Town’s hopes of winning automatic promotion would appear to hang by a thread after they were defeated 4-1 at Middlesbrough. Boro went in front through Daniel Ayala in the fourth minute in an incident which saw Blues keeper Dean Gerken stretchered off, Daryl Murphy equalised with his 23rd goal of the season on 11 and Albert Adomah restored the Teessiders’ lead on the half hour, before Patrick Bamford sealed the victory after the break with goals on 64 and 79.

Teddy Bishop replaced Richard Chaplow in an otherwise unchanged Town side with the on-loan Millwall man dropping to the bench.

Bishop started in the centre of midfield with Jay Tabb moving to the left and Jonny Parr to the right.

Gerken, whose wife gave birth yesterday, continued in goal with Bartosz Bialkowski on the bench with Paddy Kenny also having made the trip.

Kevin Bru was back on amongst the subs after his knee injury, while Stephen Hunt travelled having recovered from his hamstring problem but was not in the 18. David McGoldrick remained in Suffolk but is likely to be in the squad for the home game against Bolton on Tuesday.

Boro were the first to threaten in the third minute when Daniel Ayala chipped a quick freekick behind the Blues’ backline to Adam Reach, but skipper Luke Chambers did superbly to get back to stab the ball away from the midfielder. Referee Mike Jones waved away Boro claims for a penalty.

But from the resultant corner on the left, the home side went in front. The flag-kick was played short to Adam Clayton, who sent the ball over and former Norwich man Ayala headed home.

As Ayala scored, Blues keeper Gerken clashed heads with George Friend and Christophe Berra and required seven minutes of treatment on the pitch before eventually being carried off on a stretcher with his neck in his brace while being administered oxygen. Bartosz Bialkowski took over in goal.

Before Gerken had made it to the tunnel, the Blues were on terms. Tyrone Mings’s header found Parr midway inside the Boro half and the Norwegian turned and brought the ball forward before hitting a powerful shot to Dimi Konstantopoulos’s left.

The keeper got across to save but parried the ball back towards the centre of his goal, from where Murphy stabbed his 23rd goal of the season into the roof of the net.

It had been a remarkable start to the game with Town’s goal having come only 26 seconds of actual playing time after Boro’s.

The Blues were a whisker from going in front in the 21st minute when Tabb cut the ball back from the left and it fell to Murphy, who hit a powerful strike on the turn which struck Freddie Sears before trickling onto the post and into Konstantopoulos’s arms.

After Jonathan Woodgate had replaced goalscorer Ayala - who had been a pre-match doubt with a thigh injury - Cole Skuse smashed a low shot which was deflected wide. From Tabb’s left-sided corner, Murphy headed over.

Tommy Smith picked up the game’s first booking for a foul on Tomas Kalas in the 28th minute, Chambers heading clear former Blues skipper Grant Leadbitter’s lofted freekick.

But two minutes later the home side were back in front. After a well-worked corner on the left, the ball eventually found Adomah on the edge of the box and, as Mings sought to close him down, the Ghanaian international hit a low strike which caught Berra on its way past Bialkowski and into the net.

Bishop’s 33rd minute strike was claimed comfortably by Konstantopoulos, then three minutes later Murphy headed another Tabb corner from the left over the bar.

Town threatened again on 39 from another Tabb left-sided flag-kick. After Mings had failed to get enough on his header, Berra returned the ball from the right and Sears’s hooked effort was blocked.

As the half moved into its final five minutes Adomah shot over from the Boro left, then Bishop screwed an effort wide from the edge of the area after another Blues corner, again on the left.

Town continued to look the more threatening side. With a minute of scheduled first-half time remaining Bishop skipped across the Boro area but saw his effort snuffed out, then Sears following up had his strike blocked.

As the half moved into eight minutes of injury time Bishop was shown his first senior yellow card for catching Friend as they challenged for an aerial ball.

The second of two Bishop corners from the right culminated in Berra’s over-head kick running through to Konstantopoulos, then Patrick Bamford claimed a penalty when challenged by Berra but referee Jones waved away his lengthy protests. Replays suggested the on-loan Chelsea man had a good case.

Just before the whistle finally came, Adomah hit a shot on the turn which was blocked by Mings.

On the balance of the half Town shouldn’t have been behind having been on top for the most part. However, after failing to defend Boro’s only two corners, they could hardly complain about the scoreline.

Having gone behind to Ayala’s goal and lost Gerken to his injury, the Blues reacted well, although Konstantopoulos will feel he ought to have done better with Parr’s shot which led to Murphy’s goal.

After conceding the second goal, the Blues had looked the more likely scorers, although without creating any clear-cut opportunities.

