Sheffield Wednesday 1-2 Middlesbrough
Boro go top of the table with win over the Owls
After a goalless first half, the away side netted two in the opening ten minutes to fire them into control of the fixture. Adam Reach scored a trademark stunner to pull a goal back but the Owls couldn’t find the equaliser they desired.
Boro were looking to get back on track as in their previous fixture, they were defeated by Nottingham Forest, who also occupied a play-off spot as well as tonight’s teams.
The Owls went into the break full of confidence as they beat Bristol City, 1-2, at Ashton Gate. Both goals coming from substitute Lucas Joao in the second half.
Wednesday opened the chances after an equal opening ten minutes. Matt Penney’s surging run down the left ended with the youngster drilling a ball towards the back stick however, Daniel Ayala was on hand to clear it away to safety.
Adam Reach thought he’d opened the scoring in the Friday night tie. Barry Bannan floated a superb cross into the middle where the former Middlesbrough winger glanced a header towards goal which kissed the crossbar before resting on top of the net.
Ten minutes later, Daniel Ayala glanced Jonny Howson’s free-kick wide of the far post.
On the half hour mark, Adam Reach jinked his way into the box, beating two players along the way, before he flashed a powerful drive over the bar.
Michael Hector then showed his bravery as he put his body on the line to block a thunderous strike from Adam Clayton from just outside the area.
On the stroke of half-time, Mohammed Besic saw his fizzing strike saved and held down low by Cameron Dawson. The Owls countered and the ball ended up with Lucas Joao who held it up on the edge of the box before pulling it back to Barry Bannan. The Scotsman swiftly shifted the ball to his fellow countryman, Steven Fletcher, who tried an audacious chipped effort from just inside the area which floated over the target.
The half-time whistle went moments later as both sides went in at the break goalless.
The visitors took the lead four minutes after the restart. Mohammed Besic was threaded through by Stuart Downing and the Bosnian finished the move by calmly slotting under Dawson and into the bottom corner.
Jonny Howson then tried his luck when he curled a left footed effort towards goal which was held by Cameron Dawson.
Middlesbrough doubled their lead thanks to an error. An easy back pass was intercepted by Besic who subsequently squared the ball to an unmarked Assombalonga who tapped home for his fifth league goal of the season.
Wednesday finally shook off their slow start and were in search of a pathway back into the contest. Barry Bannan’s short corner was drilled into the area by Reach. The ball was cleared to the edge by Shotton where Hector teed up Matt Penney to volley over the bar.
Boro went straight down the other end and Besic saw his long ranged effort saved by Dawson.
An interchange of passes between Palmer, Bannan, Pelupessy and Reach allowed the latter to dink the ball into the middle where Atdhe Nuhiu saw his downward header blocked by Aden Flint.
With a quarter to go, Liam Palmer stopped Besic from adding another goal to his tally by nodding over his bending effort from the right corner of the box.
The home side pulled a goal back with nine minutes remaining. Adam Reach was in the perfect spot, on the edge of the area, to volley home a headed clearance into the back of the net against his former employers.
With a minute to go, George Saville snatched at his shot from twenty-five yards and dragged it wide of the near post.
In stoppage time, Bannan’s corner was unchallenged until Tom Lees connected with it at the back stick but his marker managed to stop it on the line which caused a pile up in the box and the referee blew for a Boro free-kick despite it looking like obstruction by the away side.
Middlesbrough took their time to get things restarted and the man in the middle brought proceedings to an end.
The Owls travel to St Andrews next Saturday as they take on Birmingham City. Where as the visitors welcome Rotherham United to the Riverside.
Attendance: 23,284
Goals: Reach (82’); Besic (49’), Assombalonga (55’)
Sheffield Wednesday: Cameron Dawson, Liam Palmer, Joey Pelupessy, Steven Fletcher, Barry Bannan, Jordan Thorniley, Tom Lees, Lucas Joao (Atdhe Nuhiu), Adam Reach, Michael Hector, Matt Penney
Unused Subs: Joe Wildsmith, Morgan Fox, Daniel Pudil, Josh Onomah, Connor Kirby, Fraser Preston
Middlesbrough: Darren Randolph, Ryan Shotton, Daniel Ayala, Aden Flint, Dael Fry, George Friend, Adam Clayton, Mohammed Besic (Danny Batth), Jonny Howson, Stuart Downing (George Saville), Britt Assombalonga (Jordan Hugill)
Unused Subs: Andy Lonergan, Sam McQueen, Paddy McNair, Rudy Gestede
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