Boro Relegate Tykes To End On High

 Middlesbrough     3        Barnsley     1 

                       Tomlin 54 , 90+3    Graham  90                                   M'Voto  52

 

Boro’s preparations for next season are already underway and Aitor Karanka’s task to rebuild a team ready for the opening game in September is now in full operation.

Tomlin and Graham celebrate Boro's second goal 

In a year full of ups and downs Boro bid farewell to the Riverside crowd in their final home fixture with an entertaining 3-1 victory over Barnsley, which confirmed their relegation to league one.

Karanka described the win as “the best way to end at home” and even though next week’s trip to Yeovil has little significance for either side’s league position the Spaniard will be aware that momentum going into the next campaign is key.

The same can also be said about Karanka’s business in the summer transfer market and whether he can seek assistance from his contacts at Madrid and with Jose Mourinho at Chelsea.

Today it was the manager’s signings in January that earned Boro a late win in the penultimate game of the season as two goals from Lee Tomlin and one from Danny Graham secured all points.   

Karanka made four changes from the side which lost at Reading on Tuesday night, Grant Leadbitter and George Friend were both suffering from injury niggles while Nathaniel Chalobah and Emmanuel Ledesma dropped to the bench. 

They were replaced by Jonathan Woodgate, who returned as captain, Jacob Butterfield, Lee Tomlin and Adam Reach as Boro returned to their favoured 4-2-3-1 formation.

Before kick-off Barnsley sat four points from safety with six left to play for, knowing they realistically needed a win to avoid the drop. They made three changes from their defeat to Derby last time out, in came Ryan McLaughlin, Kelvin Etuhu and Marcus Pederson. Tomasz Cywka dropped to the bench while Lewin Nyatanga and Paddy McCourt missed out altogether.

Even in the early stages it was clear to see that Barnsley were a side lacking in confidence. It was a complete contrast to Boro’s previous match at the Riverside where Millwall, also threatened by the drop, had actually played like their lives depended on it.

Boro’s first attempt came from the lively Reach who skipped past Barnsley defender Jean Yves M’Voto but fired his shot wide. At the other end Pederson’s shot from the edge of the area took a deflection but still fell kindly into the hands of Boro keeper Dimi Konstantopoulos.

That chance proved to be one of the visitors few, while Boro should have capitalised on the opportunities they created. On seventeen minutes Tomlin released Graham who eventually brought the ball under control but blazed the ball over the cross bar.

For the remainder of the first half Barnsley had keeper Luke Steele to thank that the scores stay level. Tomlin twice tried his luck from range but on both occasions Steele came to the visitors rescue, moments later Albert Adomah wriggled his way into a shooting position but the keeper was again on hand to hold his low shot across goal.

The hosts had two penalty appeals turned down five minutes before half time when Reach’s low cross picked out Adomah in the opposition box, his shot was blocked and fell at the feet of Butterfield whose goal bound shot was also stopped, both claimed their shots had hit their opponents hands.

Karanka was forced into his first change when Woodgate limped off and was replaced by Daniel Ayala. But that didn’t disrupt Boro’s rhythm and if it wasn’t for Steele the hosts could have been out of sight.

In the dying minutes of the first half Butterfield smashed a vicious shot which the Barnsley keeper matched by flinging himself to the left. He was also on hand to deny Ayala’s close range effort from Tomlin’s cross, as the visitors hung on until half time.

Seven minutes after the restart the goal came but it wasn’t the way anyone had expected. From Martin Cranie’s in swinging corner M’Voto was left unmarked and able to side foot the ball back across goal and past Konstantopoulos, suddenly the visitors had a hope for their survival.

However that hope evaporated within two minutes. M’Voto, Barnsley’s hero at one end became their downfall at the other when his misplaced pass was seized upon by Tomlin who lashed the ball low across goal into Steele’s bottom right corner.

Boro now had a spring in their step, Graham cracked a powerful free kick which Steele saved at full stretch, as the hosts threatened to take the lead. With an hour gone Karanka withdrew Butterfield who made way for Chalobah. Barnsley manager Danny Wilson introduced Nick Proschwitz and Jim O’Brien who replaced Pederson and Liam Lawrence.

Those change appeared to have a negative effect on the game which entered a scrappy phase. A draw would have sent Barnsley down and they had to go for it, Proschwitz had only been on the pitch five minutes but with the match in the balance he could only drag his chance inside the area wide of the far post.  

Seb Hines for Kenneth Omeruo was Boro’s final change with twenty minutes to go, like Woodgate the Chelsea loanee limped off and couldn’t continue.     

Something had to give and with one minute of normal time remaining it did. With the game more open than ever Boro broke forward in numbers, Adomah received the ball to the left of the Barnsley penalty area, his shot was saved by Steele who couldn’t prevent the ball dropping into the path of Graham who tucked the ball into the unguarded net.

Not even the four added minutes could save Barnsley’s inevitable fate, but that didn’t stop Boro finishing in style. In the third minute of stoppage time Tomlin played a neat one-two with Adomah which released him into the Barnsley box, with time on his side Tomlin picked his spot at the far post and buried the ball past Steele.

Player Ratings

Dimi Konstantopoulos     7- Wasn’t given much to do but reliable when called upon

Jozsef Varga   7- Another solid game at right back, would be welcomed back if he signs next season

Kenneth Omeruo   8- Won everything in the air and commanded the defence

Jonathan Woodgate   7- Was controlling the weak Barnsley attack before he was forced off

Ben Gibson   7- Looked more comfortable at unfamiliar left back position

Dean Whitehead   7- Broke up the play in the middle of the park

Jacob Butterfield   8- Boro’s most creative player, team lost momentum when he was replaced

Albert Adomah   6.5- Dipped in and out of the game, set up the third goal  

Adam Reach   7- Lively in the first half, faded after the break

Lee Tomlin   8- Two goals made the difference, was instrumental in Boro’s attacks  

Danny Graham   6.5- Late goal but struggled impose himself 

Subs

Daniel Ayala   7- Replaced Woodgate in the first half and never looked troubled

Nathaniel Chalobah   6- Offered little to the game after coming on

Seb Hines   6.5- Came on with 20 minutes to go and was given little trouble

My Boro Man Of The Match : Lee Tomlin