BIRMINGHAM (4-2-3-1):

Beadle 3; Osayi-Samuel 4 (Osman 72), Klarer 4, Panzo 5 (Laird 84), Wagner 4; Tomoki 5, Doyle 5; Roberts 5 (Vicente 64, 4), DUKSCH 6, Gray 5 (Paik 72); Stansfield 6 (Priske 64, 5).

Subs (not used): Allsop (gk), Neumann, Kyogo, Fujimoto.


MIDDLESBROUGH (5-3-2):

7 Brynn: Couldn’t keep Ducksch’s goal out despite getting a hand to the ball, but made a crucial save from the Blues forward moments later and was strong and aggressive from set-pieces

8 Brittain: Defended superbly against the dangerous Gray and is clearly perfectly happy playing as a wing-back

7 Ayling: Did well as part of the back five, making some important blocks, and swung over the cross for Strelec’s header

8 Fry: Dominated at the back on his return to the starting line-up – whenever Birmingham tried to get physical, he stood firm

5 Malanda: Started shakily, giving the ball away on a number of occasions early on, and never really recovered – needed his fellow defender to bail him out

9 TARGETT: An attacking revelation in his left wing-back role – displayed great composure to slot home two first-half finishes

7 Hackney: Another strong showing from the Teessider – was always looking to get Boro on the front foot driving forward and laid the ball off for Targett’s second goal

8 Morris: Set the tone for Boro’s display with his aggressive running and pressing – is a crucial component of what the Teessiders do well under Hellberg

7 McGree: Played an important role in the Boro midfield as he returned to his former club – delivered a typically-energetic display

7 Strelec: Had been quiet for much of the game, but scored a crucial second-half goal as he angled home a brilliant header via the inside of the post

7 Conway: Led from the front in terms of Boro’s effective high press – his work-rate is absolutely relentless and his closing down was a key factor in his side’s second goal


Subs:

5 Whittaker (for Strelec, 61): Helped Boro see things out successfully in the closing stages

Browne (for McGree,74)

Sarmiento (for Conway, 75)

Gilbert (for Hackney, 90)

(not used): Wildsmith (gk), Edmundson, Munroe, Hansen, Sene.


Man Of The Match: MATT TARGETT – Boro’s new goalscoring star – after a week when the standard of the Teessiders’ shooting was a hot topic, the wing-back clinically dispatched the two chances that came his way.