Jordan Hugill netted a contentious 37th-minute penalty and sub Marcus Tavernier added a second on 72 as Middlesbrough beat Town 2-0 at the Riverside Stadium. The Blues had the better of the few first-half chances but found themselves behind from the spot after Jordan Spence was adjudged to have fouled Hugill, with Tavernier’s goal sealing the three points in the second half.

Myles Kenlock was handed his first appearance under Paul Lambert having returned from an ankle injury with Jonas Knudsen dropping to the bench, the first time the Blues boss had made a change to his back four since taking charge.

Gwion Edwards took over from Grant Ward, who is out for at least nine months having suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury at QPR, on the right of the front three with Kayden Jackson coming in for Ellis Harrison, who dropped to the bench, down the middle.

Former Blue Grant Leadbitter wasn’t in the Boro 18 - but wandered into the press room before the match - while Town target Rudy Gestede was among the Teessiders’ subs.

The home side were first to threaten in the fifth minute, Jonny Howson finding space on the right of the box before hitting a shot which deflected wide off Kenlock.

There were no further opportunities at either end in the opening 10 minutes but with a scrappy affair largely being played in Town’s half, although with Boro rarely being able to break into the final third.

On 11, a Lewis Wing freekick from the right was cleared out to Stewart Downing and the former England international hit an effort from the edge of the box which looped over Dean Gerken’s crossbar.

The Blues created their first chance of the game in the 13th minute. After good work from Flynn Downes and Jon Nolan, Kenlock cut in from the left and played a clever reverse pass in to Freddie Sears who hit a low shot which Boro keeper Darren Randolph claimed comfortably.

Trevoh Chalobah was shown the game’s first yellow card in the 18th minute for pulling back George Saville having lost possession as the Blues looked to pass their way out of defence, far from the first time Town had given away the ball in such circumstances during the opening spell.

In the aftermath of the freekick, Teessiders’ skipper George Friend blazed over, then in the 22nd minute one-time Blues target Hugill shot high and wide at the end of a pacy Boro attack.

Two minutes later, Randolph palmed over a looping Luke Chambers header from the edge of the box, then from the resultant corner on the right the Blues almost took the lead.

Nolan sent the ball over and Chalobah headed goalwards only for Randolph to dive across to his right and get a strong arm on the ball to divert what looked set to be the opening goal past the post.

Town began to pass the ball around confidently but without getting into threatening areas. Boro meanwhile were getting scruffier, losing the ball needlessly much to the frustration of their fans.

Spence shot well over from distance for the Blues on 31, then two minutes later Hugill volleyed over for the home side after Town had made heavy weather of clearing a Wing freekick in from the right.

Saville struck a not overly taxing effort straight at Gerken from 25 yards in the 35th minute - their first effort on target - to sarcastic cheers from the home fans.

But two minutes later the Boro support were cheering the game’s opening goal. A cross was sent over from the right and Spence was somewhat harshly adjudged to have hauled Hugill to the ground as they challenged for the aerial ball.

Referee Jeremy Simpson, an official never shy to award a penalty having given three in Town’s game at Reading a couple of seasons ago, pointed straight to the spot. After the Blues had made their obvious frustrations known, Hugill beat Gerken to give the Teessiders a lead they hadn’t really deserved.

Downes joined Chalobah in the book for a frustrated foul on Aden Flint in the 39th minute, then in first-half injury time the Blues almost levelled.

Jackson robbed Flint on the Town left then fed Nolan, who played the ball in to Sears, whose reverse shot was blocked by the advancing Randolph. Nolan might well have been better off playing in Edwards, who was breaking into the box on the right.

The Blues could count themselves a touch unlucky to be behind at the break after a half in which they’d had the better of the few chances with Randolph the keeper forced to make the more decisive saves.

Boro’s fans were beginning to express their frustrations with their side more vocally when referee Simpson gave them what looked at best a generous penalty.

The early period of the second half returned to the scruffiness of much of the first with chances continuing to be rare at both ends.

On 53 Blues Chambers read a low ball played across the area for Wing and was caught on the ankle by the Boro midfielder as he cleared. The Blues skipper looked in a great deal of pain and received treatment on the pitch before continuing, much to the relief of the Town management and support.

Town were finding themselves under increasing pressure as the hour mark approached and in the 59th minute Boro went close to their second goal. Saville found Hugill in space on the left of the box but Gerken pawed his goalbound effort away.

Moments later, Downes appeared to catch Saville as he broke into the area, an incident which at first viewing looked more of a penalty than the one awarded in the first half, but on this occasion referee Simpson waved away the home side’s protests.

Boro sub Marcus Tavernier was yellow-carded for pulling back Spence on the Blues right on 66, soon after having replaced Downing. The freekick ultimately came to nothing but Town were beginning play more of the game in the Boro half.

The Blues swapped Jackson for Jordan Roberts in the 71st minute but before the former Crawley man could make an impact the Teessiders doubled their lead.

