Middlesbrough get their first home win as Cherries stumble 2-0

Match Description

Middlesbrough 2 v 0 AFCB

29 October 2016
Attendance: 29,600

The Cherries had not won away while Boro had not won at home, something had to give. While the Cherries kept Boro relatively quiet in the first half, a corner that broke down at the Middlesbrough end led to the first goal of the game but at the other end of the pitch. Once Adm Smith had seen his shot blocked, it left a big gap for Gaston Ramirez to run into and he made a superb individual run and shot to give Boro the lead. Matters became worse when Stuart Downing made it 2-0 early in the second half. AFCB lose their unbeaten run and Eddie Howe and AFCB will want to put this game quickly behind them. Boro well deserved the win, but the Cherries were a shadow of themselves.

There was just the one change for AFCB's staring line up with Andrew Surman fully recovered from his illness he replaced Dan Gosling in the centre of midfield. Junior Stanislas did not make it into the squad after a late fitness test.

Middlesbrough made two changes with Chambers and Downing coming in for Ayala and de Roon.

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Match Description
AFCB lined up in their blue away kit with Middlesbrough kicking off in their home red and white kit. George Friend went for an early ambitious shot but it was high int the stands. Adam Smith ran straight into trouble in a congested midfield and Boro soon regained possession. Callum Wilson also took his eye off the ball and let a pass go out for a throw.

Josh King was pulled up for a clash of heads with Clayton, but there was no card. Traore was already showing he could pose a threat on the right wing. Barragan decided on a long shot but dragged it well wide of AFCB's goal. Ramirez was next to have a go for Middlesbrough putting his header over.

With 10 minutes gone, AFCB were not quite up to speed. King was showing his strength but Surman was losing out to Ramirez. Wilshere was coming alive and put in a great ball to Wilson that led to AFCB's first corner on 13 minutes. Josh King got a great shot n but Clayton cleared the effort off the line.

AFCB were now getting through the Boro lines with more regularity and penning them in a bit. Gareth Southgate was again in the stands watching Bournemouth two games in a row. Wilshere and Ibe were linking up well and forced another corner on 17 minutes. 

The final ball was proving a problem though. Wilshere was starting to influence things more and more, but Traore was causing problems on the break. Daniels put in a challenge in the box but on Traore, but the Boro winger did not get the decision. A nervy moment for AFCB.

Boro were doing better now and a ball in from Barragan was blocked for a corner just when he had got round the back and was searching for Negredo. Boruc took the catch well from the corner.

King was setting things up with Ibe, but when the ball came back to King he chipped it far too high over the bar. Steve Cook put the ball out for another Boro corner and Arter made a good break with no support. Luckily he won the free kick from Ramirez who picked up a yellow card. King was barging into Friend and gave away a foul the other way. Worse still Adam Smith received a yellow for blocking a cross from Stuart Downing with his arm.

The free kick was taken by Downing and Smith got the header away only for a deflected shot to come back in that Boruc caught well. With 27 minutes gone neither side had really git hold of the game. Wilshere then put a superb ball over the top for King to run onto, off his chest, right foot and he's hit the bar! Greast save I'd also say from Valdes. Got fingers tips to that.

Steve Cook hit a wayward pass straight out. Middlesbrough were not doing much better as Downing passed it straight back to a Bournemouth player. Ibe was chasing back and doing some defending to stop Barragan getting in behind.

Surman played in King over the top and the keeper came out and clobbered King. King is on his back. Valdes was charging out. He should have been booked and a possible penalty missed by the officials there. Ibe and Daniels do some good work in the last third for a corner, but Cook can't get his head to the corner. Surman was just behind and would probably have scored if he had not been put off by Cook in front of him.

AFCB having to defend now and Friend hits the side netting! Josh King shows how good he is at taking a high ball down and gets a corner for AFCB. Adam Smith goes for a shot but it's charged down and Ramirez on the break has gone into the box, cuts inside and he's put it past Boruc. It's 1-0 to Boro. Wilshere and Surman tried to get back but they had committed too many men forward and Gaston Ramirez ran almost the length of the pitch to put Boro ahead on 38 minutes.

The Borro crowd are noisy now and AFCB are having problems paying out from the back as Boro press high. Ibe and Daniels have found space but can't find Wilson in the box. Ibe again. He's beaten everyone to get to the byline but his chip still can't find Wilson. After has a blast from miles out but it's high in the stands. Great skill by Ibe just before that but the final ball is certainly his weakness.

A one added minute board goes up. Adam Smith goes on a run but his shot hits a defender.

