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

gippeswyk added 23:27 - 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.

5

DerryfromBury added 23:29 - Dec 4 First half we just about held our own, but paid the price for not taking our chances. It was always going to be one of those games whoever scored first would more than likely go on to win the game. However the way we capitulated after the first goal was something else. Why on earth did MM take of ANM, okay I grant you he was showing signs of fatigue, but he was still 100% better than what replaced him. Knudsen's long throws are not producing any results, surely its time to give Parr a chance again. I not one to say you need to spend shed loads on players, but unless we spend in the Jan window on some quality, I can't see us finishing any better than mid table at best. the only good thing to come out of tonight was My wife came along to see the game and decided to join me in a flutter on the result, she picked 0-2 at odds of 8/1 which equates to almost a 3rd of the cost of her ticket.

4

dannyrr added 23:31 - Dec 4 We had a good first half and were unlucky not to score 1 or 2. We had most of the possession in the first half. Can we stop trying the long throws. Unlike when Stoke had Rory Delap doing it they were a threat. Our throws are Nov a threat. I don't think we have come close to scoring from one. Both of their goals came from our failures. Why did DMcG not come on sooner - 5 minutes was never going to be long enough to make a change. Gerken made some good saves again but Freddie didn't really get in the game in the second half. Abdomah was being given too much space on the wing in the second half. A normal Sky TV performance. Knudsen was awful gave ball away and his long throws give us more advantage. Very disappointing nothing like the Charlton game.

4

TimmyH added 23:44 - Dec 4 Not really a surprising result and on this basis we have to 'make do' with competing in our other league against our main rivals and lower for 6th spot (not sure if we deserve it on this seasons showing so far). Thought we played reasonably well first half and competed with a few good passages of passing football and held Boro well in check for creating chances. Second half different story particularly after they scored - we basically looked clueless and the hoofball starting to come back - why can't we play more consistently throught the whole of 90 minutes? out thought maybe by the oppositions managers tactically? tired? Maybe Mick should re-consider what his 'best back 5' is after tonight because if he sticks with it you can guarantee we will be in this division yet another year. 1st test - failed.

5

rinkydinkpanther added 23:44 - Dec 4 Everything we already knew confirmed tonight. We can beat the bottom teams by a few goals. With the rest it's touch and go; we'll battle it out attritionally with them for whatever points we can scrape together. And the top four or five we genuinely can't live with. We don't have a defence. Nor much of a midfield. And tonight there wasn't any real sign of a striker. Murphy went back to being as ineffectual as he'd been, previous to playing against the bottom three clubs.

5

Garv added 23:48 - Dec 4 I am genuinely flabbergasted that a manager as well respected and experienced as Mick McCarthy is happy to let this absolute nonsense, and it is nonsense, of long throws carry on. There were two in the first half that achieved exactly nothing and one in the second half that actually got us in trouble defensively, and this was all before we let them walk through and score following yet another diabolical long throw, which by the way was from about 40 yards out and barely reached level with the penalty spot. And it's not as if this is a problem just tonight, this has happened all season with negative results, and the management have sat back all season and watched. It's absolutely bizarre. Apart from that Boro look a promotion outfit and we couldn't complete with them second half. We had half chances created out of nothing in particlar and it just didn't go in. They had the players to assist (Adomah, Downing) and finish (Nugent) with quality. Felt sorry for Sears who has to come so deep so often. Thought Pitman played well enough, good effort first half - he's more of a threat than McGoldrick for me.

8

essex57 added 23:58 - Dec 4 Before the game I thought it unlikely we could of won after 20 minutes looked certain for at least a draw then all of a sudden against the run of play we are a goal down. For 2/3 of the game we were the better team played some good football if the borough keeper hadn't of been in such tremendous form we could of been out of site by half time still that's football.As for the substitution Miles was clearly running on empty when taken off. Please let's stop those hideous long throws that led directly to the second goal. Let's hope tomorrow's results go our way bring on MY DONS

