Valdes keeps Everton at bay as Boro edge towards safety
MIDDLESBROUGH continue to edge towards Premier League safety, like a batsman nudging singles at a time when they need to start playing some shots.
Although the draw specialists’ latest point came against in-form Everton, there is a growing feeling on Teesside that their inability to develop their defensive stability into victories could cost them their survival.
They have won only four times in the opening six months of their top-flight return, although Aitor Karanka, their head coach, continues to laud their defensive blueprint. Only Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United have conceded fewer than the 27 goals scored against Boro.
They might have been celebrating a fifth win but for a splendid reaction save from Everton’s Joel Robles, who tipped over substitute Rudy Gestede’s powerful header three minutes from time. ‘It was almost the perfect game but for the last save,’ Karanka said.
Boro still doubled their advantage over the bottom three to two points, with Crystal Palace, Sunderland and Swansea to come in their next five fixtures.
Resisting the urge to throw in any of his January transfer acquisitions, Karanka’s tried and trusted set kept Everton – scorers of six against Bournemouth last week – relatively quiet through their cohesion.
When Everton did create clear-cut chances, they found World Cup-winning goalkeeper Victor Valdes in inspired form.
No more so than when youngster Tom Davies sent Romelu Lukaku racing clear, and Valdes raced from his line to block the Belgian’s effort on the run.
Valdes also denied Ademola Lookman either side of half-time.
Middlesbrough got stronger as the game wore on, and after Stuani failed to engineer enough power in a header from a 50th-minute free-kick, captain Ben Gibson showed him how it was down with a venomous aerial effort that Leighton Baines nodded off the line.
Then, after Gaston Ramirez – a January wantaway – entered the fray to the biggest cheer of the afternoon, Robles denied the home team a rare three points in spectacular fashion.