Middlesbrough 1 Brighton 1
Stuani 19 Stephens 55
It was billed as the most expensive game in football, £170
million was the reported figure.
Yet before this game Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka said there
were far more important things than the extreme riches that promotion to the
Premier League will bring.
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| Boro fans flood onto the pitch after winning promotion |
This achievement was for the fans, the chairman and the players,
who yesterday secured their place in the top flight after seven long years away.
A draw at home to Brighton was enough for the Teessiders who
were denied in the play-off final last year. That experience may well have been
the difference this time around, in front of a sell-out crowd at the Riverside
Stadium.
They had to come through eight added minutes of injury time,
due to a lengthy injury to Gaston Ramirez mid-way through the second half.
The Uruguayan was subsequently stretchered off the field in
what proved to be the decisive moment of this fixture. A tackle on Ramirez from
Brighton’s Dale Stephens was deemed to be worthy of a red card from referee
Mike Dean, whose decision may have been influenced by the nasty looking gash on
the victim’s leg.
It was a case of hero to zero for Stephens who had equalised
for the visitors just four minutes earlier, after Cristhian Stuani had opened
the scoring for the hosts in the first half.
Victory for Brighton would have seen them replace Boro in
the automatic promotion places and despite having a man less they piled on the
pressure in the closing exchanges.
Even so Boro’s defensive record has been the best in the
league this campaign, and Daniel Ayala and Ben Gibson were once again immense
in the heart of the back four.
In the dying seconds a cross into the Boro penalty area was
caught and held by Boro goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopulos, which ignited a huge
roar around the ground.
Dean subsequently put his whistle to his lips which prompted
a sea of red shirts to flood the Riverside pitch. Red smoke billowed before
another boom of sound echoed around the ground. Promotion was finally
confirmed.
Players were swamped and caught up in the celebrations which
will have gone on long into to the night.
An emotional Karanka tried to sum up his feelings in front
of the swarming camera crews, but not even he could quite believe all that he
has achieved in his two and a half year spell in his North East.
The Boro boss made some decisive decisions ahead of this significant
clash. He made three changes from the side which drew 2-2 with Birmingham last
weekend and they paid off after just 19 minutes.
George Friend returned at left back after a hamstring injury
while Stuani replaced Stewart Downing on the wing. The other alteration saw
David Nugent come in for Jordan Rhodes upfront.
The latter two were involved in the opening goal when
Ramirez’s free kick was hooked back across goal from Nugent for Stuani to bundle
the ball home. It was the perfect start for the hosts and definitely settled a
few pre-match nerves.
Brighton had started with purpose and intent after Chris
Hughton had made two changes from the team which drew with Derby on Monday. However
as the half wore on it was Boro who looked the more potent side.
Captain Gordon Greer had replaced the suspended Lewis Dunk
who was sent off against the Rams, further forward Jamie Murphy was preferred to
Jiri Skalak who had to settle for a place on the bench.
The hosts almost doubled their lead when Albert Adomah’s
cross from the left teed up Stuani whose volley was blocked off the line by Connor
Goldson. Minutes later Ramirez looped an effort over goalkeeper David Stockdale
but the ball nestled onto the top of the net.
Adam Clayton then curled an effort wide, before Anthony Knockaert
flashed a shot off target seconds before half time.
Brighton equalised nine minutes after the restart, when Knockaert’s
free kick towards the back post was headed back across goal from Stephens and
looped all the way over Konstantopulos into the Boro net.
The game’s key moment came four minutes later when Stephens
came together with Ramirez and caused the Boro player to drop to the floor.
Dean appeared to pull out a yellow card but after protests from the Boro
players and a glance at the injury, the referee then elected to show the player
red.
Despite having a man less Brighton piled men forward in
search of a winner which would have seen them promoted. That left gaps at the
back and gave Boro opportunities on the counter attack, yet they couldn’t beat
Stockdale who denied Adomah with a full stretch save.
In the end it didn’t matter as Karanka’s men hung on to book
their place in the top flight next campaign. The financial rewards may be
astronomical but the celebrations at the final whistle will have been priceless
for the Boro fans. They have waited seven years for this, but at last they’re
back in the big time.
Player Ratings
Dimi Konstantouplos
6.5- Didn’t have many saves to make, was beaten by Stephens looping
header.
Emilio Nsue 7- Was
focused, determined and full of energy all game.
Daniel Ayala 8- Won
everything in the air as he propelled the waves of Brighton attacks late on.
Ben Gibson 8.5-
Local lad gave everything to the cause making blocks, tackles and interceptions
at the back.
George Friend 7- Made
a noticeable difference to the side after his return from injury.
Adam Clayton 7- Predictably
protected the defensive as Boro held on at the end.
Grant Leadbitter 7- Continuously
chased the ball in midfield as Brighton piled on the pressure.
Albert Adomah 7 –
Did his bit defensively and created some chances.
Cristian Stuani 7.5-
Was rejuvenated on the wing, he ran at players with the ball and scored the
opener.
Gaston Ramirez 7.5-
Showed the quality to unpick the Brighton defence, was forced off with nasty
looking injury.
David Nugent 7.5-
Battled for every ball and hooked the ball back for Stuani to score.
Subs
Stewart Downing 6.5-
Replaced Ramirez with half an hour to go and slotted into the number 10 position.
Jordan Rhodes- Replaced Nugent with 10 minutes to go, not
enough time to give a fair rating.
My Boro Man Of The Match: Ben Gibson
You can also watch my match-day experience and review of the game on my YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNRcGQh7myw
