Fletcher seizes chance in spotlight as Boro triumph on road again
Few savour an away day quite like Tony Pulis, but if there was a familiar formula to Middlesbrough’s latest profitable road trip, victory still had an unlikely architect. Only leaders Norwich have claimed more away points this season, and all of Boro’s league wins in 2019 have come on their travels and featured a Britt Assombalonga goal.
Yet, if he was a regular scorer in a typical result, forgotten man Ashley Fletcher – a £6million signing from West Ham with only four previous league starts and just one for Pulis – was the catalyst.
If he only owed his place to defensive absentees, with Pulis forced to pick a more attacking team because centre-backs Aden Flint and Daniel Ayala were injured and suspended respectively, the forward justified his selection with his speed, skill and directness. “He was smashing,” said Pulis.
Fletcher burst beyond the Blackburn defence to unleash a shot that deflected off Charlie Mulgrew for Assombalonga to head in from two yards. Then, Fletcher was brought down by Derrick Williams as he closed in on goal. The left-back was the last man and was duly sent off.
Middlesbrough ought to have capitalised further, but Lewis Wing struck the bar with a dipping volley and David Raya made a terrific late save from Assombalonga.
“We played really well at times and controlled the game,” said Pulis. “We had 27 shots on goal and only scored one. We have got to be more ruthless in front of goal.”
A former Middlesbrough manager and captain was less happy. “We lacked fight, desire and energy. It was unacceptable,” said Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray. Nevertheless, he inspired a second-half fightback with a triple change as Rovers played better with 10 men than 11.
Substitute left-back Amari’i Bell clipped the bar, forward Danny Graham missed a golden chance and Darren Randolph reacted superbly to block Bradley Dack’s low volley, but Middlesbrough took three points to condemn Blackburn to a fourth straight defeat.
Blackburn Middlesbrough Referee