Middlesbrough 3 Charlton 0
Nugent 59 Adomah 65
Ayala 77
What a week this has been for Middlesbrough. On Wednesday
night they did the unthinkable by knocking Manchester United out of the cup at
Old Trafford, today they showed that their promising league campaign is also
well on track after another Championship victory.
Second half goals from David Nugent, Albert Adomah and Daniel
Ayala were enough to see off a less than ambitious Charlton side at the
Riverside Stadium. The visitors, who are in the relegation zone, barely
ventured out of their own half as they set up to antagonise and frustrate all
afternoon.
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| David Nugent opened the scoring for Boro (picture from i4.gazettelive.co.uk) |
For just over an hour it worked and a Boro side, which
showed 7 changes from the United game, struggled to break down the compact
visitors. There were even flashbacks of the goalless draw with Fulham a
fortnight ago and the agonising defeat to Bristol City back in August. Yet on
this occasion Boro found the quality to break the opposition down.
Charlton, who sacked manager Guy Luzon last week couldn’t be
blamed for coming to try and take a point against a higher placed side. Even so
this was taking the term ‘parking the bus’
to a whole new level and striker Simon Makienok hardly crossed the half way
line. In the end it was refreshing to see the attacking team prevail.
Karanka’s team selection demonstrated Boro’s strength in
depth as several of the Old Trafford heroes were rested. Bruno Zuculini made
his first league start in midfield alongside Adam Clayton as Grant Leadbitter took
an unfamiliar position on the bench alongside George Friend.
That meant Fernando Amorbieta started at left back and
Stewart Downing wore the captain’s armband. Charlton were also without their skipper
Johnnie Jackson so Chris Solly led the side which showed three changes from
their defeat to Brentford last time out.
Following Luzon’s departure, Karel Fraeye was appointed interim
manager for the Addicks and he quickly found out about the tough job he will
face to keep them up.
Boro dominated possession and mounted some early pressure through
Nugent, whose shot after 13 minutes was blocked. Moments later Downing curled
an effort from the edge of the box over the cross bar.
Even so a wall of 11 men is tough to displace as Boro have
found at the Riverside this season. At times they could have been accused of
overplaying, as they struggled to move the ball forward and create clear cut
chances in the early exchanges.
Their best opening of the half came on 24 minutes when
Adomah surged into the box but flashed his shot wide across goal. Fabbrini was
the next to try and forced goalkeeper Stephen Henderson to tip a dipping shot
over the cross bar, as Boro’s patience began prosper.
Even so they needed to up the tempo and in the second half
they did. Zuculini and Clayton had looked comfortable on the ball, while the attacking
players had got into some promising positions but taken a touch too many when
they arrived .
After the break the intensity amplified as the visitors
began to tire. Immediately Henderson was busier in the Charlton goal and denied
Amoriabieta an unlikely goal after the defender had ventured into the opposition
box.
That was a sign of things to come and just before the hour
the breakthrough came. Clayton’s low cross from the right took deflection
before landing perfectly into Nugent’s path, then with only Henderson to beat
from close range the striker gratefully converted the chance to send Boro on
their way.
Suddenly the pressure was released and within a couple of
minutes Zuculini had almost doubled the lead when a long range strike rebounded
off the post.
However they didn’t have to wait long as Adomah added a
spectacular second on 66 minutes. After cutting in from the right the Ghanaian
winger curled a shot towards to corner with his weaker left foot, a slight
deflection helped the ball past Henderson who was left rooted to the spot.
The visitors nearly pulled one back with their first effort
on target when Reza Ghoochannejhad struck a fine shot which Dimi Konstantopulos
had to parry away.
The points were sealed 12 minutes from time when Downing’s
corner was headed home by Ayala, as Boro remained 4th in the
Championship before a home game with Rotherham on Tuesday.
Player Ratings
Dimi Konstantopulos
6.5- Had to make one decent save all game did well to stay alert
Emilio Nsue 7.5- Got
forward and provided good outlet all afternoon
Ben Gibson 6.5- Didn’t
have much to do against weak Charlton attack
Daniel Ayala 7-
Solid defensively and added a goal towards the end
Fernando
Amorbieta 7- Adapted well to less
familiar left back position
Bruno Zuculini 7-
Gave a few passes away early on but looked more and more comfortable on the
ball
Adam Clayton 7.5-
Kept the ball moving and got forward more as Boro pushed for the opener
Albert Adomah 7-
Worked well with Nsue on the right and got back amongst the goals
Stewart Downing 7-
Quiet in the first half, saw more of the ball and had more effect after the
break
Diego Fabbrini 7.5-
Drew defenders towards him, often took 2 or 3 to stop his tricky feet
David Nugent 7.5-
Worked tirelessly for the team and got in the right position to get the all-important
opener
Subs
Jack Stephens – Only came on for the last 11 minutes, not
enough time to give a fair rating
Carlos De Pena - Only came on for the last 11 minutes, not
enough time to give a fair rating
Kike - Only came on for the last 10 minutes, not enough time
to give a fair rating
My Boro Man Of The Match: David Nugent
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