The Blues started the second half on the front, Mings over-hitting an early cross from the left beyond Murphy.

There was a scare for the Blues in the 53rd minute when Reach almost profited from a moment of hesitation between Bialkowski and Chambers but the Boro man was adjudged to have used his hand and his shot had in any case been blocked.

Middlesbrough centre-half Ben Gibson was booked for pulling back Murphy as the Town scorer turned and took the ball away from him in the 55th minute. Sears curled the resultant 25-yard freekick well wide.

The first quarter of an hour had been much the same as the end of the first period with the Blues on top but without creating anything significant, however, on 64 the home side increased their lead.

After a Town ball forward had been cleared and hooked on by Leadbitter, Jelle Vossen deftly sent Bamford away behind the Blues’ backline. The England U21 kept his cool and dummied his way past Bialkowski before tapping the ball into the net.

After Boro had switched Adam Forshaw for Vossen, Chris Wood took over from Tabb for the Blues.

On 73 Reach was booked for a late tackle on Bishop, then two minutes later Clayton hit an effort from distance which flew over.

Bishop played a shot corner on the right to Parr on 78 but the Norwegian’s shot was blocked.

With 11 minutes left on the clock Boro’s fourth goal sealed the result. Bamford dummied a long ball and broke away from Smith before hitting a low shot across Bialkowski and into the net to make it 4-1.

Town were by now looking shellshocked and Adomah wasn’t far from making it 5-1 with a shot from the left which flew wide. At the other end, Murphy cut the ball back to Sears from the right but the former Colchester man diverted it against a defender and behind.

Bamford should have made it five and completed his hat-trick in the 86th minute when Adomah brought the ball forward from halfway and fed him to his left, but the Chelsea loanee shot over.

Luke Varney, who had replaced Bishop for the final six minutes, headed wide from Murphy’s cross from the right, then at the other end Boro sub Forshaw ought to have done better with an Adomah cross, but headed well wide.

As the match moved into three minutes of additional time, Bamford smashed high and wide. Not long afterwards referee Jones put the Blues out of their misery.

Despite the eventual scoreline, the Blues had been in the game up until the hour mark having had a fair amount of the ball, albeit without creating anything which would have tested Konstantopoulos. Town failed to seriously threaten from their 13 corners while Boro scored their first two goals from their total of three.

Bamford’s first goal all but settled the game, the fourth added some gloss and in the end the home side might have won by even more having had plenty of chances in the final minutes with the Blues looking uncharacteristically dishevelled.

It was little consolation that Murphy, who was watched by Ireland assistant manager and former Blues boss Roy Keane, became the first Town player to score more than 22 league goals in a season since Ray Crawford in 1962/63.

The Blues are now eight points behind Boro, who move to the top, with the rest of the challengers in action later this afternoon. Town’s chances of returning to the Premier League after a 13-year absence would now appear to be reliant on winning the play-offs.

Middlesbrough: Konstantopoulos, Kalas, Ayala (Woodgate 24), Gibson, Friend, Leadbitter (Nsue 88) (c), Clayton, Adomah, Reach, Bamford, Vossen (Forshaw 68). Unused: Ripley, Whitehead, Tomlin, Kike.

Town: Gerken (Bialkowski 10), Chambers (c), Mings, Smith, Berra, Skuse, Bishop (Varney 84), Parr, Tabb (Wood 69), Murphy, Sears. Unused: Clarke, Anderson, Chaplow, Bru. Referee: Mike Jones (Chester). Attendance: 18,909 (Town: 444).

Photo: Action Images

blueboy1981 added 19:47 - Mar 14 ....... another satisfied Charlie, win, lose, or draw. Critical of anyone who has ambition, or an alternative opinion. Non so blind as ..................... !!!!!!!
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NoelTheDub added 19:57 - Mar 14 dOnk Im Micks biggest critic and yes I am happy with were we are as about 8th or 10th is our rightful position because of the way we play.I do believe MM has not got the best out of our small squad his poor team selections,positioning of players, refusal to play width and bad transfer business.The way we play especially when it dosent work is embarrassing at times and MM does nothing about it until its to bloody late.He again waited until 3 1 to make a change but putting another big lump up top has no impact were a bit of pace would give us something different but width or pace is left at home.We are having a lucky season and are punching way above our weight I accept that but at the expense of any proper football.I dont mind a defeat but to lose and play crap football as has been the case more so lately.The same issues are hurting us every fecking week but Idont expect the happy with were we are brigade to except this.Mick is never going to change but would love to see some young fringe players getting a blow out nothing to lose now our season is fading.

