Wells digs the hole for Boro
NEIL WARNOCK saw Middlesbrough produce another home horror show to leave them deep in trouble.
It’s now seven months since they last won at the Riverside and despite Britt Assombalonga scoring Boro’s first goal there in more than five hours, the threat of third-tier football for the first time since 1987 looms large.
“You can see we’re low on confidence but we can’t afford to feel sorry for ourselves,” said the boss.
“There are teams in worse situations than us and we have to capitalise.”
City have now won both games under caretakermanager Dean Holden and, suddenly, the play-offs are on their radar again.
“Who knows what will happen?” he said. “We can’t do anything about other results, just take care of our own performances. We’re trying to create a bit of momentum and with three top-drawer goals, this was a pleasing afternoon.”
Boro must be sick of the sight of Nahki Wells.
The former Burnley striker scored against them during his loan spell at QPR last November and he was at it again yesterday with a goal in each half.
His opener was a wonderful strike from the Bermuda ace who curled a left-foot shot beyond Dejan Stojanovic from the angle of the box on six minutes.
But that was matched by Jamie Paterson’s humdinger in the 42nd minute, finishing off a devastating City counter-attack.
From a Boro corner, Andreas Weimann released his team-mate on the right and Paterson beat Djed
Spence on his outside before lashing in a stinging drive from a tight angle.
Wells sealed a convincing victory on 79 minutes, running on to another Weimann assist before beating Stojanovic. Assombalonga struck three minutes later, but it was too little, too late.
City had a spring in their step from the outset and could have stretched their lead before Paterson’s stunner when Jack Hunt was sent clear on goal only for Stojanovic to deny him with a fine save.
Keeper Daniel Bentley never looked comfortable under the high ball but he excelled when he pushed George Saville’s header on to the bar.
England Under-21 defender Dael Fry had a
MIDDLESBROUGH BRISTOL CITY great chance midway through the first period, set up by Saville.
But he blasted high and wide from eight yards out when he should have burst the net. “You’re never going to get an easier chance to equalise,” added Warnock.
“It would have been a different ball game had that gone in.”
Substitute Patrick Roberts might have clawed a goal back before Assombalonga scored but the visitors never looked like surrendering their lead.