Two goals from David McGoldrick sandwiched a Luke Chambers header as the Blues came from behind to beat Middlesbrough 3-1 at Portman Road. Albert Adomah put the visitors in front in the 11th minute but McGoldrick lashed in a brilliant equaliser before the break, then in the second half Chambers nodded Town in front before the Blues number 10 sealed the victory in injury time.

Mick McCarthy named the expected unchanged side with keeper Dean Gerken making his home debut, while centre-half Christophe Berra and midfielders Paul Anderson and Ryan Tunnicliffe made their first starts at Portman Road. Chambers, at right-back, wore the captain’s armband.

Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray included ex-Town skipper Grant Leadbitter, who was to be booed by his old fans, in the centre of his midfield.

Chances were rare in a scrappy early phase with neither side gaining control. In the eighth minute Aaron Cresswell lashed a 30-yard freekick well wide.

The visitors went ahead from the game’s first significant penalty area action. David McGoldrick headed a corner from the right to the edge of the Blues area where Leadbitter sent it back in and Albert Adomah acrobatically turned it on into the net for his first Boro goal after his summer move from Bristol City.

Aside from a few corners the Blues hadn’t really threatened but as the game reached the 20-minute mark they began to get their passing going and were pushing for an equaliser.

First Cresswell’s left-wing cross was blocked just ahead of Frank Nouble, then McGoldrick played in Paul Anderson on the right of the area, Jonathan Woodgate blocking the midfielder’s strike at goal.

On 25 one-time Town target Dean Whitehead was booked for a cynical foul on McGoldrick as the Blues broke.

Town got back on terms in the 34th minute via McGoldrick’s second goal of the season, and what a strike it was. The former Forest man tricked his way past Whitehead 25 yards out before slamming a shot across keeper Jason Steele and into the net. The goal was similar to the one he scored against Leeds last month, although probably slightly bettering it.

The Blues remained on top for a spell after the goal, McGoldrick played in Nouble on the right on 38 but the linesman raised his flag for offside, moments before the Town number 10 was clattered on the edge of the box. On 41 Nouble had the ball in the net but referee James Linington adjudged that the Blues striker had committed a foul.

As the half moved into injury time Mustapha Carayol cut a cross back from the left as the visitors broke, but Tommy Smith, who scored twice in last season’s corresponding fixture, cut it out.

Just before the whistle, Anderson crossed from the right and Chambers hit a shot on the turn but too close to Steele.

The scoreline was a fair reflection of the first 45 minutes with both sides having spells on top but without overly impressing or creating too many chances.

The goals were probably better than the half deserved with McGoldrick’s strike better than his similar effort against Leeds in the last home game.

Nouble was replaced with Daryl Murphy at the break, the Irishman immediately winning an aerial ball, something the ex-Wolves man hadn’t been able to do as regularly as McCarthy would have wanted.

The Blues began the period brightly and within a couple of minutes of the restart Tunnicliffe forced Steele into a save to his left with a powerful strike from the edge of the box.

Murphy headed a Cresswell freekick from deep straight at Steele on 48, then McGoldrick was flagged offside when played in on goal midway inside the Teessiders’ half.

The visitors began to look the more threatening side, George Friend making a strong run forward, the Blues eventually getting the ball away from the edge of the box. Then, soon after, Smith blocked a strike from Carayol.

But on 57 it was the Blues who would go in front. Tunnicliffe laid the ball back to Cresswell on the left and the full-back sent in a deep first-time cross which unmarked skipper Chambers headed back across Steele and into the net for his first goal of the season.

Two minutes after the goal Murphy flicked the ball on for McGoldrick to chase but his first touch was too heavy under pressure from Woodgate.

Boro swapped Whitehead and Carayol for new signing Kei Kamara and Marvin Emnes just after the hour. Emnes was immediately into the action, Gerken coming off his line quickly to claim at the striker’s feet. Soon after, Chambers was booked for a foul on Adomah.

Carlos Edwards replaced Anderson as the Blues went looking for a third goal. On 70 a McGoldrick shot was deflected wide after good work from Tunnicliffe, Cresswell and Murphy. From the corner, Tunnicliffe’s strike was diverted behind for another flagkick.

Boro sub Kamara, making his debut for his new club, shot over in the 72nd minute after a short spell of visitors’ pressure before Berra headed a Cresswell freekick from the left well over at the far post.

McGoldrick tried to improve on his earlier goal in the 74th minute with a superb 30-yard effort which flew just wide of Steele’s left post.

Town continued to press with McGoldrick and Murphy interchanging cleverly. The Irishman just overhit a pass for Tunnicliffe on the edge of the area on 75, then Hyam found Steele’s gloves with a chipped cross having done well to get to the byline.

The Blues continued to press and looked by far the more likely scorers. On 82 Hyam should have sealed it when McGoldrick played in Murphy on the left. The Irishman sent in a low ball which Hyam rushed and missed completely from eight yards.