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warktheline added 19:58 - Mar 14 @bluemoon09, hats off to you today. But sorry, it's beyond time to address this fall from grace, impossible to defend McCarthy's stubbornness with wrong team selection. You were there, surely you can see it better than most!
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blueboy1981 added 20:02 - Mar 14 warktheline .............. some choose not to - can only be because they really don't care at what level ITFC plays at - as long as they see 'their game of Football' all is well !!!!!
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blueherts added 20:05 - Mar 14 Few hours to digest and let us ask some questions ... 1.Are we still in with a good shout of the Play Offs ? 2.In December did everyone on this post think we would walk it into the Premier League ? 3.Is our season 'over ? I can only assume some on here are gonna go watch Colchester or play on their FIFA Yes - we can all have different opinions and we can all respect disagree with others just becasue some of us accept our season isnt over and we have not failed - does not mean we are happy with our play or MM since end of December We are a penniless club fighting teams full of Premier loanees and Million Pound players - and still in the hunt - Not bad Is MM stubborn - Yes and with Smith , he needs to address it asap Dids is a Huge loss in our limited squad - , still BTW one point off the play offs BUT as long as the season has 9 games to go - there is little point in getting so negative Wny are people who still see glass half full and believe it aint over lacking ambition Maybe they would like to step back 3 or 4 years ago ?

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bluearmyitfc added 20:07 - Mar 14 Can anyone please tell me why we play chambers at right back?
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blueherts added 20:13 - Mar 14 Where is Connolly ?
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alfromcol added 20:23 - Mar 14 Change of tune by some on here when we get to the play-off final at Wembley!!!
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warktheline added 20:27 - Mar 14 Unless these changes are made by the Bolton game, then for me, my hopes will be at a flicker. If there's a god up their, please some Devine intervention !
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TimmyH added 20:32 - Mar 14 Mick's stats (just for you @warktheline :) at this time of year are not great since he took over the reigns Jan - mid-March 2012/13 W:4 D:4 L:5 2013/14 W:4 D:4 L:5 2014/15 W: 4 D:2 L:7 So when we most need the team to be performing consistently they don't! - players losing their nerve? Mick playing players out of position? lack of investment? I'd say a bit of everything - sort it out and qucik!!!

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martin587 added 20:33 - Mar 14 Still on the road home.First half we played really well And did not deserve to go 2-1 down.We just seemed to give up through the second half And I cannot put my finger on it,but when Mick took Bishop off for woods it left the midfield wanting and that is the story really.Mick has done really well with this small squad and Yes we are still in the mix even at 7th.Personally I would like to see Chambers in the middle and Parr at fullback,but then that's not up to me but I'm sure I speak for many.Lets hope Hunt and Mcg are fit for Tuesday.Dont give up lads.COYB

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blueherts added 20:39 - Mar 14 Bru for Skuse would have made more sense
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bazza added 20:40 - Mar 14 The most positive thing about this article, is theres only 30 likes on the most negative of posts, which for me highlights theres a very miniscule amount of total morons that support our club.. .!! I would like to think mick does read this site, just so he can see, its only a small amount of complete c#%ts that dont apreciate where hes dragged us up from.!!
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blueherts added 20:48 - Mar 14 Bazza spot on - same old faces always appear - Not quite sure what or who they want
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MicksZzzTactics added 20:48 - Mar 14 Before this yet another crucial top-6-game we could all read here Guru Mick moaning?! about "being frustrated" mostly about not being in the top 2 any longer .... Hmmmm that's a bummer obviously :-), but ehhhh how about looking inward and also in the good old mirror then Mick .... cause in concise biblical terms "You (and ME!) reap what you sow". It's that simple matey!!! After today's clobbering by Boro (who despite the difference in possession actually could have scored twice as many! incl also having possibly been awarded at least 1 penalty) you now certainly feel "more frustrated" poor Mick since your acknowledge in your usual subjective post-game lecture/semi-drivel that same top 2 is now unlikely. Hmmmm "increasingly frustrated" dear Guru Mick ..... Well then you know exactly how us fans have felt for quite a while!!! :-) especially about your managerial Delusion of Grandeur which mostly shows it's ugly face in your tactical stubbornness and ineptitude as well as your repulsive totalitarian attitude towards the Media or really any form of dissent! PLUS of course about ME's Ebenezer Scrooge impersonation particular when we earlier had the chance to possibly run away from the rest of the play-off contenders especially with just 2-3 REAL strong reinforcements! 2nd from bottom in the Form Table this year someone mentioned earlier .... but in Mick's mind EVERYTHING apparently continues to be EVERYBODY else's fault, but to a substantial degree his very own! .... incl. IMO not showing remotely enough displeasure about not being backed financially but instead keep protecting his media-shy employer with quotes like "I don't mind!" or " I'm not envious at all of some of the other contenders eye-popping squad strengthening" followed by some semi-drivel about MY boyz and squad is both deep and strong (creative) enough?! Yep we are just a few points out of 6th place but once again Mick pleeeeeaZzze look inward and yourself in the mirror will you matey??? Cause all this is starting to not only get trivial but simply outright embarrassing!

