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

Minneapolis_ITFC added 00:09 - Dec 30 Number of factors that may have contributed to today. Match official penalized something that on any other occasion may have gone unnoticed, the inability to restructure after falling a goal in reverse, not enough players focused or the will to succeed. If only that incident with Spence hadn't occurred it may have worked in our favor. By all accounts the team were holding their own up until then only for some sorry ass game official to underline his authority and put a spoiler on things. Seems the team didn't show enough character after falling behind or performed too irregular to properly justify potential match winners, whether or not the aforementioned incident had or had not come to pass. Victory with Rotherham and Millwalls is imperative to preserve the battle for league status. Congratulate the traveling fans also irrespective of any small number. Shame to be witness to a long trip and wronged by a borderline offense decision. You feel this season still has a distance to run.

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bringonbrazil added 00:25 - Dec 30 Without question our squad is awful. Awful. We need so much change i think PL deserves a knighthood if he can keep ITFC up. I find it embarassing that some of these players get paid to play football. Here's an idea Evans...hold an open day for player recruitment from the fans and see how many of us can control and pass a ball better? 8 new players needed. Fast.
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blueboy1981 added 00:34 - Dec 30 ...... Dissboyitfc - it's called being realistic in terms of expectations, and facing facts. What do you see happening with immediate effect (much needed now) for us to 'do a Hull' ?? - which you duly mention. Where is this transformation going to come from ... ??? - and by what means ... ??? Where is there any indication that results will improve - and necessary points forthcoming .... ??? To escape relegation we have to stop conceding goals, and score some - we currently look totally incapable of doing either, is the reality of it all.

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blueboy1981 added 00:47 - Dec 30 ..... some are obviously focussed only on blaming individual players - truth is , many of the team, and squad, are showing game after game, that they are not up to the required standard of the Championship. This is a team game, not about individuals - and we are sadly lacking, at this rate this could prove to be an extremely embarrassing season.
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RobsonWark added 01:42 - Dec 30 Bruce Grobbelaar was charged with match fixing when he played in goal for Liverpool in the 80's and 90's. I'm convinced Chambers is match fixing because no one could play that badly EVERY match. I wonder how much he is being paid to lose matches?
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Berts_chin added 09:40 - Dec 30 Interesting to browse the results yesterday to see amongst the goalscorers elsewhere were Webster, Garner (2), Marriott, McGoldrick, Pitman and Varney. (Two former loanees as well, Tunnicliffe and Maitland-Niles). As a season ticket holder since 1971, I've always felt that I was spoilt football wise as a kid, I'm now realising that perhaps I didn't fully appreciate what I was watching in more recent times.

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Dissboyitfc added 09:48 - Dec 30 blueboy... I agree with you on so many levels and we will relegated without improvement that's a fact, a no brainier it's obvious there can be no other outcome! Football is many things to many people and people will all support in many different ways, for instance I was in Norwich yesterday and whilst there I bumped into one of my many Norwich mates and what he said left me surprised, this is what he said when I said that Pukey bloke was doing well for them and I quote, “ I don't rate him at all, I don't like him, he's lazy” He scored another 2 yesterday! Maybe that thought ( we are doomed) sub-consciously is rife amongst the players now, who knows ! But if it is we are down! For a miracle to happen everybody needs to be 110% behind the cause that includes the management the players the fans and Evans needs to fund some quality loanees. If fans can't get behind the team and choose to accept we are down, so be it that's there way of dealing with it. No football fan should be called a “fool” for being optimistic or trying to remain positive and getting behind the team. We have just 2 days of this year left, the window opens and things could change, they need to! Let's start the new year with a win against Millwall, let's get behind the team! Just to clarify another point, I am still 110% glad MM has gone, should have gone much sooner! One day we will be in a much better place, something that would never ever happen had MM stayed!

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warktheline added 10:10 - Dec 30 The writing was on the wall after the Exeter defeat! Hapless Hurst ‘shafted' young players he'd signed and ‘jumped into bed' with the ‘cozy gang'....the Mickites with that comfortable feeling of never being dropped, come what ‘May' ( Div 1 ) ! Incredibly Swansea handed Hurst a very early ‘xmas Present' and in doing so, ‘duped' the ‘blind faithful'! How painful it was watching the ‘lemmings' blissfully making their way to the ‘edge' of the Championship! I'm currently ‘holding fire' over Lambert's selections, due to ‘Hands being tied' but come May if ‘two thirds' of that gang remains i'll take aim!!!!!!! Evans out!

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Geddis78 added 10:45 - Dec 30 Just catching up on all the comments. I see Thundercat has over 4- mark downs. Why? Because the truth hurts for a lot of fans on here. Fair play to those who say they don't care for bad or embarrassing we are, they just wanted McCarthy out. But to all those turning their anger to Evans, have a look at yourselves lads. He has done EXACTLY what you asked for. But still it is his fault. Annie M, I doubt any of us ‘be careful what you wish for' brigade are happy at all, probably least of all Thundercat. It just tires us to hear all the Town experts always pointing the finger everywhere other than themselves. I still go to all the home games, watch us pass the ball around nicely in our half for 45 seconds and then lose possession and ask myself, what has changed from last season or the season before? The football is still poor. We aren't exciting. The only real difference is we are 3 times more likely to lose. I like Lambert and hope we stick with him. But we are almost certainly down. And we all have to accept our roles in the decisions made that have taken us to this point.

