Middlesbrough 5-1 Watford: Player ratings & Man of the Match

Morgan Whittaker scores Middlesbrough's third goal <i>(Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)</i>
Morgan Whittaker scores Middlesbrough's third goal (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
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How did the players fare in Middlesbrough's 5-1 win over Watford?


MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1):

6 Brynn: Made a brilliant first-half save when he touched Kjerrumgaard’s low shot onto the post

6 Brittain: Got forward effectively down the right-hand side, but left some gaps in the first half

7 Ayling: Improved as the game wore on and Boro exerted their dominance – is a crucial part of this Boro team

6 Malanda: Wasn’t always completely secure in the first half, but was aggressive when he needed to be

6 Bangura: Made a couple of decent forward breaks in the first half, but failed to reappear after the half-time interval

8 Morris: Ran the game from the heart of midfield, picking up passes and constantly keeping the ball moving

7 Gilbert: Played an excellent slide-rule pass to help set up Boro’s second goal and tried to be positive whenever possible

9 WHITTAKER: Scored two goals, claimed an assist and also hit the crossbar – a magnificent attacking performance

5 Sarmiento: A display that posed more questions than answers – is still to really convince in a Boro shirt

5 Hansen: Handed a chance in the starting line-up, but failed to take it – Hellberg was constantly cajoling him from the sidelines

8 Strelec: Maintained the high standards he has been setting in recent weeks and added another goal to his tally


Subs:

8 Targett (for Bangura, 46): Had a major hand in two of Boro’s second-half goals

8 Conway (for Whittaker, 63): Scored two goals despite only playing for half-an-hour or so

6 Castledine (for Hansen, 63): Played with energy and purpose after his introduction from the bench

6 Fry (for Malanda, 63): Watford’s attacking threat has pretty much disappeared by the time he came on

Silvera (for Sarmiento, 82)

(not used): Wildsmith (gk), Edmundson, Browne, Sene.


WATFORD (3-5-2):

Selvik 4; Pollock 4, Abankwah 5, Keben 4; Ngakia 4 (Maamma 62, 4), Mendy 5 (Grieves 63, 5), Louza 6, Bove 6 (Doumbia 62, 4), Bola 4 (Ince 82); Kayembe 6, KJERRUMGAARD 6 (Irankunda 63, 4).

Subs (not used): Baxter (gk), Goglichidze, Chakvetadze, Baah.


Man Of The Match: MORGAN WHITTAKER – The winger showed just what Boro missed during his recent absence.

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