Jay Tabb replaced the again impressive Tunnicliffe for the final 84th minute, then Kamara shot straight at Gerken before Hyam was booked for a foul on Jacob Butterfield. On 88 Adomah headed a Kamara cross over.

With the game in injury time and with Boro pushing for an equaliser, McGoldrick made it 3-1. The excellent Murphy played in his strike partner on the left and the Blues number 10 brought the ball in on goal before slipping it past Steele.

Late on Lukas Jutkiewicz headed to Gerken but there was no way back for the Teessiders, who haven’t won at Portman Road since 1993.

After an even and not overly exciting first half, the Blues took the game to the visitors from the start of the second half and deserved to win by the margin of two goals.

Once Chambers had put Town in front, Mick McCarthy’s men ought to have had the result done and dusted before McGoldrick, who formed a far more potent strike partnership with the outstanding Murphy after the break, netted his second of the afternoon.

After Town’s slow start to the season, Tuesday’s second home game in a few days against Yeovil gives McCarthy’s men a good chance to add to today’s three points and to push on up the table.

Town: Gerken, Chambers, Berra, Smith, Cresswell, Anderson (Edwards 68), Skuse, Hyam, Tunnicliffe (Tabb 84), McGoldrick, Nouble (Murphy 46). Unused: Loach, Hewitt, Wordsworth, Taylor.

Middlesbrough: Steele, Friend, Williams, Richardson, Butterfield, Leadbitter, Jutkiewicz, Whitehead (Kamara 63), Carayol (Emnes 63), Adomah, Woodgate. Unused: Leutwiler, Hoyte, Halliday, Gibson, Smallwood. Referee: James Linington (Newport IoW). Att: 15,276 (Boro: 472)

Photo: Action Images

BillBlue added 10:52 - Sep 15 bluefeast - can't agree with your maths mate! On your figures I think the defecit would only be £30k - about 1 pie each! Why does Mick consistently play Nouble and never give Taylor a chance? Strikes me it is a question of favourites but if, as he says, Taylor is not 100% fit then surely hee should be given a run out in every game getting longer each time he plays, that is the only way he will ever get match fit! Absolutely does not make sense.

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StochesStotasBlewe added 11:20 - Sep 15 Great win & much needed. Didn,t go to the match due to our ridiculous pricing system. Wake up Mr Evans as several thousand fans (me included) will refuse to pay through the nose to see championship football, many of whom may never return. You have been warned!!!!!!!!!!!!
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hogster1970 added 11:43 - Sep 15 well good all round display, although totaly agree nouble atm is out of his depth prob may need to go to league 2 on loan for a season and see how he gets on, but i think 10 clubs and only 21 says it all unforchantly, anderson for me needs to produce more , alot more, down the wings, im not being funny but i feel hewit could do a far more better job there and defo worth a punt even for half a hour at the end of a match as cant be no worse, he has pace, height and a good cross on him all of which atm anderson doesnt, but how ever i was realy refreshing to see 3 well engineered goals from open play and took well, no scrappy goals or penaltys ect which is a very good sign and just hope didsy dont get injured, tunni was good down the left, scuse to me had a quiet game, hyam put in a good shift chasing and closing down but distrubution was a bit wayward but that will come and pity he missed that sitter but even the best players all do that, on pricing defo agree, i worked out roughly that on yesturdays attendance was only 2000 ish walk in of the road supporters so lets say 3000 all paying a average £30 a ticket, as some will be kids ect, thats £90k on walk in revenue, ontop of the season tickets , well drop to £20 for lower tier seats £25 up non priemium upper tier and say for a fully paying adult under 16 goes for a fiver , you would soon get past the £90k in fact if you used £22.50 as a average it would be 4000 fans is all required and like said dont forget program and food and shop sales so proberly less than that, so thats 16500 home fans, well with that pricing structure i can easily see that being excelled and wouldnt be long for 20k in the ground, but do you recon they would do that, i very much doubt it, im a season ticket holder so as long as the tickets are more expensive than mine per game which is £17.30 then i dont care and would rather see more people in the ground, but bring on yoevil, lets have a goal fest

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MathieandMarshall added 12:25 - Sep 15 Darryl Murphy changed the game for me. People underestimate the flick ons and hold up play. I do think however that he always looks sharper when he has been benched for a couple of games. In McGoldrick it looks like we finally have a real finisher! First was a great strike and was cool as a you like for the second. Great ball in from Cressy for Chambos header. Need to get more of that quality in the box. Impressed with Tunniclife too. Lots of positives!