Howson found Tavernier breaking into the area on the left and the England U20 international hit a low shot which somehow snuck under Gerken and into the net with the keeper clearly frustrated that he had allowed it past him.

Andre Dozzell replaced Nolan in the Town midfield for the final 11 minutes with the game looking all but over.

Gerken claimed Hugill’s looping header from Friend’s cross in the 81st minute, then on 87 the Blues keeper made a double save, stopping sub Adam Clayton’s well-struck shot from the edge of the box, then grabbing Friend’s deflected follow-up at the second attempt.

Town created their best chance of the half in the 89th minute, Kenlock crossing from the left and Roberts heading wide of Randolph’s left post.

In injury time, Gerken saved well from Wing who really should have made it 3-0 having been found in space eight yards out, then Friend headed well over.

Seconds before the whistle, Gerken made an even more impressive save to deny Hugill, flying away to his left to tip what was a header bound for the corner of the net wide.

Having been unfortunate in the first half, the Blues rarely threatened in the second and once Boro had established their two-goal lead - their second another goal which looked very preventable - there was little doubt where the points would go, a familiar scenario in recent weeks. In the end only a succession of excellent Gerken saves stopped the margin of victory from being more significant.

The gap to safety remains at seven points, Bristol City having scored a late winner at home to 21st-placed Rotherham, but Millwall, who Town host in a vital game at Portman Road on New Year's Day, are now 10 points ahead of the Blues in 20th.

Middlesbrough: Randolph, Friend (c), Ayala (Batth 90), Hugill, Howson, Downing (Tavernier 61), Fry, Saville, Flint, Wing, Besic (Clayton 86). Unused: Lonergan, Assombalonga, McNair, Gestede.

Town: Gerken, Spence, Chambers (c), Pennington, Kenlock, Chalobah, Nolan (Dozzell 79), Downes, Edwards, Sears, Jackson (Roberts 71). Unused: Bialkowski, Knudsen, Harrison, Bishop, Nsiala. Referee: Jeremy Simpson (Lancashire). Att: 23,334 (Town: 362).

Photo: Action Images

Northstandveteran added 18:30 - Dec 29 My pleasure Swn. You're driving though 😁👏
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blueboy1981 added 18:31 - Dec 29 ........ and some still hang on to the life raft - and make excuses for the sunken ship....... unfair penalty, injuries etc; etc; - when we were fortune not to lose 5-0 thro' being inadequate. Take the head from the sand before you suffocate you fools. It is very much what it is, and we can ALL see.
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Westy added 18:37 - Dec 29 Despite the result nothing has really changed. Still 7 points adrift (8 with gd) and less games available now by which we can catch up but I can't see where the improvement is coming from. What it means is instead of there being five teams we could have caught there are now only three as Wigan and Millwall are pulling away. I'm not hopeful but not throwing the towel in yet.

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Town4me added 18:39 - Dec 29 Bluearmy 81 :- I understand completely what you are saying. But if something needs changing then it's a damn sight easier to get a new manager than it is a new owner
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speccybaz added 18:41 - Dec 29 Realistically we were never likely to get anything today. Optimistically, two wins against Millwall and Rotherham, and the situation will look much more hopeful. Being a pessimist, or maybe a realist, means that I feel a win against either, let alone both, seems unlikely.
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blueboy1981 added 18:42 - Dec 29 ........ as for waiting for the proverbial lady to sing - she sang 'The Last Waltz' when Evans appointed Hurst - no point in waiting for an encore.
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Northstandveteran added 18:42 - Dec 29 Been saying that for quite some time now blueboy. If Evans does decide he's had enough and decides to walk away, even if he does write off the debt, the club will be in severe financial trouble. Don't get me wrong, I'm no Evans fan, but without his input, who is going to put millions into the club just to keep it afloat? There really is a genuine chance of the club being wound up.

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NoelTheDub added 19:04 - Dec 29 Keep positive lads the dredges of football on the way in Jan better off keeping the bloody window closed until league 1.Already rumoured is a lad from Leic who never played for the first team and a guy league 1 teams didn't want.We are in a rotten state and most of us know why.
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Dissboyitfc added 20:29 - Dec 29 i said in early december before the wigan game that we needed 7 points from our next 5 games to get into january with a chance albeit a slight chance of staying up. Anything from Qpr and Boro would have been a bonus, i feel we need to win the 6 pointers. Beat Millwall and we have achieved what i thought would happen. Lose to Millwall and Rotherham then i will start to believe that staying up is not likely, but until its looking impossible i will not be throwing the towel in, glad that PL isnt throwing in the towel either! I have no comment on todays game, i didnt go or listen, but when to the cinema in Norwich, was great to see so many sad faces with yellow shirts, lovely wiped their smugness off their faces. COYB's

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tebbo28 added 20:29 - Dec 29 Anyone else notice goal scorers elsewhere today? Garner (2), McGoldrick, Webster all here last year, then add Marriott to the list as well. Dark days indeed.
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Taricco_Fan added 20:36 - Dec 29 People talking about Millwall and Rotherham being winnable (they are) but both those teams have already beaten us. We've dropped so many points against fellow strugglers and we will only get scraps from the top half sides. Even if we get six points in the next two home games I don't see where the other 25-30 are coming from. The writing's on the wall. Prepare for League One.

