The verdict as Middlesbrough won 2-1 at Sheffield United to move top of the Championship
Middlesbrough’s Riley McGree (left) celebrates scoring(Image: PA)
Middlesbrough moved to the top of the Championship with a statement 2-1 victory away at Sheffield United.
The first team to beat the Blades at Bramall Lane in the league since Derby County on November 1, Boro made it six league wins in a row, to leap above Coventry City at the top of table.
An away performance that typified their class in possession since Kim Hellberg took charge, with all the battling qualities and out-of-possession work the Swede demands, first-half goals came from Tommy Conway and Riley McGree to seal a huge win in the promotion race.
Hellberg named an unchanged side for the game. There were changes on the bench though, as deadline-day signing Joe Wildsmith came into the squad, as did academy star Cruz Ibeh and the returning Kaly Sene.
Boro were quickly under the cosh early on but enjoyed the biggest chance of the opening ten minutes. Winning the ball back just inside their own half, it opened up for the transition.
They worked it well up to the penalty area, where Hayden Hackney slipped it wide to Conway. Forced wider than he’d have liked though, and on his weaker left foot, he blasted over.
The opening 15 minutes were played at such a high tempo. Boro were under pressure and looking edgy in their own half.But when they did work it through, they were quickly hitting the Blades on the counter.
Inside 15 minutes they had the game’s three best chances, as Adilson Malanda and Morgan Whittaker both failed to direct close-range headers far enough away from Michael Cooper.
Any concern for not taking those early chances were quickly eradicated though, when Conway made no mistake with his second chance on 19 minutes.
A lovely worked team goal from Boro, Luke Ayling pushed the ball through the middle of the pitch into Morgan Whittaker, whose first-time flick presented McGree with space. He played it on further for Conway to run onto and finish clinically across goal.
From there, Boro managed the next ten minutes well, as a frenetic game started to settle in the visitors’ favour. A swing in momentum almost saw the home side back in it around the half-hour mark though. Patrick Bamford smashed one into the side-netting, while Gus Hamer forced a good save out of Brynn.
In general though, Boro were managing things well and started to play some good football. They extended their lead in the final minute of the first half, capitalising on a Sheffield United error.
Michael Cooper sliced a clearance that Hackney read. He headed into Conway who gave it straight back. Hackney drove Boro forward with his usual guile before smashing one off the post. It bounced out kindly for McGree who had to leap well in order to control his header and guide it back into the empty net.
A brilliant first-half from Boro, they used the ball well throughout, particularly on the counter. Equally as important at Bramall Lane, they were aggressive off the ball too, working hard throughout to win the ball back as quickly as possible, just as Hellberg demands.
A big 45 awaited and it was little surprise that Chris Wilder’s side came out looking for a quick route back into the game. They came close three minutes in when Callum O’Hare got into the box and flashed one across goal that was just beyond Bamford’s reach.
But Boro would go into management mode from there. Taking the sting out of the game, keeping possession well, and staying compact at the back, they looked to be doing a professional job to get over the line.
It wouldn’t be Boro to make things easy for themselves though. With just over 15 minutes remaining, they fell to sleep at the back when Sheffield United won a free-kick in their own half.
One long ball into Gus Hamer, who then played Bamford in behind. The two-time former Boro striker smashing beyond Sol Brynn, to get the hosts back in the game.
A nervy finish it might have made for Boro, but for the recklessness of Joe Rothwell ten minutes from time. Making Boro’s task of getting over the line that bit easier, he received a straight red for a terrible challenge on Alan Browne as the Boro man broke.
It highlights their incredible turnaround under Hellberg, who watched on back in November when Coventry’s win at the Riverside moved them ten points clear of Boro at the top.
They’re now two points ahead of the Sky Blues ahead of another acid test against Frank Lampard’s side at the CBS Arena next Monday evening.
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