Wing graduates from the ninth tier to sink Palace as Boro progress
Middlesbrough manager Tony Pulis last night hailed a “wonder goal” from Lewis Wing in a Carabao Cup victory that was made even sweeter when they were drawn against League One Burton in the quarter-finals.
Wing, who was playing in the ninth tier of English football last year, powered in a 25-yard shot in the closing stages of the first-half to edge Middlesbrough past Premier League Crystal Palace.
It was his first goal for Middlesbrough but Wing, 23, is a player who knows how to score after amassing 37 in one season at Northern League part-timers Shildon where he was employed as a striker.
Middlesbrough use him in a deeper role and his progress has prompted demands from some fans for Pulis to give him a regular place in their Championship line-up.
“It was a wonder goal, a wonderful strike,” Pulis said. “Lewis is a good player. There are lots of things to improve on, lots of things to learn, but he’s a wonderful lad and loves every minute of playing football. He has just signed a new contract and needs to keep his feet on the ground and work hard, then one day he will be a regular.”
Several other fringe players at the Riverside will have impressed Pulis by the way they controlled this tie. Perhaps Palace manager Roy Hodgson does not want Premier League survival complicated by a cup run, but he was still an unhappy figure on the touchline.
“Our first half performance was not as good as it should have been,” he said. “But we had a lot of possession in the second half and looked a lot more dangerous. However, we were chasing a 1-0 deficit against a team that defends in numbers and defends well.” His mood was not improved when he learned that Burton await the winners. “It’s a missed opportunity,” he said.
Middlesbrough will be the favourites to claim a semi-final slot, although Pulis warned: “I watched Burton’s win against Nottingham Forest and they were by far the best team. If anyone takes them lightly, you could get the same result.
“I have great respect for Nigel Clough and he has a hard-working team. They set up well and will come here with nothing to lose.”
Burton will find it difficult if Middlesbrough continue to be as disciplined as they were last night. Palace were pinned back from the start but Middlesbrough, whose midfielder Sam Mcqueen was carried off on a stretcher in the 29th minute, did not carve out any clear chances until the closing stages of the half.
They should have gone ahead in the 37th minute when Jordan Hugill lofted Friend’s cross over the bar
from eight yards. Hugill also sliced another shot wide from the edge of the area and produced a cross that narrowly eluded Marcus Tavernier.
Palace were as impotent as Selhurst Park’s Premier League regulars, who have scored only seven times this season.
Wing’s splendid strike showed them how it should be done as he collected a pass from Marcus Tavernier and unleashed a 25-yard shot that swerved significantly on its way past Vicente Guaita.
Hodgson’s angry reaction to the goal and the look on his face as he headed down the tunnel at the interval suggested his fringe players were on the receiving end of some harsh words during the break. They had a negligible effect, however, and when Palace did get a glimpse of goal 15 minutes from the end, Max Meyer’s feeble finish epitomised their performance.
After the game, Hodgson condemned social-media trolls who had abused Wilfried Zaha online after last weekend’s draw with Arsenal. Hodgson said: “I don’t have any sympathy for people who use these platforms to abuse others.”