MX23RW : Monday, January 13 06:10:02| >> :600:168718:168718:
[monks data]
Attendance: 22,338
Middlesbrough logo
Championship | Gameweek 34
Feb 23, 2019 at 3pm UK
 
QPR logo

2-0

Howson (2'), Fletcher (32')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Boro inflict more misery on QPR with solid home performance

Home side firmly in the promotion hunt.

Middlesbrough strengthened their grip on a play-off place in the Championship by piling more misery on Queens Park Rangers with a 2-0 victory.

Goals from Jonny Howson and Ashley Fletcher got Boro on course for three points in the first half and Steve McClaren's Rangers never looked like preventing a seventh straight defeat at his former club.

That is now an unwanted club record for QPR, who should be just thankful they had a healthy cushion to the relegation zone before this horrible run.

Middlesbrough were desperate to improve a poor record of their own at the Riverside Stadium where they had won just two of their previous 11 matches.

They got off to the perfect start when wing-back Howson, clearly enjoying playing on the right, was rewarded for his attacking mind with the opening goal.

There was just one minute and 50 seconds on the clock when he casually worked his way into the visiting penalty area undetected.

Impressive midfielder Mo Besic spotted him and picked out a lovely diagonal pass which Howson managed to force beyond goalkeeper Joe Lumley, who had left his line, to grab his first since April.

QPR almost levelled straight after but Middlesbrough goalkeeper Darren Randolph did well to turn behind an effort from Eberechi Eze at his near post.

From there on in Middlesbrough took command. There was not much threat posed to Randolph's goal for the rest of the half and it was no surprise when the men from Teesside extended their advantage.

Besic, who had already gone close himself with an effort that flew inches wide of the upright from distance, was allowed too much freedom in the opposition's half and he made them pay.

The on-loan Everton midfielder turned and charged towards the box, rolled a pass into the feet of Fletcher unmarked on the left. The £6.5m striker, who had not scored in the league this season, shifted the ball on to his left foot and he crashed a finish inside the top left of Lumley's near post.

Almost instantly Britt Assombalonga should have added a third, but he was denied by Lumley this time when he was faced with just the goalkeeper to beat as QPR's five-man defence left too many gaps.

After the restart McClaren put three up front for the second half. QPR were still unable to seriously test Randolph again, even though they did get into some decent positions down the flanks.

Middlesbrough should have made it three with 15 minutes remaining when Assombalonga was denied by Lumley, this time after a cleverly worked move involving Lewis Wing and Stewart Downing in and around the area.

Middlesbrough had already done enough, despite a few long range efforts at both ends and a save from Randolph to deny Nahki wells before the final whistle.

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sport staff');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', 'd8e04a48-e58b-4145-afb2-be8bb4fa4476');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:match-reports');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Boro inflict more misery on QPR with solid home performance'});

ID:351262: cacheID:351262:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5366:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Michael Flynn in charge of Newport County on December 1, 2018
Read Next:
Newport's FA Cup shocks
>
Read more about Ashley Fletcher Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds26158348192953
2Burnley26141023192252
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd26166436171952
4Sunderland26148439221750
5Middlesbrough26118743321141
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom26913432211140
7Blackburn RoversBlackburn2511682823539
8Bristol City2691073330337
9Watford25114103536-137
10Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2610793840-237
11Norwich CityNorwich269984337636
12Swansea CitySwansea2697103030034
13Queens Park RangersQPR2671182934-532
14Millwall257992423130
15Preston North EndPreston2661282834-630
16Coventry CityCoventry2678113437-329
17Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2577112840-1228
18Derby CountyDerby2676133135-427
19Stoke CityStoke2669112432-827
20Luton TownLuton2674152744-1725
21Portsmouth2458113041-1123
22Hull City2658132536-1123
23Cardiff CityCardiff2558122540-1523
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2548132453-2920


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!