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MathieandMarshall added 12:27 - Sep 15 Oh.. Berra deserves a mention too. Looked solid! One negative is that Anderson looks a little lightweight. If I were Mick I'd be forcing him into the gym everyday. Get on the weights son!
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jas0999 added 17:19 - Sep 15 Very good result. First Thirty minutes was poor but we improved thanks to some real class from McGoldrick. Second half we dominated and deserved the win. Gerken was miles better than Loach. The back four looked good, although is Chambers a right back? Midfield put in a shift, but too many central players for my liking. Anderson was poor. Up front we are still lacking. Thought Murphy did well when he came on, but his lack of goal scoring may perhaps suit a deeper role behind McGoldrick and another? Nouble was very disappointing! Overall very decent. Think nouble and Anderson will miss out on Tuesday. If we could sign a winger and a striker, I think we could do well this season.

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jas0999 added 17:22 - Sep 15 P.s. although a season ticket holder - £35.00 on the gate for the old Britannia stand is an outrage.
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AlexanderFields added 17:24 - Sep 15 Re. attendance and ticket prices, etc., I cannot get to a home match very often and when I do it's usually at short notice and after a long journey. I used to buy a ticket conveniently over the phone or, more often, and better still, get my brother, a season ticket holder, to buy one on my credit card when we got to Portman Road. It worked well. The helpful ticket office staff always managed to find me a seat close to my brother's. I won't be putting myself out to get to PR to take my chance at the turnstiles at a premium price, with cash in hand. How many other fans are there in a similar situation?

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Kirbmeister added 17:58 - Sep 15 So after the majority slagging off MM and his team choice for the last couple of weeks, one win and it's all great again. Even positive comments about Murphy! What a difference a week makes. I've said for weeks now see where we are at Xmas - we'll be fine. I'm sure MM will be well pleased now that the bloggers are all behind him again.....at least until the next defeat or away draw like at Birmingham!

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buddsterblue added 18:21 - Sep 15 Agree with keanish,I'm a season ticket holder in sir alf Ramsey and no one excepts us keeping the ball always moaning every pass should go forward, truth is at times when we do keep it we often create a chance and can play abit if given the opportunity, relax and enjoy having the ball!
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smithy91 added 19:04 - Sep 15 agree about ticket prices, adult tickets in the normal seating areas should not exceed 30 quid. Students/concessions should not exceed 22 quid, and u16s should not exceed 12 quid. Seems ridiculously and unnecessarily complicated to have a grading system with already alot of variations in pricing depending where you sit. Evans needs to realise upping ticket prices in the long run is a very bad move! Short term gains, however long term fans through the gates are already, and will continue to dwindle....seems like the die hard supporters left at the moment. Myself being one who currently pays student prices, adult pricing seems a rather large jump in expenses. In terms of the game yesterday, first 15 mins we were poor as ive seen this season. We woke up a bit after their goal, and started to play some good stuff, and imo Murphys great start to the first few mins of the second half was a big factor in turning around the game. Seemed to create a buzz in the crowd which felt almost surreal in the usually fairly quiet Brittania upper area. Nouble looks poor, so maybe a loan spell would be good at this time. Edwards looked better coming off the bench, also i was impressed with Chambers going forward for a supposed centre back. Berra looks a real buy also.

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TimmyH added 19:18 - Sep 15 @kirbmeister - it's consistency we're looking for and to a degree we got when Mick was in charge from November onwards last season. This season has started a bit indifferently but hopefully Mick and Terry will iron out the midfield problems and sort out the correct player a long side McGoldrick and a push up the table.
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budgieplucker added 22:51 - Sep 15 We have been and still are on the right path. Mick has transformed the club. OK some players are struggling to find consistent form but Murphy on Saturday was outstanding when he came on. McGoldrick has been our player of the season so far and equally outstanding in his play and goals. Skuse consistent although a little quiet on Saturday, Hyam was very busy Saturday hunting and closing down and making a right nuisance of himself again even though he hit a stray pass or two and missed a gilt edge chance. Well done Luke especially up against Dean Whitehouse and Grant Leadbitter. Luke is still a relatively young lad and when he has a quiet game you need to stick with him. He will only get better and better so I am alarmed by the comments that suggest he needs to be dropped at the first sign of a slightly below par performance. Healthy competition in all areas and I feel Gerken has the edge on Loach. Very impressed with Berra. Mick is doing just fine for my money.

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Kirbmeister added 22:57 - Sep 15 Timmy H I agree with u - we've had a tough start and I hate it when as soon as we lose all the critics keep getting on the players backs. Just give them time even Keane said the other day it takes 7 or 8 games to reach full fitness. Hyam us developing and got forward a lot yesterday. We've got the youngest average age team in the division
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theobald1985 added 13:35 - Sep 16 jas0999 not sure how gurken was miles better than loach given that he hardly had a thing to do all game. its outfield where we have improved slightly which has led to this result changing the keeper has made little/no differance. gurkin will have to come under alot more pressure before we can make a proper assesment and do so in the knowledge that if he makes a mistake he will be dropped. well done to the team on sat played with a lot more intent going forward and we will need to keep pushing harder going forward and get more bodies in the box if we are to get in the play offs

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