Middlesbrough 3 - 1 Reading

THEY say a week is a long time in football and that is certainly true at Middlesbrough.

Just seven days ago, Boro were dangling just a few points above the relegation zone and manager Gordon Strachan was beginning to feel the pressure after watching his side go down 3-0 at QPR.

Fast forward a week and things are looking a lot brighter on Teesside. Two consecutive home wins in front of the Boro faithful have catapulted Strachan’s men to within two points of the playoff places and any fears of a crisis appear to have diminished.

A goal from Barry Robson after just 24 seconds against Brian McDermott’s side settled the nerves on Saturday. It was the fastest ever goal at the Riverside, beating Hamilton Ricard’s strike after 30 seconds back in April, 1999, against Wimbledon.

After the game, the Scot was delighted with his contribution but insisted three points were more important than breaking records, before adding he’d love to beat his own record.

“I’ve never scored as quickly as that before,” Robson said.

“It was good to get the team off to a good start with an early goal, it helped us for the rest of the game.

“It’s nice that it’s the fastest ever goal here but the main thing was the three points.

Hopefully I can break that record again in the next game!”

Tuesday night’s comeback against Burnley had given Boro’s players a much-needed lift and they didn’t waste time picking up where they left off.

Reading kicked off the game but soon found themselves behind when a wellweighted pass over the top from Nicky Bailey sent Robson through and the midfielder made no mistake, drilling the ball low past Adam Federici.

Leroy Lita retained his place as Scott McDonald’s partner up front and it was clear the forward was keen to punish his former club from the off when he forced a fullstretch save from Federici with a stinging 23-yard strike.

The visitors were clearly shell-shocked from the early goal and Boro almost added a second when McDonald pounced on a poor defensive header to collect the ball, but his rising shot clipped the top of the bar.

It was then Reading’s turn to be denied by the woodwork when Ian Harte’s dink over the top was met by Jimmy Kebe, but his first-time strike crashed off Jason Steele’s right-hand post on 29 minutes.

Tarmo Kink’s midweek heroics had earned him a place back in Boro’s starting line-up, and the Estonian again tried his luck from long range, but failed to find the target this time.

McDonald and Lita looked lively up front and Strachan’s decision to leave Kris Boyd out for a second game running was justified when the pair combined for Boro’s second in the 41st minute.

The Australian sent Lita through midway in Reading’s half and a short burst of pace was enough to take him into the box, where he kept his cool to finish well.

The home side looked to be cruising, but just 90 seconds after Lita’s goal, Reading were back in it, courtesy of Jimmy Kebe.

The in-form wide man collected the ball midway in Boro’s half and after a slick one-two with Brian Howard, the Mali international waltzed past two defenders and coolly slotted the ball past Steele from close range.

After the interval, Boro were keen to restore their twogoal advantage and almost did when McDonald picked out Kink in acres of space but the Estonian almost had too much time to pick his spot and his shot went inches wide.

Despite giving themselves a lifeline before the break, Reading failed to muster any meaningful attacking play and the game was put beyond them in the 68th minute when Boro finally got their third.

A right-wing corner from Robson was met by David Wheater, who rose above everyone to power a header in from close range for the defender’s first goal since February.

Things got worse for the away side five minutes from time when Howard was given a straight red card for a twofooted challenge on Andrew Halliday, leaving Boro to comfortably see out the remainder of the game and claim their second successive home win.

Strachan said he was pleased with his side’s performance and praised them for playing with the same energy that won them three points on Tuesday night.

“The tempo was good and we carried that on from the other night. I liked a lot of what I saw today.

“The energy’s good in the team at the moment and people are starting to feel better about themselves, people who took a little bit longer to get going are feeling better about themselves, and that’s good.”

Scoreboard

Goals:

1-0: Robson (1, drilled the ball home after Bailey played him through)

2-0: Lita (41, ran clear after clever ball over from McDonald, cool finish)

2-1: Kebe (44, brilliant solo effort after waltzing past several Boro defenders, finished from close range)

3-1: Wheater (68, powerful header from Robson’s corner)

Bookings: McDonald (49, dissent), Halliday (82, foul)

Sending-off: Howard (84, straight red card for tackle on Halliday).

Referee: Graham Salisbury (Lancashire) - Let the game flow and got the red card decision spot on 7

Attendance: 15,158

Entertainment: ✰✰✰✰

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-5-1):

6 Steele: Had a quiet afternoon but did well when called upon. Couldn’t have done anything about Kebe’s goal;

7 Hoyte: Solid performance against McAnuff and linked up well with Kink;

8 Wheater: Defended well and got himself on the score sheet;

7 McManus: Kept Shane Long at bay throughout and always a threat from corners;

8 Arca: Another impressive performance from the Argentinian at left-back against the in-form Kebe. Fast becoming Mr Reliable;

7 Kink: Kept trying his look from long range but missed a good chance in the second half;

9 ROBSON: Got the ball rolling after 24 seconds with a neat finish and never stopped running all game;

8 Bailey: Looked much more comfortable after a shaky first few games and caused plenty of problems down the left;

8 Tavares: Dominated midfield with his simple passing and no nonsense tackling. Looks to be a very useful acquisition;

7 McDonald: Battled hard and held the ball up well but was unlucky not to get a goal;

8 Lita: Repaid the manager’s faith to keep him in the side and punished his former club with a well-taken goal.

Subs:

Halliday (for Kink 69): Did enough to cause trouble down the right and was on the receiving end of Howard’s two footed challenge 7

McMahon (on for Hoyte 79)

Subs (not used): Coyne, Bates, Smallwood, MIller, Boyd

READING (4-5-1): Federici; Mills, Harte, Pearce, Cummings (Hunt 68), McAnuff (Antonio 77), Howard, Kebe, Karacan, Long (Church 89), Gunnarsson.

Subs not used: McCarthy (gk); Williams, Robson-Kanu, Khizanishvili.

MAN OF THE MATCH

BARRY Robson – The midfielder capped off an impressive display with a goal and assist.