Middlesbrough Take Three Points From Six In Festive Fixtures
A solid home win was followed by a disappointing – albeit unlucky – defeat on the road for Vertu Motors-backed Middlesbrough in the festive round of fixtures in the EFL Championship.
Having beaten Port Vale to set-up a semi-final date with Chelsea in the EFL Cup, ‘Boro returned to league action with a home game against promotion chasing West Bromwich Albion at the Riverside.
Michael Carrick’s side were on the front-foot from the start but suffered a scare when Kyle Bartley fired against the woodwork as WBA started to grow into the game.
However, Morgan Rogers then fired home a cross from Lukas Engel to give ‘Boro a lead they would hold to the finish, scoring the three points to move closer to the play-off positions.
Boxing Day provided ‘Boro with the chance to chase more points away at Rotherham but the game would end in disappointing fashion as the league’s bottom side managed to grab the points.
Middlesbrough dominated the games in terms of both possession and shots, but a mis-hit cross from Cohen Bramall that caught out ‘keeper Tom Glover proved to be decisive.
That goal came just after ‘Boro felt they should have had a penalty for a foul on Alex Bangura, leaving boss Carrick angered at the final whistle as his side slipped to 14th in the points.
However, the play-off places are just three points away as Middlesbrough prepare to visit Huddersfield Town in the final game of 2023.