Britt’s late goal sinks Blues to Pulis’ delight
birmingham city 1 Adams (79) Middlesbrough 2 Wing (37), Assombalonga (82)
Tony Pulis was delighted with his side’s victory which keeps Boro within striking distance of the top two in the Championship.
Lewis Wing opened the scoring with a neat 37th-minute goal for Boro, but Birmingham hit back thanks to Che Adams’ 79th-minute equaliser, only for Pulis’ side to pick themselves up three minutes later and win it through substitute Britt Assombalonga.
He said: “We were by far the better team in the first half. I know we should have had two penalties in the first half so instead of being one up at half-time we should have been three up at least.
“In the second half they played very direct. I’ve nothing against that because that is the way they play. We defended extremely well and when they equalised it was going to be tough.
“Winning so well away from home shows the character of the team. We had to show it in the second half when we had to dig in against some determined opposition.
“It was a great response to hit back with the winning goal so quickly after Birmingham had equalised.”
Boro found Birmingham to be in combative form and more than holding their own.
When Boro discovered a way through Birmingham’s rearguard, Jordan Hugill made a hash of the chance. George Saville set up the opening, but Hugill shot well wide.
Hugill then had a shot knocked down and Dael Fry
latched on to the loose ball only to see Kristian Pedersen block his effort on the line.
The pressure finally paid off for Boro when Saville’s cross was tapped in by Wing.
Only the woodwork saved Boro in the 60th minute when Harlee Dean’s close-range header from a Jota free-kick crashed against a post.
With Birmingham striving for an equaliser Darren Randolph had to show some international form to save a Lukas Jutkiewicz blockbuster through a crowded
Middlesbrough defence. Birmingham deservedly levelled in the 79th minute when Adams played a one-two with Jutkiewicz and fired home a raking drive past Randolph.
But Birmingham’s joy was shortlived as Assombalonga, who had replaced Hugill, scored a breakaway goal in the 82nd minute.
Blues manager Garry Monk said: “I thought we were fantastic in the second half and it was very harsh on the players to play so well and get nothing.”