Bola: Covered a lot of ground up and down the left flank and kept Laird fairly quiet for most of the game

7 Watmore: Pressed effectively at the top end of the field, but spurned a glorious chance to settle things when he took an age to shoot in the second half

6 Sporar: Battled away gamely to try to win headers, although it doesn’t really feel like Boro are playing to his strengths


Subs:

Hernandez (for Watmore, 73)

Ikpeazu (for Sporar, 73)

Fry (for Dijksteel, 90)

(not used): Lumley (gk), Taylor, Lea-Siliki, Payero.


SWANSEA (3-4-3):

Hamer 6; Cabango 5, Naughton 6, Williams 6 (Obafemi 67, 5); Laird 5 (Latibeaudiere 78), Grimes 6, Downes 5, MANNING 7; Smith 5 (Ntcham 46, 5), Piroe 6, Paterson 6.

Subs (not used): Benda (gk), Bennett, Cullen, Bidwell.


Man Of The Match: SOL BAMBA – Once again, Boro’s veteran centre-half rolled back the years with a performance of spirit and resolve.