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TimmyH added 20:39 - Dec 29 I heard a week or so ago Ed Sheeran's wealth had shot up to £340M from recent tours...I think I'm wishful thinking here.
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cat added 20:45 - Dec 29 Good to see that's there's a few on here with a bit of the ‘bulldog' spirit and fight left in them. Until the maths say otherwise I'll be keeping positive (lambert style) and if the sh!te happen, we'll take stock, regroup, and come back stronger. ITFC FOREVER 🤜
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Tractorboy1985 added 20:54 - Dec 29 ALTOGEHER NOW..... Marcus Evans is a fraud is a fraud.......
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GiveusaWave added 20:55 - Dec 29 People keep harping on about the 7 point gap.... If we end up with the quality of player that we look like getting in Jan...that gap will seem insurmountable.... We are League 1 bound. Question is what to do in Jan. I'd invest the money on a promotion push next season. Save the money we have and bring back Wolf and a few of the youngsters for the rest of the season. Kenlock can have game time at LB when Knudsen leaves and we can try a few different combinations up front. Cotter and Folami were both decent enough last season and it would give them a chance to see what they are made of. Never know it might even turn our season around....

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blueboy1981 added 21:05 - Dec 29 ....... cat - it could be construed as being an Ostrich, as opposed to having the Bulldog spirit. Do you really expect anything but from PL ? - after all he is doing his professional best in trying to boost players confidence and moral, equally so, trying to keep the fans flame burning. It's working with some, but not all. Weighing everything up, it's hoping beyond hope - just look and consider what's now required..... !!! Unfortunately - it's League 1 - baring a major miracle. I genuinely hope the great escape happens, but realistically know it won't, therefore prepared for League 1. Anything better will therefore be a huge bonus to me.

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blueboy1981 added 21:05 - Dec 29 ....... cat - it could be construed as being an Ostrich, as opposed to having the Bulldog spirit. Do you really expect anything but from PL ? - after all he is doing his professional best in trying to boost players confidence and moral, equally so, trying to keep the fans flame burning. It's working with some, but not all. Weighing everything up, it's hoping beyond hope - just look and consider what's now required..... !!! Unfortunately - it's League 1 - baring a major miracle. I genuinely hope the great escape happens, but realistically know it won't, therefore prepared for League 1. Anything better will therefore be a huge bonus to me.

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cat added 21:24 - Dec 29 Hey blueboy, even an ostrich with its head in the sand would realise the reality of our situation, and it ain't pretty. If we go down then so be it, until then I'll keep the faith and not throw the towel in.
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Carberry added 22:07 - Dec 29 In the summer we lost players who had scored more than 40 goals that season and kept one who had scored 2 and bought in lower league hopefuls. And we wonder where it all went wrong. A dud manager and a crippling lack of investment.
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Dissboyitfc added 22:12 - Dec 29 i wouldnt expect the players to throw the towel in, and although the fat lady is getting ready to sing there are several acts still to go as yet. So until she takes to the stage can the supporters of itfc get behind the team. As football fans we cant give up and i question those who do. At the end of october Hull were one place above us on 12 points, on November 18th talksport with the aid of their super computer predicted Hull would be relegated along side us and Rotherham. Now look at the table, Hull are sitting comfortably in mid table and top of the table form wise with 16 points from 6 points. Do i think we are likely to be relegated? i think that is very likely the outcome! but i have been around long enough to know things can change very Quickly look at Hull. So i expect 100% from the players until the end and if i expect that, its only right that us supporters give 100% in supporting the team! See you all at the millwall and rotherham games!

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Carberry added 22:14 - Dec 29 In the summer we lost players who had scored more than 40 goals that season and kept one who had scored 2 and bought in lower league hopefuls. And we wonder where it all went wrong. A dud manager and a crippling lack of investment.
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Dissboyitfc added 22:22 - Dec 29 Marked you down Blueboy its not right to call supporters fools for wanting to remain positive. It will never be right to call a supporter a fool for getting behind the team! i dare say we had a good turn out at Boro today, several went today in the hope of getting something and saving our season. Full credit to the wonderful travelling support!
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RobsonWark added 23:00 - Dec 29 Am I the only one who can see that the route of our downfall is...Chambers! Please look at all the highlights on Sky Sports and watch Chambers...He is beaten to every cross, he never makes a tackle - only tries to block shots, always out of position, makes bad mistakes, slow to get get back, always blames every one else around him when a goal in conceded, need I go on!

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RobsonWark added 23:32 - Dec 29 ITFCsince73 looks like my first post about Chambers got deleted from this website. Maybe Chambers sponsers TWTD website lol
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RobsonWark added 23:35 - Dec 29 It reminds me of Sunday morning football...it's all too clicky. There are better players in the squad including the youngsters but Chambers will never be dropped.
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