Ward’s volley good decider is sweet revenge
BURNLEY avenged last month’s defeat at the Riverside as they dumped Championship leaders Middlesbrough out of the Cup.
Despite being outplayed for large periods of the game, Burnley inflicted Middlesbrough’s first defeat since Everton won a League Cup quarter-final on Teesside, thanks to goals from Rouwen Hennings and Stephen Ward. Middlesbrough had claimed the lead through Diego Fabbrini’s first-half effort, but were unable to make the most of a host of chances, with Adam Forshaw’s headed miss perhaps the clearest.
Aitor Karanka made seven changes for Boro but Fabbrini and Carlos de Pena both drew routine early saves from Tom Heaton. Middlesbrough finally claimed the lead nine minutes before the interval, with a blocked shot helping to set up Fabbrini’s opener.
George Friend forced a superb save from Heaton when he drilled in the loose ball and Fabbrini reacted quickest to stab home the second rebound.
Burnley had offered nothing as an attacking force at that stage, but the visitors claimed a surprise equaliser in first-half stoppage time. Sam Vokes swung over an inviting cross from the right and Hennings found himself unmarked as he slid the ball home from close range.
Middlesbrough continued to create the better chances and Heaton produced an excellent save on the hour mark, hurling himself to his right to keep out Albert Adomah. The hosts missed a glorious opportunity when Forshaw headed Adomah’s cross wide even though he was unmarked ten yards out. And Burnley then scored against the run of play for a second time.
George Boyd’s initial effort from a corner was blocked, but Ward swivelled adroitly to hook a superb, firsttime volley past Tomas Mejias.