Christian Stuani and - inevitably - David Nugent were on target in the second half as Middlesbrough climbed to the top of the Championship via a 2-0 victory over Town at Portman Road. After the Blues had had the better of the first half, Stuani headed the opener on 54, then 20 minutes later Town’s nemesis Nugent scored his 15th goal in 14 games against Town and his 10th in eight at Portman Road.

Town named an unchanged XI but with David McGoldrick returning to the bench after recovering from his groin injury.

Winger Tommy Oar missed out on a place amongst the subs having picked up a knock in training, while Adam McDonnell replaced Joe Robinson in the 18. Former Blues skipper Grant Leadbitter started and skippered the Teessiders.

The game got under way but was very quickly halted when Ainsley Maitland-Niles required treatment for a head injury after George Friend arrived late as they went for the same aerial ball.

Town, playing a 4-4-2 formation with Freddie Sears on the left, threatened for the first time in the fifth minute when Maitland-Niles cut the ball across from the right to the former Colchester man, whose shot from a tight angle at the near post was blocked by Adam Clayton.

There was a big scare for the Blues following the resultant corner when Cole Skuse inadvertently found Stewart Downing with a pass back towards Chambers on halfway. Fortunately for Town the Blues skipper held his ground and blocked the former England international’s shot.

Brett Pitman hit a low strike which Boro keeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos claimed without trouble in the ninth minute, then at the other end Dean Gerken was similarly unruffled by Blues nemesis David Nugent’s first effort of the game.

On 14 the Teessiders broke quickly down the left, Albert Adomah crossed and Christian Stuani volleyed into the ground and into Gerken’s arms from a tight angle on the right.

The Blues first seriously tested Konstantopoulos in the 23rd minute when Pitman sent Daryl Murphy away on the right. The Irish international chased the ball to the byline then played it back to the ex-Bournemouth man, who hit a powerful shot from the edge of the area which the Boro keeper palmed away.

Town went close again on 28 when Pitman crossed from the left to the far post to Chambers, but Konstantopoulos reacted quickly to block his half-volley and then paw the ball behind as the Blues captain looked to get to the rebound.

Boro defender Ben Gibson picked up the game’s first yellow card for pulling back Pitman midway inside the visitors’ half five minutes before the break. The Blues striker took the freekick himself but shot well over.

Neither side created another chance before referee Tim Robinson brought the half to an end.

Town were warmly applauded off having had the better of their second-placed opponents and the best of the game’s few chances.

Boro keeper Konstantopoulos had done well to stop Pitman’s strike and Chambers’s header, while at the other end the Town defence had prevented Nugent from being able to add to his goals against the Blues and at Portman Road, although the visitors had looked a threat on the break.

Konstantopoulos was forced into another save less than two minutes after the restart. Maitland-Niles seized on sloppy Boro passing on the Blues right and sent over a deep cross towards Pitman.

Daniel Ayala just got the faintest of touches as the ball came across taking it slightly away from the Town striker, who still managed to head back across the keeper, who got down and across to his left to save.

Blues keeper Gerken made an even more impressive stop a minute later. A cross from the right was headed back across goal by Adomah and Berra’s weak header only reached Leadbitter, who hit a powerful strike from eight yards which Gerken somehow managed to divert over the bar. Soon after, Leadbitter was booked for a foul.

Gerken had stopped what looked to be a certain goal, but in the 54th minute the visitors went in front.

Maitland-Niles misjudged a header sending Adomah away on the right. The former Bristol City man cut inside Smith - with Chambers allowing him too much space as he retreated - and sent over a cross towards the far post where Stuani got in ahead of Jonas Knudsen to nod home.

Berra was shown Town’s first yellow card of the evening for a foul on Nugent on 58 and three minutes later, the former Leicester man teed up Downing just outside the box, the midfielder hitting a well-struck shot which Gerken saved down to his left.

Maitland-Niles was replaced by Giles Coke in the 63rd minute, the ex-Sheffield Wednesday man joining Skuse and Jonathan Douglas in a midfield three with Sears now up front with Pitman and Murphy.

