ANDY’S HANDY
Lonergan is spot on
TONY PULIS found Notts County almost as troublesome as Gareth Southgate did during his own days as Boro boss.
Southgate’s reputation may be sky-high after England’s World Cup semi-final effort.
But 12 years ago he lost his first cup tie as Boro’s rookie manager to the Magpies.
In the first meeting between the two sides since, Pulis came close to suffering the same fate as his predecessors with County taking the lead three times .
But Boro edged it on penalties with keeper Andy Lonergan saving from Jon Stead and Dan Jones. Grant Leadbitter, Paddy McNair, teenager Stephen Walker and Marcus Tavernier were all on target for the hosts.
Spell
County had looked on course to win in normal time when veteran Stead netted his second in the 63rd minute,.
But for the third time, Boro roared back with Ashley Fletcher completing his own double on 74 minutes with a right foot shot.
The two sides had shared four goals in a frantic 24-minute spell before the break.
Kevin Nolan’s League Two side struck in the 20th minute when Stead pulled the ball back and Tony Crawford was on hand.
But Boro fashioned the equaliser eight minutes later when Leadbittter flung in a corner, Daniel Ayala flicked on and Fletcher pounced at the far post.
County were ahead again in the 34th minute when Stead turned sharply on the edge of the box to find the net.
Again they couldn’t hang on as Luxembourg star Enes Mahmutovic, 21, headed home a Johnson cross before the break.