Middlesbrough 2 Reading 1
Nsue 10 Forshaw 90+4 Cox 53
Promotions and titles are often won by fine margins and
pivotal moments, which can either make or break a long hard season.
If Middlesbrough achieve promotion this campaign, then the
last few minutes of this nail-biting encounter could turn out to be the
difference between Premier League football and another undistinguished campaign
in the constant slog of the Championship.
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| Boro's late pressure eventually pays off |
They could easily have lost this game after four minutes of
added time were shown by the fourth official. Having taken the lead though
Emilio Nsue in the first half Boro were pegged back by a plucky Reading side,
who drew level though Simon Cox after the interval.
From there the match could have faded out into a frustrating
draw, or worse, for Boro side who knew a win would take them to the top of the
table with five games to go.
In the 91st minute the visitors should have won
it when Stephen Quinn set up Matěj Vydra, but the Czech international blazed
his effort over the cross bar with the goal at his mercy.
Minutes later Boro won a corner, and after the ball had cannoned
around the area, smashed off Albert Adomah face’s and eventually dropped to
Adam Forshaw, the later finally buried a shot low into the bottom corner and
past keeper Ali Al-Habsi to send the home fans into raptures. Far from the prettiest
of goals but it could be the most valuable.
It’s a result which moves Aitor Karanka’s side to the top of
the Championship, two points ahead of Burnley and four ahead of third place
Brighton.
It won’t go down as the most convincing of wins but there
will be few complaints from 22,000 fans who witnessed this decisive triumph.
Karanka too knew the importance of this last gasp victory and even the often
composed Spaniard struggled to keep a lid on the vigorous celebrations which
followed.
The Boro boss made just one change from the side which beat
Preston on Saturday as the in form Gaston Ramirez dropped to the bench and was
replaced by Ritchie De Laet.
The Belgium defender slotted into his accustomed right back
position, meaning Nsue pushed forward to the right side of midfield and Stewart
Downing was moved inside to the number 10
position behind striker Jordan Rhodes.
Reading manager Brian McDermott also made just one change
from the side which lost 2-0 at home to Birmingham at the weekend. It came
upfront as Matej Vydra replaced Yann Kermorgant.
With the fog descending across the Riverside, it was the
hosts who made the early breakthrough on 10 minutes. Nsue started the move when
he played the ball to Downing inside the Reading half, the Boro midfielder then
released George Friend who had made one of his trademark runs down the left
hand channel.
The full back’s low cross was swept goal bound by Rhodes,
however the striker’s effort rebounded off the post and back into the path of
lively Nsue, who had arrived in the box following his earlier contribution.
The Equatorial Guinea international then tucked the ball
past Al-Habsi from close range to register his third goal of the campaign. He
celebrated by running into the corner in front of the home fans, who chanted
his name in the process.
The hosts had chances to double their lead. On 20 minutes
Friend’s effort from the edge of the area was deflected into the side netting.
Minutes later Downing set up Adomah, who subsequently showed good footwork to
cut inside from the right, but his low shot was saved by Al-Habsi.
Reading’s closest effort came in the opening 45 minutes came
when Cox flashed an effort wide. However Dimi Konstantopulos had been a
spectator for most of the half.
That changed after the interval, as Boro began to sit back
and invite pressure onto their often solid defence. Even so their clean sheet
was obliterated on 53 minutes, when substitute Andrew Taylor, formerly of Boro,
took a shot from outside the box which was parried by Konstantopulos.
There were three Reading players ready to convert the chance
and after a brief moment of hesitation it was Cox who finally pocked it home. That
was followed by a belated Boro response, however for long spells it appeared
like the opportunity was slipping though their fingers.
Downing’s curling effort was saved was saved by the legs of Al-Habsi,
minutes later Ben Gibson headed a corner into the ground and over the bar from
close range.
After their victory over Preston at the weekend Albert
Adomah admitted that some of the players were nervous in the final few minutes.
They did respond to Reading’s equaliser here and finally began to dominate possession.
Even so their build-up play was anxious and
slow in the hope that something might finally drop their way.
Al-Habsi denied Downing again when he parried another left
foot effort away from goal. Minutes later he comfortably caught David Nugent’s
header, after the striker had replaced Jordan Rhodes with five minutes to go.
Vydra’s miss proved pivotal and just like Brighton did
against Nottingham Forest on Monday, Boro capitalised in the dying seconds. They
now travel to Bolton on Saturday for the first of their remaining five games.
Player Ratings
Dimi Konstantopulos
6- Could have done better with the goal, not much to do otherwise
Richie De Laet 6.5- Balanced
his attacking and defensive duties well
Daniel Ayala 6-
Distribution was below his usual standard, still solid at the back
Ben Gibson 6.5-
Swept up danger and made some important interceptions
George Friend 6- Was
constantly up and down the left, final delivery was poor at times
Grant Leadbitter 6-
Replaced in the second half after he looked like he was tiring
Adam Clayton 7- Potent
figure in midfield, won tackles and helped pass the ball out of defence
Albert Adomah 6- Wasn’t
as effective as in recent weeks
Emilio Nsue 6.5-
Adapted well to a change of position with another energetic performance
Stewart Downing 6.5-
Created most of Boro’s chances in the second half
Jordan Rhodes 6- Lacked
service once again
Subs
Adam Forshaw 6.5- Provided
more forward passes and scored the all-important winner
Gaston Ramirez 6-
Came on with 23 minutes to go but wasn’t enough time to make an impact
David Nugent – Came on with five minutes to go, not enough time
to give a fair rating
My Boro Man of The Match: Adam Clayton
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