How the Middlesbrough players were rated at Birmingham City after a 2-2 draw
Max Arfsten of Middlesbrough celebrates after scoring the team’s first goal(Image: Anna Gowthorpe/Shutterstock)
Middlesbrough’s character was crucial again as they scored late to rescue a point at Birmingham City.
Adilson Malanda scored the goal to make it 2-2, adding to Max Arfsten’s opener in the first half.
But Boro’s inability to manage a game effectively for 90 whole minutes was a problem again, with two second-half goals in five minutes flipped the game in Birmingham’s favour. Here’s how the Boro players rated.
Radek Vitek – 7
Nothing he could do with either goal, but made two good saves early in the game – the first of which was an excellent reaction stop from a close-range header.
Luke Ayling – 6
Was guilty of a couple of the early slack passes out of defence, but recovered well and was important in the second half with some big blocks and headers.
Ashley Phillips – 6
It was a tough afternoon as he dueled with big centre forward Vazquez with mixed results. Largely solid.
Adilson Malanda – 6
A strange afternoon for Boro’s late goalscorer. Playing in the fluid defence-midfield role, his brilliant ball out to Cozier-Duberry was crucial to Boro’s first too. But he was guilty of a few sloppy moments and was the one who gifted Birmingham possession to kickstart the second-half collapse.
Callum Brittain – 6
Largely handled the dangerous Millar well, and showed some positive touches. Not much he could do to stop Millar’s goal, with Boro caught when giving the ball away sloppily in their own half.
Aidan Morris – 6
Usual tenacity but this was a game where, even when leading at half-time, Boro didn’t ever really get a grip or enjoy their usual control.
Riley McGree – 6
Really unfortunate with the own goal at his old club. Couldn’t really offer much in a difficult game to get into.
Max Arfsten – 7
A good afternoon for the American, who bagged his first goal for the club, and provided some dangerous crosses throughout too. Being so good with both feet is really helpful. Good finish for the goal and sound defensively.
Amario Cozier-Duberry – 8
Boro’s most lively player before tiring in the second half. Probably should have scored his chance, but did so well to set Arfsten up, somehow retaining the ball through about three challenges into the box.
Myles Peart-Harris – 6
Played in a more advanced role, he struggled to get into the game as Boro struggled to work it up the pitch in the first half. Did lay on Cozier-Duberry for the best chance prior to the goal.
Will Lankshear – 6
No goal for the striker on this occasion, but desperately unlucky with one that hit the post in the first half. A decent battle against far bigger centre halves, his general play is ever-improving.
Subs
Sebastian Berhalter (For McGree, 63’) – 6 – Didn’t really have much of an impact and the free-kick that resulted in the equaliser wasn’t great, but he’ll take it.
Tommy Conway (For Peart-Harris, 63’) – 6 – A bit of spark and fight but little end product.
Jeremy Sarmiento (For Cozier-Duberry, 74’) – 5 – Sloppies in this one. Didn’t make much happen and gave the ball away a couple of times.
Neto Borges (For Arfsten, 86’) – N/A
Kyle Joseph (For Phillips, 86’) – N/A – Anticipated and hassled to help get the late goal.
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