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Town 2-0 Middlesbrough - Match Report
Saturday, 20th Dec 2014 17:10

First-half goals from Daryl Murphy and Jay Tabb saw the Blues to an impressive 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough at Portman Road to return to second in the Championship. Murphy netted a rebound from close range in the 25th minute and Tabb headed home the second deep into first-half injury time.

Jonny Parr replaced Tyrone Mings at left-back in an otherwise unchanged Town side. Mings missed out with an infected toe, along with Noel Hunt who took a knock in training. Former Blues skipper Grant Leadbitter started for the visitors.

Tommy Smith headed an early Paul Anderson freekick not far wide as the Blues started the stronger.

Anderson went close to opening the scoring in the 12th minute when he latched onto Murphy’s header on the right, lobbed a defender as he cut in but looped his left-foot shot over.

The Teessiders first threatened in the 14th minute but Daniel Ayala’s header flew well wide of Bartosz Bialkowski’s goal.

On 21 Boro striker Jelle Vossen was booked for blocking an Anderson freekick with his hands at a distance of only around six yards. The subsequent freekick was laid short to McGoldrick, who lashed well over.

The Blues went ahead in the 25th minute with Murphy once again the man on the scoresheet. Teddy Bishop played a clever pass down the left to Tabb, who cut the ball back to McGoldrick 10 yards out.

Boro keeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos stopped his low shot with his toe, but Murphy slammed home his 14th goal of the season from the edge of the six-yard box.

Three minutes after the goal Boro defender Ken Omeruo was booked for tripping Anderson and then McGoldrick as the Blues broke.

Boro were exceptionally fortunate to avoid conceding a penalty in the 38th minute when McGoldrick cut inside Omeruo, who tripped to the Town striker.

It looked the most blatant of blatant spotkicks but incredibly referee James Linington gave a freekick against McGoldrick and booked him for diving, much to the frontman’s amazement.


Had Omeruo been penalised the on-loan Chelsea man would almost certainly have been shown a second yellow card.

Boro, who had been somewhat underwhelming throughout the opening period, weren’t too far from an equaliser when Albert Adomah glanced Adam Reach’s left-wing cross wide.

Deep in injury time, moments before the referee’s whistle, the Blues increased their lead.

After an exchange of passes also involving skipper Luke Chambers and McGoldrick, Bishop, who had been outstanding throughout the half, whipped over a cross from the right and smallest-man-on-the-pitch Tabb threw himself between the Boro centre-halves to power home a superb header.

The two-goal lead was the least the Blues deserved after a half which they had dominated.

The third goal which might have come had referee Linington awarded what was a clear penalty when McGoldrick - who along with Murphy had given the Boro backline a very difficult 45 minutes - was fouled.

At the other end, Boro, who could well have been down to 10 men after that incident, had rarely threatened Bialkowski’s goal.

Boro replaced Adomah with Lee Tomlin at half-time and four minutes after the restart Chambers headed an Anderson freekick straight at Konstantopoulos.

In the 51st minute George Friend played a one-two and broke into the area but scuffed his shot to Bialkowski. Two minutes later Cole Skuse was replaced by Kevin Bru, the former Bristol City man having picked up a knock.

The Teessiders had started the half on the front foot and created an opening in the 54th minute when Bamford found Reach in space on the left. The midfielder’s low cross found Vossen, who flicked the ball across goal but to no one and Tabb cleared.

Omeruo astonishingly avoided a second yellow card for a second time in the 62nd minute when he felled Bishop as the youngster broke through at pace as he latched onto a McGoldrick pass. Much to the continued frustration of the Town players and crowd, referee Linington gave the freekick but kept his cards in his pocket.

While the Blues prepared to take the freekick Boro manager Aitor Karanka sensibly removed Omeruo, replacing him with Milos Veljkovic. Kike also took over from Vossen.

On 64, Christophe Berra headed a Reach effort from distance out of the six-yard box with Bialkowski out of his ground. The ball looked to be going wide in any case.

Town were twice within a whisker of making it 3-0 in the 70th minute when Leadbitter cleared Murphy’s header from Tabb’s left-sided corner off the line. The loose ball fell to Smith but his shot across goal struck the foot of the post and bounced away from Berra.

Darren Ambrose replaced the tiring but excellent Bishop in the 71st minute prior to ex-Norwich defender Daniel Ayala hooking a corner well over for the visitors, who had shown more fight after the break but had never seriously tested Bialkowski.

Anderson shot just wide from distance on 77, then two minutes later McGoldrick chested the ball to Ambrose who also hit an effort wide from well out.

After Kike had flicked Reach’s cross from the left wide, Parr turning the ball out at the far post, Conor Sammon replaced Anderson, who looked to have suffered a knock. From the corner, Friend headed well wide.

As the game entered its final three minutes Friend was booked for a foul on Bru. Ambrose hit a powerful, low 30-yard freekick but Konstantoulos was equal to it.

In injury time, Tomlin shot straight at Bialkowski but the Blues weren’t to be denied their eighth home win of the season and second place in the table going into Christmas.

The victory was never in any real doubt once Tabb had netted his brilliant first goal of the season just before the break.

Town had been well on top in the first half - when they might have been three in front had they been awarded the penalty - and comfortably repelled Boro’s second-half fightback with Bialkowski rarely significantly tested.

