Middlesbrough 3 Wolves 0
Adomah 37 64
Fabbrini 57
Less than a month ago Albert Adomah stood on the brink of leaving Middlesbrough after
handing in a unforeseen transfer request, but turn the clock forward a couple
of weeks and things couldn’t be better for Boro’s Ghanaian winger who has
returned to the frame at the top of his game.
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| Albert Adomah after two goals and one assist |
Adomah was the match winger as Boro brushed aside Wolves in
the Capital One Cup on Tuesday night to record their sixth straight victory in
all competitions. Two goals either side of an assist for Diego Fabbrini rounded
off a professional and astute performance from Adomah and his team mates, that
was after Boro manager Aitor Karanka made seven changes from the side which
beat Nottingham Forest in the league on Saturday.
The score line alone suggests that some took their
opportunity, not least midfielder Adam Forshaw who was a strong contender for
man of the match due to his slick passing and shrewd tackles. Then there was
debutant Carlos De Pena, the Uruguayan winger who signed on transfer deadline
day, whose crosses from the left led to both of Adomah’s goals.
In fairness this was a different Wolves team which started
the 0-0 with Brighton last weekend, as manager Kenny Jackett promoted a number of
his substitutes from that game into the starting line-up. He made nine changes
in total, leaving out strikers Benick Afobe and Adam Le Fondre who only came on
when the game was as good as won.
Along with Forshaw and De Pena, Karanka also called upon the
likes of Fernando Amoriabieta and Tomas Kalas in defence and Tomas Mejias in
goal, while Diego Fabbrini started behind Kike in attack. David Nugent and
Stewart Downing dropped down to the bench while Christian Stuani was rested altogether.
Overall it was a good indication of the strength in depth Boro now possess.
Even so the opening exchanges held little quality and the
passing was, at best, mediocre from both sides. De Pena had spent the majority
of the opening twenty minutes of the fringes of proceedings but after
twenty-two minutes he swung a low left footed cross into the box which Wolves
keeper Carl Ikeme, who was on loan at Boro a couple of years ago, had to
smother.
It was a similar move which led to Boro’s opener when De
Pena was once again allowed too much time on the ball and time to deliver a
cross. Adomah may have been the intended target, but it took an intervention
from Wolves defender Ethan Ebanks-Landell before it finally reached him.
Ebanks-Landell
who is beginning to make an impression in the Wolves first team, after spending
last season on loan at Bury, should have done better when the cross bounced his
shin and allowed Adomah to pounce. Alert to the situation the Boro winger took his
opportunity with both hands and calmly slotted the ball past Ikeme.
In truth that was the only noteworthy chance in what was a
low key first half, minutes earlier a Grant Leadbitter corner was deflected
just wide before Kike fired an effort the wrong side of the post from a tight
angle.
It could even have been said that Boro’s finishing was
clinical, which hasn’t always been the case in recent seasons. By the end of
the evening they had recorded four shots on target and three had found the back
of the net.
There was a visible difference after half time as the hosts
began to move through the gears. Leadbitter and Forshaw advanced a couple of
yards up the pitch in midfield and the passing was slicker and sharper all-round.
The second goal came on 57 minutes when Adomah turned
provider. After some patient build up play on the right he skimmed a low cross
into the box, where Kike fooled a number of defenders by pulling off a clever
dummy. That provided space for Fabbrini, who was waiting patiently behind him,
and when the ball finally came the Italian made no mistake when side footing it
past Ikeme.
Jackett’s response was to release strikers Afobe and Le
Fondre, but within minutes of doing so his side fell further behind. Just like
the first goal it was De Pena who delivered the cross from the left and a
deflection brought it into the path of Adomah. He then had time to take a touch
before lashing the ball into the far corner.
At the other end Mejias had spectated most of the game like
the 13,000 fans inside the Riverside, his only genuine save came when he
comfortably held Kevin McDonald’s long range effort. The 300 or so Wolves fans
were at least trying to enjoy themselves, singing “we’re gonna win 4-3” but it
was the hosts who nearly added a fourth.
With three minutes remaining Fabbrini hit a crashing left
foot shot towards the top left corner which Ikeme did well to tip onto the post
and keep to score down at three.
Player Ratings
Tomas Mejias 6-
Handling was good but had little to do all game
Emilio Nsue 6- Good
going forward but gave away possession away a couple of times in the first half
Fernando Amorebieta
7- Commanded the defence well and was comfortable on the ball
Tomas Kalas 6- Moved
back to centre half but wasn’t given a stern test
George Friend 6-
Took off for precautions after picking up a booking in the first half
Grant Leadbitter 7-
Kept thing ticking in midfield and made tackles when he had too
Adam Forshaw 8-
comfortable on the ball, rarely gave away possession and tracked back when
required
Albert Adomah 8- Two
goals, one assist and a match winning performance
Carlos De Pena 7-
Quiet early on but delivered a couple of decent crosses which led to goals
Diego Fabbrini 7-
Picked up some good positions in and around the edge of the box, nearly had two
goals to his name
Kike 6.5- Quite a
frustrating evening as he struggled to get involved upfront
Subs
Adam Clayton 6-
Replaced Leadbitter with over 20 minutes to go, added fresh legs in midfield
Jack Stephens - Replaced Friend with 15 minutes to go and
was moved to centre back, not enough time to give a fair rating
Adam Reach- Came on with 12 minutes to go, not enough time
to give a fair rating
My Boro Man Of The Match: Albert Adomah
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