Half time stats
AFCB Possession 56%, Shots 7, on target 2, corners 4, fouls 3, passes 242
Boro Possession 44%, Shots 6, on target 1, corners 2, fouls 2, passes 191

Second Half
The Cherries start the second half pushing Boro back. They are doubling up on Ibe. Steve Cook punts another poor pass out of play. Wilshere then fouls Clayton on half way. Daniels finds his way forward blocked. The Cherries are running out of ideas in the last third today.

Downing wins a corner as Boro mount an attack. Ramirez then wins a second corner. Boruc then tries a quick throw to Ibe, but just can't find him. This is a poor start to the second half. Arter does he chasing down. Daniels then puts in a poor cross.

Traore picks out Negredo who heads down for Downing and it's 2-0. A close decision but Traore was onside and AFCB are up against it now. Some 56 minutes gone.

Eddie Howe needs to change things up here. It's a double change. Afobe and Fraser to come on and Wilson and Ibe are going off on 60 minutes.

Daniels puts Afobe straight in but he only finds the legs of Victor Valdes who makes the save! Negredo is trough now and tries to slip it under Boruc but there is no power in the shot.

Boro now make a sub as the first goalscorer Ramirez is subbed for Leadbitter on 64 minutes to make his return to the side. Fraser has put in first cross but it's easy for the Boro keeper. At the other end Negredo hits a poor shot over the bar.

Wilshere picks out Daniels. Daniels beats his man beautifully, and another, and a third in the box but he has tried to pick out another Bournemouth player and the chance has gone! Adam Smith is then fouled for a free kick chance on the edge of the box. Arter puts it well over the bar.

Smith and Afobe try and bundle their way through the Boro defence but nothing doing. Surman next has a shot blocked before King wins a corner. It goes short and Wilshere gets another corner that Arter hooks up and it bounces out deflected - another corner though

Gosling has come on for Harry Arter on 73 minutes. Boro are just leaving Negredo up top on his own. Surman is struggling but play goes on and Downing shoots wide. Surman is holding the back of his right leg and he's left the field, AFCB having already used their three subs. Traore on the break is just stopped by Steve Cook in the box.

Fraser is fouled by Leadbitter but no card is given. 10 minutes to go. Fraser wins a corner as AFCB just look for a foothold in the game.

Wilshere chips the ball into the box and Afobe heads on for King with his back to goal but he shoots over. Fraser puts in another cross and it's off the top of the bar. Smith puts in another cross that is only half cleared. Smith finally blasts it over from distance.

Boro sub Negredo for Rhodes to get a few minutes. Wilshere has to make a last minute tackle on Traore to stop him scoring. Wilshere is having to play deep now as AFCB are down to 10 men.

Adam Smith is fouled by Forshaw and it's in shooting distance. Four minutes of added time go up. A few appeals for hands but noting is given. Fraser now goes down and it's a booking for Gibson. The ball in from Smith is right on Afobe but he's headed it over!

Boro make their last sub - Traore for Fischer. Gosling blocks a shot from Leadbitter. That's it.

Summary
Eddie Howe will be angry about Boro's first goal as it was given from an AFCB attacking position. The Cherries created half chances but that wicked finishing that was seen against Hull City was not on show here in the first half. The appetite for the game looked lacking from the start from AFCb and they had trouble picking up the pace. The work rate was just down two or three percent and that's too much at this level. So there is still no away win for AFCB.

Finally, I just hope that Andrew Surman is okay. It was maybe asking too much for him to play 90 minutes today and as it turned out he needed o come off early.

Middlesbrough
Valdes, Barragan, Gibson, Chambers, Friend, Traore (Fischer 92), Clayton, Forshaw
Ramirez (Leadbitter 63), Negrado (Rhods 84), Downing

Middlesbrough Subs
Fabio, Bernardo, Leadbitter, Rhodes, Fischer, Guzan, NugentAFCB
Boruc, A Smith, Francis, S Cook, Daniels, King, Arter (Gosling 73), Surman, Wilshere, Ibe (Fraser 60), Wilson (Afobe 60)

AFCB Subs
Federici, Mings, Aké, Gosling, Fraser, Gradel, Afobe. 

AFCB Ratings
Boruc 6, A Smith 6, Francis 6, S Cook 6, Daniels 6, King 7, Arter 7 (Gosling 6), Surman 6, Wilshere 7, Ibe 6 (Fraser 5), Wilson 5 (Afobe 5) 

Referee: Stuart Attwell could have used more cards and Victor Valdes owes him a drink. 4/10