Carlos hails ‘My Koroma’
JOSH KOROMA demolished the tightest defence in the Championship to claim
“one important” win for Carlos Corberan’s side.
Koroma sealed the points for the resurgent Terriers in a chaotic game in which the usually solid Boro defence collapsed.
Boro arrived with the best back line in the league, having conceded just six goals all season.
But Warnock watched in horror as his play-off hopefuls failed to capitalise on a dominant first half-hour to slip-up in soaked conditions.
Koroma caught Anfernee Dijksteel tired and flat footed in the 85th minute, darted to his right and finished with a curling shot from the edge of the box.
Terriers boss Corberan said: “It is one very important result for us – our first win coming from behind.”
And on his match winner, he added: “Koroma needs to show his ambition.
“He is young and if you want to do something important you have to take a lot on yourself. Second half he showed what he can do. We had to show character. It was a test.
“It was rough, tough and physical for us.”
The Teessiders took just 14 minutes to take the lead.
It could have been their third such was their early dominance, which included an astonishing miss from Britt Assombalonga who scooped over from three yards out.
Marvin Johnson smashed home off the post for his fourth of the season.
Town fought back, levelling through Carel Eiting, who collected Koroma’s pass and fired in from 18 yards.
By half-time they were ahead, after a freak finish from Fraizer Campbell. Jonathan Hogg surged forward and played in Campbell, who slipped as he shaped to shoot.
He used all his experience to improvise and scoop over keeper Marcus Bettinelli.
Boro levelled with seven minutes to play from the penalty spot after Assombalonga was hauled down by Naby Sarr.
The striker converted himself.
Within a minute Koroma claimed the points back.
Warnock said: “To go in 2-1 down was a travesty. We were comfortable but silly mistakes led to their goals.
“We had so many opportunities to put the game to bed. That is life.
“There were goals to be had. Britt’s miss... I don’t know how that didn’t go in.”
Schofield 6, Bacuna 6 (Duhaney 78), Stearman 6 (Edmonds-Green 30), Sarr 6, Toffolo 7, Eiting 7, Hogg 7, O’Brien 7, Mbenza 6 (Brown 90), Koroma 8 (Rowe 90), Campbell 7 (Ward 78).
Unused Subs: Pereira, Daly, Diakhaby, Phillips
MIDDLESBROUGH: Bettinelli 5; Dijksteel 5 (Watmore 88), Fry 5, McNair 6, Bola 5; Spence 4, Saville 5 (Wing 90), Howson 6, Tavernier 6 (Akpom 66, 5), Johnson 6; Assombalonga 5. Unused Subs:: Stojanovic, Wood, Coulson, Morsy, Folarin, Roberts,
MAN OF THE MATCH: Josh Koroma. neat footwork decided a chaotic match. REFEREE: