Boro rock for ex-hero Rav
By IAN MURTAGH at the Riverside Stadium
MIDDLESBROUGH legend Fabrizio Ravanelli saw his former club keep their promotion hopes alive with their second win at the Riverside in four days.
Chris Wilder’s side must win at Preston on Saturday and rely on one of Sheffield United or Luton slipping up to finish in the top six.
But after a five-match winless run, the Boro boss could not have asked for more from his side over the past week as they followed up beating Cardiff by slaying Stoke.
“We’re at the business end of the season and to come away with two big wins when we needed them is a fabulous effort,” said Wilder. “Our season is still alive and we go into next week in good nick.
“All we can do is control what we do ourselves, and we’re looking to finish off with a win.”
Ravanelli famously scored a hat-trick on his Boro debut against Liverpool in a 3-3 draw 26 years ago.
And the Italian, on a rare visit back to Teesside, saw Wilder’s men score another three goals with Matt
Crooks netting a double and Lewis Baker putting through his own net.
Sub Nick Powell netted a 94th minute consolation – a goal which ultimately meant nothing to Stoke but could yet prove damaging for Boro if play-off places are decided on goals.
“We just weren’t good enough on the day,” said Michael O’Neill’s No2 Dean Holden. “In the first half we were way off the pace and conceded two bad goals.”
Boro hadn’t threatened before Crooks opened his account with his 10th goal this term on 21 minutes.
The midfielder was back in action after serving a three-match ban having notched up 15 yellow cards this season.
And he showed Boro what they have been missing, taking Jonny Howson’s pass in his stride before finding the net with a crisp drive, which took a slight deflection, to notch up his first goal in 11 games.
Four minutes later, the hosts doubled their lead when Howson’s in-swinging free-kick was headed into his own net by ex-Boro loanee Lewis Baker.
Moments later, Duncan Watmore thought he’d added a third when he pounced from close range but was whistled up for offside.
Stoke had started brightly but their only effort of note before the break was a 25-yard drive by Baker which flew inches wide.