Downing hit a deflected shot not too far wide in the 68th minute, then a minute later Stuani diverted Friend’s cross wide at the near post with the Teessiders having been on top since their goal.

And in the 74th minute the inevitable happened, Nugent added to his remarkable goalscoring records against Town and at Portman Road.

Downing broke away down the right and found Nugent with a superb ball which put the striker through one on one against Smith on the edge of the Blues’ area, from where he hit a shot which deflected off the Town defender, struck the post and found the net.

Town went close to pulling a goal back in the 80th minute but once again Konstantopoulos stood in their way. A cross from the right reached Knudsen at the far post and the Greek keeper blocked the Dane’s close-range header.

Boro, who were very much in charge as the game moved into its final five minutes, went close to making it 3-0 when Nugent bundled Gerken’s save from Downing’s shot wide of the post from close range.

McGoldrick replaced Pitman on 86 but soon after the visitors went close again when Gerken deflected sub Adam Forshaw’s cross-shot from a tight angle across the six-yard area. Adomah was eventually first to the loose ball but Chambers blocked his stab towards goal.

A Blues comeback never looked on the cards in the closing stages and referee Robinson’s whistle confirmed Town’s fifth defeat of the season.

After the Blues had had the better of the first half and a decent chance in the opening minutes of the second, impressive Boro upped their game and once they had got in front their victory was never in any real doubt.

Nugent’s latest addition to his extraordinary record, which now stretches back more than a decade to his time with Preston, sealed the Teessiders’ first three points at Portman Road since March 1993.

Town, who have won only one of their last eight at home, have dropped a place to eighth behind Sheffield Wednesday on goal difference.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Smith, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Maitland-Niles (Coke 63), Douglas, Sears, Murphy, Pitman (McGoldrick 86). Unused: Bialkowski, Malarczyk, Parr, Tabb, McDonnell.

MIddlesbrough: Konstantopoulos, Nsue, Ayala, Gibson, Friend, Leadbitter (c), Clayton, Stuani (Forshaw 85), Downing, Adomah, Nugent. Unused: Mejias, Amorebieta, Kike, Kalas, Fabbrini, Zuculini. Referee: Tim Robinson (West Sussex). Att: 17,662 (Boro: 491).

Photo: Action Images

Notts_tractor added 22:28 - Dec 4 Spot on Minneapolis. We are a very average team made up of journeymen which is capable of beating lowly teams but is immediately exposed when we come up against a half decent team. My worry about this team is that absolutely no-one looks comfortable on the ball, which means that everyone tries to offload as soon as possible - usually to the opposition. Everything is done at 100 mph, no-one puts their foot on the ball and finds space and time. In the 2nd half Boro looked everything we aren't - a team capable of keeping the ball and creating chances from midfield. But, look, we have to be realistic - it's a team of journeymen which has cost nothing, and I'm afraid you get what you pay for, especially if you're producing nothing through the academy.

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Tractorboy1 added 22:29 - Dec 4 I thought it was actually a really good performance from the lads today. Difference was they took their chances and we did not, which you can't afford to do in these games. Last year we had Bishop who was absolutely class in this fixture. This year they had Downing who imposed the same degree of class. Bishop playing makes the team that more balanced. Stick with the team because I think if we put that level of performance in against other teams in the division we will win more often than not.

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Jimmy86 added 22:32 - Dec 4 Well unfortunately we got beaten by a better side tonight, who ran rings round us at times and we didn't get remotely close, especially in the 2nd half. They were first to every 2nd ball and just our worked us, which bearing in mind they played in the league cup on Tues night is crazy. We did have some good chances, but failed to take them and against a good side they will make you pay and Boro did. They should be there or there abouts again at the end of the season, but it does just show what investment can do. Downing and the rat nugent are worth 10 million between them. Gerken played well and credit, where credits due, fair to say I'm not his biggest fan. Knudsen started his town career well, but has been found out somewhat and those damn long throws don't amount to anything and take the sting out of the game. Doesn't get any easier with Derby coming up soon. Think the ref should have been wiser regarding the man handling and shirt pulling by their defenders too, but that doesn't make up for the fact we weren't good enough

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MrDiddle added 22:38 - Dec 4 Some miserable tw@ts on here. Usual suspects voting me down, hardly a surprise. You lot won't be happy til Bill Gates buys the club, sacks McCarthy and brings in Guardiola, buys Messi for £400m and we win the World Cup.
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GiveusaWave added 22:44 - Dec 4 mrDiddle Lots of glass half-empty people here. I got my usual negatives for being positive too. Think MM did what he could tonight but his decision to bring on Coke instead of Parr for AMN was inexplicable. Is Parr carrying an injury? Like all managers MM will make the odd mistake and I am wondering whether Hyam should have been sent out on loan. He would have got some time on the pitch tonight.

