Match ends, Sheffield Wednesday 1, Middlesbrough 2.
20 Oct 2018
Middlesbrough win at Sheff Wed to go top of Championship
Mo Besic and Britt Assombalonga got the goals as Middlesbrough hung on to beat Sheffield Wednesday and return to the top of the Championship.
After a poor first half, Boro hit the Owls with two goals in six early second-half minutes - one beautifully worked, the second self-inflicted and both involving on-loan Everton midfielder Besic.
First, on 49 minutes, Stewart Downing's cute backheel down the right side freed Jonny Howson and, from his pull back, Besic took on Tom Lees, twisted and turned to create an angle, then slid home an intricately placed low, angled right-foot shot from 12 yards.
Then, on 55 minutes, Lees panicked himself under pressure into passing straight to Besic who powered forward before squaring to his right as keeper Cameron Dawson came out and Assombalonga kept his cool to slot home his fifth goal of the season.
- Relive Middlesbrough's win at Sheff Wed
Former Boro man Adam Reach, who had clipped the bar in the first half with a header, gave his side hope with an 82nd minute volley from 20 yards.
And the visitors then had to survive an almighty last-minute scramble on the line in an incident that could have gone either way as bodies piled up like a rugby ruck.
But Tony Pulis was the manager who came up smiling as his side edged above morning leaders Sheffield United on goal difference heading into Saturday's fixtures.
More to follow.
- Line-ups
- Match Stats
- Live Text
Line-ups
Sheff Wed
- 25Dawson
- 2Palmer
- 15Lees
- 12Thorniley
- 42Penney
- 34Hector
- 8Pelupessy
- 10BannanBooked at 74mins
- 20Reach
- 9Fletcher
- 18Lucas JoãoSubstituted forNuhiuat 63'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Fox
- 7Onomah
- 17Nuhiu
- 28Wildsmith
- 31Kirby
- 36Pudil
- 37Preston
Middlesbrough
- 23Randolph
- 4AyalaBooked at 81mins
- 24Flint
- 20Fry
- 5Shotton
- 16Howson
- 8ClaytonBooked at 59mins
- 37BesicSubstituted forBatthat 90+2'minutes
- 3FriendBooked at 88mins
- 19DowningSubstituted forSavilleat 85'minutes
- 9AssombalongaSubstituted forHugillat 79'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Batth
- 11Hugill
- 14McQueen
- 17McNair
- 22Saville
- 31Lonergan
- 39Gestede
- Referee:
- Peter Bankes
- Attendance:
- 23,284
Match Stats
Home TeamSheff WedAway TeamMiddlesbrough
- Possession
- Home51%
- Away49%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away5
- Corners
- Home3
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away19
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Sheffield Wednesday 1, Middlesbrough 2.
Foul by Atdhe Nuhiu (Sheffield Wednesday).
Aden Flint (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Tom Lees (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from very close range is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Tom Lees (Sheffield Wednesday) header from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Barry Bannan with a cross.
Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by Danny Batth.
Darren Randolph (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Steven Fletcher (Sheffield Wednesday).
Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Danny Batth replaces Muhamed Besic.
Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by Ryan Shotton.
Attempt missed. Muhamed Besic (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Aden Flint (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Atdhe Nuhiu (Sheffield Wednesday).
George Saville (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Matt Penney (Sheffield Wednesday).
Booking
George Friend (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by George Friend (Middlesbrough).
Joey Pelupessy (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
George Saville (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Joey Pelupessy (Sheffield Wednesday).
Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. George Saville replaces Stewart Downing.
Attempt missed. Steven Fletcher (Sheffield Wednesday) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Barry Bannan.
Goal!
Goal! Sheffield Wednesday 1, Middlesbrough 2. Adam Reach (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner following a set piece situation.
Booking
Daniel Ayala (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Daniel Ayala (Middlesbrough).
Atdhe Nuhiu (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Jordan Hugill replaces Britt Assombalonga.
Foul by Jonny Howson (Middlesbrough).
Joey Pelupessy (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ryan Shotton.
Attempt missed. Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jonny Howson following a corner.
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Barry Bannan.
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Atdhe Nuhiu.
Attempt blocked. Muhamed Besic (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Stewart Downing.
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Matt Penney.
Booking
Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday) is shown the yellow card.
Jonny Howson (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Michael Hector (Sheffield Wednesday).
Offside, Middlesbrough. Jonny Howson tries a through ball, but Britt Assombalonga is caught offside.
Promo & Recommendations