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NoelTheDub added 20:51 - Mar 14 blueherts Agree with most of your points but my biggest issue is the way we play football I was never happy even when we were going well and was slaughtered on this page for saying so.We are by a mile the poorest footballing team that Ive seen at our club and yes maybe had to adopt this style to get us sorted.My gripe is footballing teams are passing us by and rightly so imho but Mick turfed out any chance of football been seen at our club at a time when its an important stage of a hard season and especially because of our overworked players and that hardworking style has taking its toll thats what has us dropping.

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warktheline added 20:53 - Mar 14 @timmy, very interesting stats. Your conclusion sums up the whole situation . Still believe if McCarthy twisted his rubic cube, and positioned Parr at RB, and Chambers at CB, and Smith on the bench, life on the pitch would become a whole lot better. Have a word TC, for all concerned!
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blueherts added 21:03 - Mar 14 Noel - I totally agree about the style - As a Youth football coach I take my son along and just wince when Smith , moves to his left foot and hoof - Arrhhh Sad thing first half of this season with Dids in place we played some decent football Ever since Soton we have regressed to the hit n hope Also alot of the assists were Anderson and the link up with Dids Stephen Hunt also does add something Wish he would introduce a WINGER !! Connolly maybe or Stewart - just for variety Second time around we are being found out and MM just needs to mix it up Taking afew inswinging corners may help as well It is a tough one and just shows how far we have fallen - where we/I accept being even remotely near the mix with 9 to go , playing hoof ball - when deep down we would love to see us on the ball Bru Bishop Sears and Dids are footballers ( with ball playing ability) Not sure if they have all played together in the same team ?

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runningout added 21:47 - Mar 14 our team spirit is said to be good... that maybe, more professionalism maybe needed by some
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PJH added 21:52 - Mar 14 I am at a disadvantage because I was actually there and therefore do not have the option of forming my opinions from TV or radio. For what it is worth,I thought we looked very good going forward particularly in the first half but also some of the second half.The defending was very poor throughout with first two goals originating from short corners which should have been defended much better. I though Bishop,Skuse,Murphy and Parr all played well and none of them deserved to be on a losing side. As everyone(other than maybe Blackburn giving themselves an outside chance) has failed to take advantage of our defeat the situation with 9 games left is much the same as it was with 10. If we can attack as we did today but defend much better we can still claim a play off place and see where we go from there.

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Notts_tractor added 21:58 - Mar 14 It's always the hope that kills. Our best chance in a decade of mounting a serious promotion challenge seems to be melting away before our eyes. Let's not forget, it's the same man who got us to 2nd who now has us clinging to 7th...but why is he so incapable of changing things rather than persisting with an approach which is failing? McCarthy strikes me as one of those blokes who would just keep hitting his head against a wall in the belief it will cure a headache.

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bluefeast added 22:01 - Mar 14 PJH , your points are very fair , i would add our defending has been fairly poor since Jan 1st. But the same players are picked and make basic errors , we are not a balanced side that plays its best players in the most suitable positions. On top of that i reckon our manager is very stressed and is not making sound judgements ,Sears off vs brentford ,tabb on left today when he was very good in the middle vs brentford. The list goues on ,so to expect an upturn in fortunes using the same players and the same system would be madness. Our defenders are making mistakes ,they are also not reading the game to see what may happen if a mistake occurs ,like getting round the back and sweeping.

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IvorFeeling added 22:15 - Mar 14 Timmyh - interesting stuff. what about from mid March onwards. i live in hope!
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kevtblue added 22:25 - Mar 14 I have already commented on the game earlier so I am changing the subject does any one know what's going on with Didz? He was I think due to be back potentially for the Norwich game that was four games ago! Again today I thought he may be on the bench but no sign. Am I missing something here or is he really coming back at all this season there doesn't seem to be very much from either the club or the player perhaps I'm reading too much into this but it does seem odd! We really need him so hopefully he will be back on Tuesday. CYOB.

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GiveusaWave added 22:36 - Mar 14 Nothing further needs to be said. That was appalling defending.
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