They did it - that’s what counts here
SOMETIMES all that matters is the result, and Middlesbrough players, fans and coaches won’t be overly concerned that Saturday’s vital 1-0 victory over Reading was at times far from convincing.
Crucially, when the Boro backline creaked, the visitors weren’t good enough to take advantage.
And when the Royals did manage an effort on target, the superb Darren Randolph was there to save the day.
Middlesbrough did get the rub of the green but after being the victims of some poor officiating this season, they deserved their slice of luck.
The hard-fought win means Jonathan Woodgate’s side have gone four unbeaten in the league and while stiffer tests lie ahead, that’s something to build on and celebrate.
The head coach revealed in midweek that he knew what his team would be for the Reading game immediately after the draw at Bristol City.
And it was clearly his intention to reward the players that kicked off an entertaining 2-2 draw at Ashton Gate.
That said, his decision was made simpler by absence of several key players due to injury. Those unavailable for the Royals fixture include George Friend and Jonny Howson, who have both had minor surgery, plus Hayden Coulson and Rudy Gestede.
Reading boss Jesse Gomes, meanwhile, left his two big money summer signings on the bench. George Puscas and Lucas Joao were named as substitutes, along with Pele and former Stoke and Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam.
Boro, as usual, lined up in a 4-3-3 formation with Marvin Johnson starting on the right side of the attacking three, Ashley Fletcher on the left and Britt Assombalonga through the middle, though their movement was fluid with plenty of inter-changing of positions.
Reading theoretically set up to nullify the hosts with Gomes opting for a five-man defence. That said, the opening 15 minutes were entertaining with chances at both ends.
Inside the second minute Boro attacked down the right and Johnson delivered a teasing ball into the box but no one was on hand to get on the end of it.
Seconds later, Fletcher drilled a low angled shot at goal from the left side of the penalty area but his effort was deflected off-target by the alert Liam
Moore.
Then Reading had a spell in the ascendency. In the fifth minute, John Swift hit a through ball which Ryan Shotton failed to cut out, allowing Yakou Meite to gain possession but the Boro defender recovered well to block the subsequent shot with his upper body.
In the ninth minute, Meite was able to wriggle into the box from the right but before he could shoot Darren Randolph dived at his feet to smother the ball.
Just before the quarter-hour mark Andy Yiadom whipped in a fine cross from the right that flashed just a few inches in front of the diving Moore’s forehead.
Reading continued to press and Swift was able weave his way across the box from right to left before hitting a low shot that Randolph saved.
For the third home Championship fixture in succession a visiting team was able to create several genuine first half goal-scoring opportunities. And, once again, the away team weren’t good enough to take those chances.
Better teams than Wigan, Millwall and Reading will make Middlesbrough
pay for their generosity.
The hosts did make some headway as the half progressed.
A nice move down the right saw Paddy McNair play a lovely, weighted pass to Anfernee Dijksteel and the Dutch defender directed a neat ball back out to Lewis Wing who, instead of hitting a first-time shot from the edge of the box, took a touch, allowing Reading to close him down.
On the half hour, sloppy play from Boro allowed Meite to run towards the box but his attempted shot lacked pace and Randolph saved comfortably. Three minutes later, Paddy McNair powered a cross/shot from a tight angle on the right that Michael Morrison managed to turn away from his own goal-line before a Boro player could make contact.
There was a flare-up three minutes later when Clayton challenged Meite for a high ball and the Reading player crashed to the turf. The Royals players and coaching staff instantly demanded a red card claiming Clayton led with his elbow but it was a Reading coach who was eventually
booked!
In the 38th minute, Johnson floated a quality cross from the right that flew just about Assombalonga’s head deep inside the box.
And, just before the break, Wing slid a superb ball into the path of Fletcher, who reacted slowly, allowing a covering defender to tackle him on the edge of the penalty area.
Two minutes into the second half Middlesbrough thought they’d taken the lead.
A well-worked free-kick on the left saw Clayton pass to Wing who floated a cross to the far post where Dael Fry rolled a square pass across the face of the goal and Assombalonga scored from closerange.
However, by the time the ball hit the back of the net, the assistant referee had already flagged for offside.
At the other end, Reading still looked dangerous and Ovie Ejaria forced a fine save out of Randolph with a well-struck shot from the edge of the box.
The goal came on the hour mark and it’s one Reading will want to forget from a defensive perspective. Boro won a free-kick on the right about 10 yards from the byline. Johnson whipped the ball in with his left foot, Fletcher ran to the near post and attempted to flick it on but while he didn’t make contact he did distract the keeper who allowed the incoming ball into his net.
Five minutes after the goal Boro came close to adding a second but after creating space for himself to shoot, Wing’s effort was blocked by Yiadom.
Then came three substitutions. Gomes sent on Puscas and Joao while Woodgate replaced Bola with Dani Ayala.
The Boro boss also switched to three at the back with Ayala linking up with Fry and Shotton in the centre of defence and Dijksteel and Johnson moving to wing-back roles.
The hosts kept pressing and Johnson forced a fine save out of Rafael Cabral with a powerful shot in the 71st minute.
Two minutes later Assombalonga headed a deep cross into the side-netting from close-range.
And, in the 74th minute, Boye brushed off Dijksteel before drilling a low shot at goal from a tight angle to the left of goal but Randolph saved brilliantly with his left foot.
Seconds later McNair fired off target for Boro and, in the 76th minute, John Swift’s dangerous shot was deflected over the crossbar.
The same Reading player forced another good save out of Randolph when he curled an 81st minute free-kick over the defensive wall.
Boro hearts were in their mouths in the 86th minute when Omar Richards pulled the ball back from the byline to Puscas who fired over from close-range.
Three minutes later Swift delivered a corner from the left and Joao met it with an excellent glancing header that Randolph saved brilliantly.
There was further drama in stoppage time when that man Swift set up a header for Moore but once again the Boro keeper proved unbeatable.
Middlesbrough (4-3-3): Randolph; Dijksteel, captain - Fry, Shotton, Bola (Ayala 68); Wing (Saville 86), Clayton, McNair; Johnson
(Tavernier 90+2), Assombalonga, Fletcher.
Subs: Pears, Malley, Browne, Walker Reading (5-3-2): Cabral; Yiadom, captain – Moore, Morrison, McIntyre (Joao 66), Richards; Swift, Rinomhota (Puscas 66), Ejaria; Boye (Loader 84), Meite.
Subs: Virginia, Blackett, Adam, Gomes