Middlesbrough 1 Bristol City 1
Martin 56
Ephraim 13
Just over 15,000 at the Riverside reflected Middlesbrough’s
championship status and the prospect of welcoming Bristol City rather than thrill
of premier league opposition. However a hard earned point at highflyers West
Ham in mid-week left fans optimistic for the visit of struggling Bristol who
found themselves just three points above the relegation zone.
Boro left out top scorer Marvin Emnes from the starting line-up,
after Bart Ogbeche’s stunning strike on Tuesday gave the Nigerian his first
start January. While Merouane Zemmama also made the team sheet, after a long absence
with injury.
The visitors made the brighter start, when John Stead’s clever
lay off found Stephen Pearson who took too much time in the area wasting his
early chance, when his shot was finally blocked by Seb Hines inside two minutes.
But Bristol continued to threaten, as they took a shock lead
ten minutes later. When a lapse in concentration from Boro allowed Stead to
play in Hogan Ephraim, whose neat finish silenced the home fans in disbelief.
Despite their efforts the hosts failed to test City keeper Dean
Gerken. With Lukas Jutkiewicz’s long range effort the closest to levelling the score,
but the striker’s shot was always rising, while frustration grew.
As the match went on Boro never really took control in midfield,
while the game cried out for a moment of quality to unlock the Bristol defence.
But City could have inflicted yet more pain to Tony Mowbray’s side, when
Pearson was again found in space, only for him to blaze his shot over from
twelve yards.
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| Martin's second goal against Bristol City this session |
A bold decision from Mowbray at half time saw Nicky Bailey
withdrawn from the scene, to be replaced by Frenchman Malaury Martin, in an
inspired move.
First Jason Steele had to keep out Stead’s powerful effort.
But a flat riverside crowd was finally lifted off their seats ten minutes after
the restart in a moment of magic. When substitute Martin out of nothing, unleashed
an unstoppable effort from the edge of the area which flew into to the top left
corner past Gerkin.
That goal turned the game, as the hosts immediately moved on
to the front foot. Ogbeche was agonisingly denied by Gerkin from point blank range,
after he looked to have scored. But Boro’s hopes were increased even more when Ryan
McGivern brought down Jutkiewicz, and the left back on loan from Manchester
City was shown a straight red fifteen minutes from time.
The re-energised crowd now speared on their side, but
despite the man advantage City still could have stolen it when Albert Adomah
beat Joe Bennett only for Steele to make a vital stop in the dying minutes.
But Boro will feel hard done by at the final whistle; when
Adam Hammill’s strong penalty appeals were turned down by referee Colin Webster
after maybe feeling unjust for his early decision of the red card. The result
moves Boro up to fifth in the table with eight games to go and a trip to Ipswich
on Tuesday.
Match Ratings
Steele 7- Important
saves late on, left defenceless against goal
Bennett 5.5- Looked troubled
by Adomah and a few sloppy passes
Hines 6.5- Important
block early on fairly solid at the back
Bates (C) 6- Maybe
at fault for the goal but gave 100% as always
Hoyte 6- Pace looked
a threat and had space, but rarely found on the wing
Thompson 6- Struggled
in first half but improved after half time
Bailey 5.5-Replaced
at half time tough to get hold of the game
Hammill 5- Crossing
and decision making could have been better
Zemmama 5.5- First
start since recovering from injury quite a quiet afternoon
Jutkiewicz 6-
Improved in second half fouled for the sending off
Ogbeche 6.5- Worked
hard looked biggest threat in first half
Subs
Martin 7- Brought energy
to crowd and team with stunning goal
Emnes 5- Came on
late never really got a chance
McMahon 5- Replaced
Hoyte late on a few sloppy passes
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