Given the quality of the opposition and their previous record on the road, the result is as good as any achieved by the Blues this season and Mick McCarthy’s side look more and more like serious promotion challengers with every game that passes.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Parr, Smith, Berra, Skuse (Bru 46), Bishop (Ambrose 71), Tabb, Anderson, Murphy, McGoldrick. Unused: Gerken, Clarke, S Hunt, Bajner.

Middlesbrough: Konstantopoulos, Nsue, Ayala, Omeruo (Veljkovic 62), Friend, Reach, Clayton, Leadbitter, Adomah, Vossen (Kike 62), Bamford. Unused: Mejias, Gibson, Kike, Tomlin, Whitehead, Wildschut. Referee: James Linington (Newport, IoW). Att: 21,187. (Boro: 1,111).


Photo: Action Images



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wkj added 17:13 - Dec 20
Safe from Relegation at Christmas....... KEEP IT COMING TOWN.... CMONNNNNNNNN Up the Towen!
6

GoingUp added 17:14 - Dec 20
Blue Army!
2

Walk_the_Wark added 17:19 - Dec 20
FANTASTIC REULT!- Well Done Town!!
4

DrDre added 17:20 - Dec 20
Get in there! Great Christmas present!
4

parhamblue added 17:21 - Dec 20
Fantastic performances from our lads. Great team performance. The penalty that should have been, what a joke.
6

plcplue added 17:21 - Dec 20
This is starting to feel very special indeed. Brilliant support, brilliant team and brilliant manager. Buzzing!
4

Surco72 added 17:21 - Dec 20
Top Christmas present , thank you very much MM and TC
3

BlueandTruesince82 added 17:22 - Dec 20
Brilliant. Nothing else to say really. Keep it going please.
3

kuyski added 17:23 - Dec 20
Portman road fortress was done again.

premier league not a dream.

Tonight Bishop was different class,Dizzy same before was great,Murphy was quiet but has a goal was enough,Tabb .................................................well done and proved yourself at tonight.

LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLovely day.
9

BlueMachines added 17:23 - Dec 20
What a performance. Tabb, Anderson and Skuse all superb in particular for me.

And I see Leadbitter's corners haven't improved!!
11

TractorCam added 17:23 - Dec 20
Another excellent result, we don't fear anyone, another top side brushed aside, COYB
7

bgexile added 17:25 - Dec 20
where oh where are the 'realists' now?
Superb result. Congratulations to the whole team and the management set-up.
Merry Xmas to one and all.
COYB
1

bohslegend added 17:25 - Dec 20
Incredible stuff! Dare we dream?
5

jas0999 added 17:33 - Dec 20
Disappointed. Not with the result obviously, the fact I had to miss the game due to a Long standing engagement. Delighted with the win which now makes last weeks away draw look like a very decent point. Can probably afford to draw at Brentford now as well, although hoping for a win! Well, it's Christmas!

Happy Christmas to all.
11

TractorBeezer added 17:35 - Dec 20
What a fantastic performance. Everyone contributed with defence solid.... Tabb, Bishop, Bialkowski, McGoldrick stood out for me. A key factor was when, with seconds remaining before half-time we (I think Chambers) took a quick throw-in instead of running down the clock which led to a brilliant move finished off by Tabby. 2-0.
A great start to Christmas!
Well done MM, TC and the lads!
7

muccletonjoe added 17:35 - Dec 20
Over the moon. Well done to the boys. A happy Christmas for all town fans this year. Cheers everyone.!
7

Lord_Mac added 17:36 - Dec 20
Had to sit this one out with a kidney infection, but managed to find a stream. Not the same, but really enjoyed it and it cheered me up no end while the Missus was putting up the tree!! Hoping to be fit for Brentford! Have good one everyone.
3

warwickblue added 17:36 - Dec 20
How on earth was that not a penalty? How on earth did Omeruo stay on the pitch long enough to get substituted? Should have been four or five nil but that just underlines how far we have come under MM and TC. Terrible ref, great result. Happy Christmas!
12

osborne added 17:36 - Dec 20
'tis the season?
2

PeekFreans added 17:36 - Dec 20
We are the best tean in the league
4

bowie added 17:38 - Dec 20
great win,and another clean sheet,teddy was spot on again and fair play tabb you give 100% all the time you cant knock anyone who does that and you scored a great goal,respect to are man between the posts as well sorry gerkin this guy is special happy xmas to everyone at Ipswich keep up the good work love you all itfc xxx
4

jpring89 added 17:39 - Dec 20
Absolutely amazing and a nice 200 quid acca came in Boom
1

itfccymru added 17:41 - Dec 20
What a win! After the criticism of Anderson and Tabb I'm sure HeganSheroes is eating his words today, two of the best players on the pitch by the looks of things, not to mention Tabby's goal! I feel were playing with so much confidence at the moment and momentum is everything in this league, I really do fancy us. Also a word has to be said about Teddy Bishop. What a delight to watch he is, developing into an incredibly talented footballer and seems so level headed. MM and TC are creating something magical here, so let's believe we can get promoted and keep those attendances high to support the boys! COYB!
11

Ipswichbusiness added 17:41 - Dec 20
Wonderful result against a strong 'boro side.

The only fly in the ointment being the Bournemouth result.

Brentford away will be difficult; a draw would be a good result.
6

bluemikey100 added 17:48 - Dec 20
lol is there any stopping us awesome against a team with an impressive record like us great team performance again just wish bournemouth hadnt won convincingly again then wed be top
3


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