BRENTFORD .................................................................... 2 Boro boss Pulis after victory following sub
MATCH STATS
in from eight yards and then the striker was adjudged to have fouled George Saville moments before Sergi Canos powered low into the net.
Canos was the main threat and had two fantastic efforts either side of the break when he must have thought he was going to level things up.
His first was a thunderous drive that crashed against the crossbar and his curling second effort after the interval saw Middlesbrough goalkeeper Darren Randolph turn over with a fantastic one-handed stop.
Boro, whose decision to take off Assombalonga and replace him with the fit-again Friend led to sarcastic chants at Pulis from the fans, came within inches of a second when Fletcher headed Shotton’s deep cross just wide of the far post.
But Shotton turned into his own net at the other end when Dalsgaard was handed the chance to shoot towards goal after Saville headed weakly away.
Then Brentford took the lead in the 73rd minute. This time Dalsgaard, making the most of freedom down the right, teed up Benrahama in the box to power first time inside Randolph’s bottom corner.
Speaking after the game, Tony Pulis admitted his substitution of Britt Assombalonga had not gone down well in some quarters “It wasn’t very popular, was it. “I don’t think Britt looked sharp. I don’t think he looked anywhere near it.
“When Fletcher had that header, I expected him to be on the move.
“I made the change, people say it affected the game. If I’ve made a mistake, I’ve made a mistake, I’ll hold my hands up.
“The whole squad work hard together 6
19 3
14 37 BORO V BRENTFORD 3
14 3
10 63 and are in it together.
“If I’ve messed up today, I’ve messed up.”
The Boro manager was also not impressed with some of the refereee’s decisions.
“I’ll go and see them, I don’t usually do that.
“He’s booked Jonny, he’s booked him for diving. How they get it so wrong I don’t know.
“The last one, Ayala, is embarrassing. The referee has got a clear view.
“That’s three definite penalties in a home game.