Middlesbrough 3 Swansea 0
Negredo 18 29 (Pen)
De Roon 59
Middlesbrough climbed four points clear of the relegation
zone thanks to a convincing 3-0 victory over Swansea at the Riverside.
Alvaro Negredo’s first half double gave Aitor Karanka’s side
a commanding lead and visitors never looked like recovering when the Spanish striker
netted his second with a 29th minute penalty.
Marten De Roon added a third mid-way through the second
half, sending Boro up to 14th in the table ahead of a busy Christmas
schedule.
The hosts started slowly, after Karanka had made one change
from the side which lost 3-0 to Liverpool on Wednesday night.
It saw the influential Gaston Ramirez return in place of
Adama Traore, who dropped to the bench.
However, Boro almost fell behind after just three minutes,
when Gylfi Sigurdsson’s dipping effort was palmed away by Victor Valdes.
It took 18 nervy minutes before Boro finally adjusted to the
situation and Karanka acknowledged the pressure that his players were under
after the game.
The hosts took the lead when Adam Clayton made a rare burst
forward and was fed by Ramirez’s pass. When Clayton reached the edge of the
penalty area he checked back and delivered a low cross for Negredo, who lashed
the ball home with a first-time finish.
The burly striker received an opportunity to add to his
tally when his team mates caught Swansea off guard with a quick throw-in on 29
minutes.
Adam Forshaw used his initiative to charge into the Swansea penalty
area, where he was bundled down by Jordi Amat’s weary challenge. Negredo made
no mistake from the spot.
The visitors rarely threatened after that and their defence
was breached again when De Roon poked home Ramirez’s inviting cross.
Valdes was forced to save Fernando Llorente’s late header
but it was too little too late for the visitors.
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