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beornioblue added 22:48 - Dec 4 Smith has had his day !! That first goal he had 2 chances to take the ball and possibly the man the. Gets turned and points at everyone else !! Knudsen no more long throws please you lose possession then get caught out of possession so what's the point !! Boro keeper had a blinder and we had 4 good chances to score. We were outplayed as soon as we(smith) gifted them the first goal and AMN went off ... For coke I'm sorry I'll never understand that one. But if their keeper wasn't on song today we could have got a point ... However we need to spend in January enough is enough now we've made apparent profit so surely it's time teams are spending on the Downings, nugents and Ings and are outplaying us as soon as we get out of our stride. Nothing in the middle ... Please get better soon Bishop and Hyam come back and for towns sake Evans spend !!!!!!

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afrodids added 22:48 - Dec 4 oh and if I hear one more fan say " But , but mick saved us from relegation" F*cking santa claus or the tooth fairy would have done the same !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!wake up!!!!!!!
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runaround added 22:49 - Dec 4 This was a game where we really needed to score first to have a chance. First half we got in amongst them, had some good interplay with the front 3 & but for 2 excellent saves by their keeper would have scored. Second half however they didn't allow us to get the ball to our front 3, dominated possession, ruthlessly punished poor headers by AMN & Skuse & thoroughly deserved the win. It was men against boys & they were better than us all over the pitch. Their second half performance was head & shoulders above anything else I've seen at this level this season & the gulf between us & them was scary. That's what money can do for you if spent well but surely they can't be compliant with FFP? Had we had Fraser, Bishop, Bru & a fit Didzy to call on things may have been closer & their absence did hamstring us somewhat. The best positive is 6th place is still up for grabs & when our more creative players are fit we have as good a chance as any of nicking that. Sad state of affairs but such is modern football in the championship with its uneven playing field financially

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jpring89 added 22:49 - Dec 4 Were gunna win the league still
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runningout added 22:50 - Dec 4 Mental strength amongst our squad has needed improving for a while.. There are a lot of so called average players in all leagues.. Getting them to play as one ruthless unit week in week out, is what makes a good team. That's where our manager needs to step up..
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afrodids added 22:50 - Dec 4 not negative people just realists! there's a difference
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warktheline added 22:57 - Dec 4 @guentchev, what kind of post is that? "McCarthy did what he could tonight, but his decision to bring on Coke......was inexplicable!". A total contradiction if I ever heard one! @mrdiddle, go find those rose coloured specs you've been wearing for quite some time, it might just cheer you up, and help stop you from offending fellow Town supporters with a more realistic viewpoint! It's hard isn't it, just when you thought we might have enough about us to challenge top five, and bang....0-2!!!! I've been there, believe me!

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KiwiTractor added 22:58 - Dec 4 I thought we were the better team in the first half and there wasn't much between the teams until they scored. Smith should have done better with the first goal, stopping the ball being played in. But once they scored I couldn't see us getting one back unfortunately. Boro the better team after that. As others have mentioned on here I was bemused by the Coke substitution and would definitely have Parr in the starting XI.

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StochesStotasBlewe added 22:59 - Dec 4 "Boro were different class 2nd half, Adomah had a field day, Nemesis Nugent got his customery goal against us. Tonight, we saw one of the championships best teams who will get automatic promotion on that evidence. Sound investment in their players as opposed to freebies like Giles Coke who is league 1 standard at best suggests that another season flirting occasionally with 6th spot is the best we can hope for. Our full backs were shown to be inadequate against pace once again, both were skinned numerous times 2nd half. Parr, an international don,t forget, must wonder what on earth he has to do to get in one of those places. I,m actually not to downhearted, the first 45 minutes produced some decent football at times, but "Boro moved up a few gears, were a tad cynical when they needed to be & totally outclassed us as the game wore on playing some excellent passing attacking stuff.

