Posh shot to Britt’s

MIDDLESBROUGH boss Tony Pulis saluted his side’s “application and attitude’’ as they ultimately swept aside League One Peterborough.

All the goals came in the second half, two in three minutes shortly after the break from club-record £15million buy Britt Assombalonga and defender George Friend to calm Teesside nerves when Posh had hinted at an upset.

Rajiv van La Parra made his Boro debut after signing on loan from Premier League Huddersfield.

The Dutch winger was pitched into the starting line-up and, having not played for almost three months, lasted ed only 45 minutes.

But replacement Lewis Wing came up with another er wonder goal to o rival his cracker er against Crystal l Palace in the Carabao Cup in n October. Assombalonga a (above) grabbed ed his second seven minutes s later to take his is tally to eight in a season where he has s struggled for starts.

And Ashley Fletcher, another forward who has failed to convince Pulis, also chipped in with a goal three e minutes from time.

Pulis said: “The big thing is, we’ve scored five goals and I’m really pleased ed with the application and attitude of the he players. We played really well, especially in the second half, when we e were brilliant.’’

Posh boss Steve Evans said: “We gave them real problems and we should have been two or three up. We e missed chances we would normally expect people to take.

“You realise Tony is going to have a reaction in the dressing room – we were well beaten in the second half.” 1 0 OLE GUNNAR GUN SOLSKJAER has even got Manchester United’s reserves winning games and scoring goals. g

This m may have been the most low-key p performance of Solskjaer’s short re reign, against a team embroiled in a relegation fight at the bottom of the Championship.

But Jose Mourinho’s United were knocked out o of the Carabao Cup at home by Derby. D

So a fift fifth successive win to secure the Reds’ s stand-in boss a place in the fourth rou round of the FA Cup – to go with his b bid for the Premier League’s top four – will certainly do for now.

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OMAR GOD! Richards sends Mata tumbling for a spot-kick THE VAR SIDE Ref Stuart Attwell checks on penalty LUK WHO’S BACK United striker is in form and scoring A MATA OF CLASS United midfielder steps up to take the penalty and coolly slots it away for Reds’ opener