PLUCKY OWLS GIVE MONK SWEET REVENGE
the edge of the top six, and awayday glory couldn’t have come at a better ground.
Teesside chief Steve Gibson sacked Monk in December 2017 after a 26-game spell and a big spending spree, and the pair are now involved in an off-field tussle over transfers.
Boro are investigating deals done when Monk was in charge, and he denies any wrong-doing, with both sides threatening legal action.
But Monk said of Boro, and the allegations: “That chapter is closed. If any of that was true I don’t think I’d be sat here today.
“I’ve always been fully committed, honest and a hard worker.”
As for his side’s performance, Monk (right) added: “They’ve set a standard in terms of the quality they can produce and how devastating they can be. That’s what we have to fight for. We were ruthless. We were devastating.
“I looked at Middlesbrough and just felt there was a vulnerability on crosses. You can work on it all week though, you still have to go and deliver it in the game. We did that.”
Wednesday got off to a dream start.
Adam Clayton skewered Barry Bannan’s corner into his own net leaving Darren Randolph stranded.
If that wasn’t bad enough, Bannan’s second set-piece, an in-swinging delivery from a right-wing free-kick, had Boro scrambling, and Dominic Iorfa dived in front of Dael Fry to head home.
The Owls were pegged back briefly as Paddy Mcnair rifled in from the edge of the box after a Boro corner.
But it was a first half of MIDDLESBRO SHEFFWED 2 ........ Shots on Target .........6 6 ........Shots off Target .........4 5 ................Corners .................6 10................. Fouls .................. 19 0 ...............Offsides ................ 0 76.5 ..Passing Success % .. 75.9 353....... Total Passes ......... 316 53.1 .........Possession ........ 46.9 44.1 ..Territorial Adv % .. 55.9 chaos in the home defence.
Ex-boro kid Adam Reach drifted across the back four on to a weighted pass from Atdhe Nuhiu and pinged a shot into the left corner for the third. It was four for Wednesday not long after, a simple Reach cross to the back post nodded in by Steven Fletcher, who out-jumped Fry.
Boro were lethargic and lacked aggression, and were equally hapless in front of goal.
Britt Assombalonga missed two great chances after the break.
Boro boss Jonathan Woodgate said: “It is not good enough at all. It was sloppy. It was terrible. We have to move on. I’m really disappointed but we play again on Tuesday.
“I have played a few games at centre half. You pride yourself on winning aerial battles. You have to find a way.
“I need players who will do the dirty work.”