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Global_Blue added 22:59 - Dec 4 Notts_Tractor - I agree we're a team of journeymen and I can only conclude the ME has had enough of shelling out cash for no results (oh how that idiot Keane destroyed our club and wasted millions). At least I hope that's the answer because if it really is MM being the typical Yorkshire tight arse then it is time he either re-evaluates his approach or his position. MM and TC have done well with Murphy and bringing in Sears and developing some of the other players. But there is too much 'average at best being polished up to look acceptable' in the team. I'm tired of seeing the flow of underwhelming additions to the club, with the exception of a few and the good ones we do get (Fraser, AMN) being on loan. We cannot expect to be challenging for promotion if we're not prepared to invest in quality players, starting with the central midfield. I saw Fulham play Derby last season and Scott Parker dominated the game. I'm not saying we should go get him, but we do need players of that quality and to get them we're going to have to start spending some cash. Part of me is glad we're not in the Premier League right now, we'd be destroyed and humiliated every week.

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delias_cheesy_flaps added 23:00 - Dec 4 Everyone seems to have differing opinions on who or what was at fault, it was Tommy Smith plain and simple.
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Cloddyseedbed added 23:03 - Dec 4 And that my friends is what happens when we play a team not in the bottom 6. That is what happens when you have 2 fullbacks that are not good enough. That is what happens when your 2 wide players in midfield have to defend like hell to protect the fullbacks and can't get forward. That is what happens when your midfield and defence in general aren't good enough. That is what happens when you play a team that has spent shed loads of money on quality players and wages. Shame we never signed Nugent as he would have scored at every home game!!

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blues1 added 23:03 - Dec 4 No afrodids. Not realists at all. It's one thing saying we're not quite good enough to go up, another to say we were rubbish tonight. We weren't. We played well up until the 1st goal, and if not for their keeper could even have been 2 up at the break. But in the end we were simply beaten by a better team. As for ur comments about m.Evans.All I can say is I'm glad ur not our owner or we'd have no club to support . He bought a club which our previous owner/chairman, left in a terrible financial state. He threw money at 3 different managers and it got us nowhere. Why would be sensible businessman continue in that way. Clearly from what u say ud be spending loads now on players, thus putting the future of the club at risk. OK if it works and u get promoted, disaster if not. And even if u do u face possible fines, transfer embargoes, etc.

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Beattiesballbag added 23:04 - Dec 4 Well if any of you can find any positives out of that I would like to know what your on! Not to mention that as the Maestro extended Skuse's contract for another three years there's plenty more where that came from! the sad thing is there wasn't anyone else much better. Yes we can match teams if we close them down & defend in numbers as in the first half but that's all we have to offer. I stick by what I've said in the close season that MM has failed to improve the team , he's just enlarged the squad, which will not improve our performances!

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alfromcol added 23:06 - Dec 4 Bring back Carlos Edwards. Would strengthen the side at RB!!!!!!
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jas0999 added 23:07 - Dec 4 As stated, it's one thing beating Rotherham, Bolton and Charlton, the real test was tonight and yet again against a decent side we are some way short. Top 5 all but out of reach and with 6 or so clubs vying for sixth place it's going to be tough, especially as the others will spend millions and we will pretend it's okay to spend nothing, whilst spinning the usual rubbish that money spent on wages. Don't get me wrong, we worked really hard in the first half and held our own. But hard work only gets you so far and ultimataly we lacked quality in the midfield and at full back and were in the end deservedly and comfortably beaten. Second half was poor, summed up by Giles Coke making an appearance. Better squad than last season? Perhaps in terms of numbers, but when Coke is your option to replace AMN, then no. He is extremely poor. This week it's been made clear that despite raking in cash from Cresswell and Mings, Evans is unlikely to invest and we will be one of only two or three clubs to adhere to FFP. Until that attitude changes, we will continue to beat the charltons, but come up short against the decent sides. Some will find this acceptable, I don't. December could finish our season if a second half showing like tonight occurs, with tough fixtures. Outclassed in the end. Disappointing.