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essex57 added 00:02 - Dec 5 Should read MK Dons, Also don't think Middlesborough will get automatic promotion on tonight's performance
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Geoff added 00:09 - Dec 5 Simply not good enough.
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Bluewelshman added 00:27 - Dec 5 We were taught a footballing lesson in every department in the second half. Chambers inability to get back to defend the counter attack (I don't know if anyone knows, but he's a central defender...sshhhh don't tell Mick). Knudson looks like a novice out there, what's Parr doing warming the bench. Skuse appeared to be colour blind...Cole we were playing in BLUE!!!!!!! Was Douglas playing? Don't keep lobbing the ball up to Murphy when he has three yellow shirts surrounding him, try passing to Sears, and Pitman who hardly touched the ball in the second half. Finally Mr Maitland-Niles, stop running so fast and dribbling well, you start to look so tired that the manager will take you off especially when you were the best player on the pitch, remember Bristol City. Now I was hoping for a win , but thought it may be a draw, just goes to show you that you have no idea what Ipswich team will show up 45 minutes at a time. I'm pretty sure Mick won't use that half time team talk again. We should look at the way Middlesboro played in the second half as the were solid at the back, creative and passing accurately in the midfield, and fast on the break up front, this is the way you play to get out of this league. Still bring on the Dons, hopefully we have taken this result and learned from it, and will scrape a decent result next Saturday. COYB

3

delias_cheesy_flaps added 00:36 - Dec 5 Gerken - good shot stopper, not a keeper Knudsen - Out of his depth...Parr FFS Smith - Still out of his depth and costing us matches!!!!!!!!!! Berra - OK Chambers - Should be in place of smith Skuse - OK Douglas - Improving AMN - OK Sears - Consistent Murphy - Improving Pitman - Not bad at all Fraser - F*k we miss him McGoldrick - Bringing him on for the last 5 minutes.....MM U R A F*KIN JOKER Coke - A right Charlie!! We threw this game away and no doubt many more if we continue with Knudsen and Smith....what a F*KIN JOKE

5

StowTractorBoy added 00:38 - Dec 5 Come on supporters it is not as bad as some of you suggest. We could and should have been two up half time with more clinical finishing. There are fine lines in football and tonight we fell on the wrong side of the line not helped by 'a mistake waiting to happen' in Tommy Smith who's place must surely be in danger after tonight. The introduction of Coke proved to be embarrassing and must be one of Micks worst substitutions since he has been here. Oh for the return of fully fit players Bishop and Frazer the likes of who we could have done with tonight as our midfield just did not function going forward, Maitland Niles apart who I thought had his best game in an Ipswich shirt. I never ever expected us to get a top two place this season but I still believe we will be in the hunt for that 6th place. To do this however our defence has to be sorted as we are leaking goals far too easily. On to MK Dons where there is surely an opportunity to bounce back.

2

groundhog added 01:02 - Dec 5 So when ME threw money at it, it didn't work. Now he's trying it on the cheap, and its still not working. so try it on a budget. We have a good foundation but now we need that bit off quality in the middle of the park which is unlikely to come on a free. Add in a keeper who can organise a defence and a proper right back and we might push for the play offs and stand a chance of winning them. I don't always agree with micks tactics and favoritism, but he has been the most shrewd manager in the transfer market we have had for a long while, and I trust that he would put that 5 million profit to good use and find the players we need

2

MicksZzzTactics added 02:04 - Dec 5 Aye Mr. Knudsen is poor -- in more ways than one! -- but you can't really blame HIM :-) .... Invariably you just HAVE TO blame the person that keeps not only picking him, but also continues to encourage him to make these pointless pointless loooong throws of his!!! So like most times at ITFC these days 'The Bucket' simply stops at old stubborn dinosaur manager Mick "I'm gonna keep starting MY personal favorites to Kingdom come, darn'it" McCarthy. Period!

0

marshallmania added 02:07 - Dec 5 game plan = dont let Nugent score. Simple. Had the pis7 taken out of us again
1

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 05:27 - Dec 5 For once, there seems to be pretty much agreement in the posts on the match, which suggests that there is only one possible interpretation. I don't have anything new to add: I thought we fought hard and the lads gave everything but for me Boro looked like a much better version of ourselves. They were not spectacular, but very well organised, much more comfortable on the ball, and worked just as hard. Over 90 minutes, that's going to win you the match - and it did. I was pleased with our first half, but you just knew Boro were going to get their goal, despite our effforts. No surprise there, I'm afraid. ANM MoM for me for his persistance and relative creativity. I can understand him being taken off perhaps as a medical precaution, but Coke on was a strange choice. If we hadn't created much up to that point, the odds didn't exactly increase. I assume Didzy was so fragile they didn't want to risk him and that's why he only got 5 minutes. He was the obviuos choice otherwise, when we began to run out of steam. Finally - poor crowd. We should have been close to 20,000 for top- of-the-table opponents. The best way to encourage mid-table obscurity is to stop supporting the team.