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ITFCsince73 added 10:49 - Dec 30 Robsonwark. His influence on everything regarding ITFC is immense. So wouldn't surprise me. He was ultimately at blame, for various reasons in the failure of Paul Hurst. His dressing room influence is bigger, much bigger than Paul Hurst or even Paul Lambert. His influence over so many town faithfull, even now hasn't wavered. But as I've said previous, he will lead town down. But regardless of any of the above. He's just a shocking footballer Possibly even as bad as Spence, which is saying something.

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DoseOfReality added 10:58 - Dec 30 Has Evans actually had anything to say since his bullsh1te interview at start of the season ..?
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ITFCsince73 added 10:59 - Dec 30 The wishes of 98% of town fans was met by Marcus Evans, spring/summer 2018. Luke Chambers had other ideas. Paul Hurst never stood a chance.
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Geddis78 added 11:05 - Dec 30 ITFC73. Harsh. Whatever you may think of Chambers as a player, he is 100% Ipswich every game. He celebrates every goal like no other and you can see how hard he takes every defeat from his body language. If every player had his attitude and commitment, would we be where we are?
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chalky added 11:13 - Dec 30 Please let us have an end to the series of platitudes which PL and the players trot out at every interview. It's time for total honesty on all sides. PL's results are, in effect, no better than Hurst's, however experienced he is. Evans has presided over a long period of mediocrity and decomposition from the inside. If he really had a genuine love for the club it's time he did a Captain Oates and walked away. His worst sin was to allow the sale of experienced strikers who are now scoring goals for rival clubs. Once upon a time we would have eaten clubs like QPR and Boro for breakfast. Let the young players have their head for the rest of the season. They can't do worse than the present first team squad and may even lay the foundations for better things. Evans' so called leadership has only produced terminal decline. Just look at his choice of successive managers !!

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Geddis78 added 11:24 - Dec 30 Chalky, know anyone prepared to stump up several million pounds and then lose c£6m a year for zero appreciation? If you do, send them our way! Just remember, most on here wanted Hirst. He fitted what the fans demanded. He backed his man. Lambert is as good as we could have got given the position of the club. Seems a good man too who respects the fans and the traditions of the club. Can't judge him for at least 18 months.

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ITFCsince73 added 11:27 - Dec 30 Geddis78 Yes harsh, but fact. The way he celebrates goals wont keep us up. Being a great bloke wont keep us up. Just telling it how it is.
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dirtydingusmagee added 12:12 - Dec 30 I fear even if Evans has seen the light,and acts , we are so deep in the do da, it will be too little and too late, even whilst im waiting to see if we can win the mega games coming up ,after yesterday, deep down i feel we are whistling in the dark, the drop is coming .
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Swn98 added 12:54 - Dec 30 Well Blueboy i have stated already this season that strangely i agree with most of your posts. Im pretty easy about our current position wherever my head is positioned as i accepted we were odds on to get relegated when MM left the club. Happy new year to you all.
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Swn98 added 12:54 - Dec 30 Well Blueboy i have stated already this season that strangely i agree with most of your posts. Im pretty easy about our current position wherever my head is positioned as i accepted we were odds on to get relegated when MM left the club. Happy new year to you all.
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blueboy1981 added 13:01 - Dec 30 RobsonWark ........ kicking Chambers to pieces as you obviously are, isn't going to solve our problems, it runs far deeper than just one player. Chambers is a limited footballer in my , and many others opinion, however as some point out he is 100% Ipswich Town on every front - shame a few more don't have that commitment and dedication. It is clearly not there with some players, however patronising some supporters chose to be. Chambers and Evans are the easy, and not necessarily unjust, easy blame merchants right now - but people have to see the bigger picture. If Evans intends to continue ownership of this Club he has to make a complete reverse of the past decade, as since the departure of Jim Mac (orchestrated by Evans ...!!) everything has been on the slide. But a sobering thought for those who call for Evans head is this :- 'Who is likely to throw enough money at the Club to even clear the Debt ?' - can anyone realistically see Evans writing that off ? - for someone to take over ownership. Realistically it just won't happen. MM went way back - right move - for the potentially long term benefit of the Club and Supporters. Evans has appointed, and we now have, the right Manager. Evans now has to 'put up' - and in so doing prove to us all, that his interest in the Club is for the benefit of us ALL. OVER TO YOU MR EVANS. And in the meantime fellow supporters, cut Chambers a bit of slack, far from being the most gifted, but like many of us, doing his best in far from ideal circumstances. Start looking a bit more potent up front - and a bit of welcome pressure naturally comes off the defence. Ever thought of that before crucifying the individual ...... ???

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Bergholtblue added 13:06 - Dec 30 Only seen the highlights on this site, but every attack Boro made involved poor defending by Chambers.
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blueboy1981 added 13:16 - Dec 30 Let's all blame Chambers shall we ?? - nothing short of PATHETIC thinking.
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warktheline added 13:55 - Dec 30 @blueboy, far from pathetic, Chambers has been freewheeling for a very long time, strangely something McCarthy was lambasted about continually! Chambers has captained at best a struggling Championship side with a 'back foot' mentality used to losing! Non stop talking a good game but rarely delivering on the pitch, jeez he concluded after the Baggies defeat that the Portman Rd faithful should go home happy after 'light at the end of the tunnel' performance! Hurst should have undoubtedly unloaded 'skip' and gang first thing, he didn't, and the tunnel appears to be getting longer and longer!

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Bluearmy_81 added 14:46 - Dec 30 But to all those turning their anger to Evans, have a look at yourselves lads. He has done EXACTLY what you asked for. No he hasn't. An owner's main job is to fund the squad appropriately and sufficiently. He has failed miserably and this is the main reason we are where we are.
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Pecker added 15:01 - Dec 30 We are still in this battle and going on yesterdays performance, we are going to get out of it.
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