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oldegold added 23:11 - Dec 4 The second half was the worst display since the home match against Wigan last season.They absolutely ran rings around us and wanted to win this badly and the difference in class showed. Abysmal performance in the second half after a hard fought first one and it showed how lacking we are in a lot of departments. When we needed a goal, MM with tactical acumen......brings on a holding midfielder in Coke and takes off the only forward with enterprise...excuse me ? 7 minutes of McGoldrick..what's he going to do ? Score a hat trick in those minutes ? Very sterile performance and too many average performances all round.

4

prebbs007 added 23:13 - Dec 4 Bluemay77 are you on some kind of substance???? If you think that was good you are off your rocker. And to you McCarthy... You go on about your great back 5. You're an idiot. They are Embarrassing. You continue to pick players out of form out of ability and most importantly out of position !!!! Gerken makes reaction saves but never comes off his line and do the basic goalkeeping. He should have caught the cross for the first goal. The guy heads it from 6 yards out. That should be keepers ball all day. Adomah had a field day against chambers and smith. So easy to play against. Chambers worst FB in league smith on his right side is a liability. Knudsen is a joke of a player. Would struggle in the conference. No where near good enough for this level. Our central midfielders are slower that an oil tanker trying to turn in the ocean. Sears wasted at left wing. AMN was obviously looking like he could possibly create a chance so best to take him off Mick. What a joke !!! Murphy was totally innocuous and the boro defenders had him in their pocket all night. Pitman worked hard and was unlucky not too score. Our best player tonight. Basically the result was clear because we are nowhere near good enough. Not ONE of our players would get in boro's 18 let alone 1st XI !!! We lack quality from 1-11 and in the touch line also with the manager. You continue Mick to stubbornly select bad players out of position and totally ignore their performance when deciding if they should retain their place. There is nothing about Gerken that is better than Bart ! Chambers is useless at FB. Smith was roasted all night by movement and ability and continues to be a liability in his right side. Knudsen so far away from this level. Skuse can't pass the ball 5 yards to feet to save his life. Douglas old, slow, not creative, poor. Sears (like many others) out of position and wasted. Murphy a lump up front who wins nowhere near enough headers and has as much skill as wax work dummy. Overall we got totally dominated and it proved that having beaten 3 truly awful teams in November only clouded how bad we really are in terms of top 6 in this division. Unless you get the cheque book out Marcus your debt will continue to grow and you will never get your investment back !! Look at the spending of boro Derby Burnley hull etc. It's no surprise where they are. We are miles away from that and Mick continues to select shocking players in bad positions. Disgraceful !!!!!!!!!!! Queue the - marks from the idiots who say "support your team" etc !!! Blind loyalty is pathetic !!!

7

carsey added 23:18 - Dec 4 I feel sorry for Freddie Sears stuck out wide working his nuts off defending. He is wasted out there and offers little threat. If we are going to persist with the long throws we have to over load the near post and fight for the ball. Yes the first half was okay and we had some good chances but undone again by defensive errors - how McCarthy can keep trotting out the same rubbish that they are our best back four when they constantly lose us games. Surely changes need to be made if only to demonstrate he can see the problem.

7

gippeswyk added 23:25 - Dec 4 We were beaten by a team thats top of the division. No shame in that. We played well first half and would have come in at the break ahead if it wasn't for some fine saves from their keeper. Second half we were very poor and were unrecognisable from the first half and that was before AMN coming off and Coke going on, but that did seem a backward move. I'd rather have seen McG or even Parr coming on. Interesting how everyone is bemoaning Douglas and Skuse again when they were silenced by Douglas scoring twice. We do have quality in our side and we miss McG and Frazer (who I know isn't ours), we have Varney, Bru and Bish to come back, and we are only just off the top 6, so I don't agree that we should turn off the lights, sack MM and tell ME to take his money elsewhere just yet, as some are suggesting. Goodness knows what division we'd be in without them.

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