1

clint_eastwood added 06:15 - Dec 5 How many has he played for us now? I haven't seen not 1.....not 1 game he played well in. Get a new left-back, Mick......please ffs.
1

blues1 added 06:31 - Dec 5 actually clint eastwood, hes been playing well lately and didn't play badly in this game neither. the problem is the continual use of his long throw, which isn't working and people are using that to slag him off for his whole performance. which is typical of some of our fans, who have to have a scapegoat. whenhes throwing the ball long down the wing for people its a good weapon. the problem is the one thrown into the box. we use it too often, but whos fault is that? my guess is hes instructed to do it my McCarthy, so u cant blame Knudsen for doing so. and also its not only his fault that it doesn't work neither as u watch our players in the box that the balls aimed at. they just stand there waiting for the basll to arrive instead of moving to the ball to flick it on. this makes it so easy for the defenders to get up and head it away. but I'm sure, just as matt Richards was among others there'll be so called fans who will simply continue to slag him off regardless.

0

Keaneish added 06:54 - Dec 5 For those of you bashing McCarthy for taking of AMN you obviously weren't watching close enough. AMN was flagging. He stopped tracking back and men were running off him. For some reason in games recently he's looked tired in the second half. Agreed Coke is a poor replacement but it was the right decision.
0

Surco72 added 07:42 - Dec 5 Gulf in class was evident and you get what you pay for . We matched them in first half but you can only work that hard for so long if you can't keep the ball . The terrific back four !! Chambo was out of position , Smith allowed a man inside to put any cross he wanted in and Knudsen lost his man at the back post for first goal . Second goal one one one and our centre back tries to block a shot on his right side with his natural left foot . I am totally with Keanish for me Skuse was again so poor he gives the ball away more than he wins it back for us , ran along next to Downing a lot without putting in a big hit or tackle and offers nothing in defence or attack . He made Clayton and Leadboots look like world beaters .Anyone who recorded it watch again Thought the first substitution was shocking as what was a defensive central midfielder going to add on the right wing and ANN was our only link . Altough Gerks played ok the difference between a top keeper like Boro s and ours is promotion . Still personally think we are further away this season than last

7

Keaneish added 08:11 - Dec 5 Completely agree Surco. Leadbitter and Clayton dropped off time and time again to take the ball from their back four and bossed that midfield. Skuse's passing was horrendous tonight. Constantly dithering in the pass, no drive. At fault for the second goal and arguably he should have been back their backing up Smith for their first. I could go on... He's been coasting for so long he looks jaded and needs a spell out.

2

NormEmerges added 08:26 - Dec 5 First match I've seen in a while and it really disappointed. M'boro are a classy side, we look like the old Wimbledon - hoof it up field and chase. They look like a premiership side in waiting, we look like a League One side. Yes we had our chances in the first half, although never looked like taking them, but there was a clear lack of midfield spark. AMN ran himself ragged but never delivered a telling pass at the end of it (although he was heroic in tracking back and defending); both full backs offer nothing going forward, and both were culpable in the first goal - at least Knudsen tries to pass the ball, whereas Chambers looks terrified in possession and his only thought is to belt the ball up field. Murphy and Pitman work their socks off up front but get no service. I was impressed with Gerken - man of the match on our side - and the middle three looked fairly solid, but where is that creation in midfield? Sadly I hope we don't make the playoffs and win promotion, as this team cannot form the core of a premiership side.

1

blues1 added 08:33 - Dec 5 Keanish. Skuse hardly made a bad pass all night. But is clearly a player who many like to slag off. As for urcpoint about the Niles substitution? Yes, it may have been right to take him off but bringing on a defensive midfielder as his replacement when ur losing. Tactically inept management IMO. So no, it wasn't the correct decision at all.
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Kirbmeister added 08:39 - Dec 5 I agree that the side could be improved if we tinker around especially with the back four and we also have some decent players out injured, but we are a mid table side for me all day long. Side like 'Boro have more money and can attract better players. We are still in huge debt and MM won't have that opportunity. Last night showed that our position at present is about where we will finish.

2

sidtheswan added 08:39 - Dec 5 No complaints . Excellent first half liked the way we closed them down. Second half Boro's class showed and we got what we deserved . That's what happens when your chairman puts his hands in his pockets. And can't remember before any supporters chanting the chairmanship name in a positive way . Oh well suppose we will be fighting with everyone else for 6th spot if we are lucky .

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