Boro go Wild at ‘smash’
NEW BOSS CHRIS DENIED AFTER PADDY’S WHACK
CHRIS WILDER was controversially denied a winning start as Middlesbrough boss.
And he accused referee Oliver Langford of missing Mason Bennett’s “forearm smash” on Paddy Mcnair.
It looked promising when Matt Crooks gave Boro a 15th-minute lead, but Millwall equalised through Sol Bamba’s unfortunate own goal 12 minutes later.
In the build-up to the Lions’ leveller, Langford overruled an assistant’s flag and waved play on when Duncan Watmore went down – and then ignored Mcnair’s distress. Wilder said: “I think two or three things went against us that were out of our control.
“The linesman has the best view in the house. He sees there’s contact, Duncan got across his man.
“But the second one was the major one. Mcnair is not the sort to go down. Why does he go down?
“He goes down because he gets a forearm smash in the face. Whether it’s accidental or deliberate, it’s a foul.’’
Boro have now gone four games without a win, having picked up just one point from Neil Warnock’s final three matches in charge.
But Wilder received a warm welcome from the home crowd, and admitted: “I’d like to thank the fans for the reception. It was quite humbling.”
Two incisive Boro breaks in the first four minutes caused Millwall alarm, initially in the opening moments as Watmore darted through but shot straight at keeper Bartosz Bialkowski.
Then Andraz Sporar sprinted clear only to be denied by Daniel Ballard’s last-ditch challenge.
Marc Bola’s swerving, 12thminute effort from distance almost deceived Bialkowski, but he adjusted just in time to save. The Pole was beaten, however, when Watmore’s left-wing cross looped off ex-boro midfielder George Saville and Crooks planted a downward header inside the post.
Millwall levelled against the run of play and much to Boro’s fury. The Lions broke and Mcnair hit the deck holding his face as Bennett went past him.
Then the forward found Benik Afobe who was about to shoot when Lee Peltier challenged and the ball cannoned in off Bamba.
Marcus Tavernier brought another stop from the busy Bialkowski early in the second half, and Crooks slashed widly wide at the death.
Millwall boss Gary Rowett admitted: “We were coming into the unknown to a degree with it being Chris’ first game.”
MIDDLESBROUGH: Daniels 6; Mcnair 6, Bamba 5, Peltier 5; Jones 6 (Hernandez 71, 5), Crooks 6, Howson 6, Tavernier 7, Bola 6; Sporar 5 (Coburn 46, 5), Watmore 6 (Ikpeazu 87, 5).
Subs not used: Lumley, Dijksteel, Taylor, Lea Siliki.
MILLWALL: Bialkowski 7; Ballard 6, Hutchinson 6, Cooper 5; Leonard 5, Saville 5, Mitchell 5, Malone 5; J Wallace 5 (Smith 85, 5), Bennett 6 (Ojo 67, 5); Afobe 6 (Kieftenbeld 81, 5).
Subs not used: Long, M Wallace, Bradshaw, Evans.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Bartosz Bialkowski: Keeper kept Millwall in the game with a string of saves.