Royals Defeat Throws Boro Back Off Track

Middlesbrough     0        Reading     1

                                                                      Cox  7

Back to back home defeats won’t have been the way Aitor Karanka expected to go into next week’s international break after another substandard performance left Boro floating adrift from the Championships front runners. 

For the second week in succession Boro fans left the Riverside in sheer disbelief, after defeat to Nigel Adkins’ Reading, wondering how a side who appeared to be contenders for promotion a few weeks ago now look a team who know very little about demands for England’s second tier.

Fans will remain optimistic but at the same time they will know 6 points out of 15 is hardly play-off material. For the second Saturday’s running last season’s solid defence had crumbled inside seven minutes and for the most part of 90 minutes they produced little creativity to restore the disrupted order.

Simon Cox’s first half goal was enough to give the Royals all three points in a match which is highly unlikely to feature high up the list on tonight’s football league show. With only one other shot on target it was a real case of “smash and grab” from the visiting Royals, not that the 100 or so traveling away fans will be that fussed.

Karanka made two changes from the side which lost 3-2 to Sheffield Wednesday seven days ago. Seb Hines replaced Daniel Ayala in the heart of defence while Adam Clayton lined up alongside captain Grant Leadbitter in midfield. Dean Whitehead dropped to the beach where he was joined by new loan signing Patrick Bamford, who signed from Chelsea on Friday.

In an opening five minute spell Boro set the early tempo and nearly took the lead through a well worked free kick when Clayton set up Kike but his low shot was easily saved by Reading keeper Adam Federici. With their tails up the hosts quickly pressed again, Tomlin set up Adomah on the edge of the Royals penalty area, the Ghanaian’s low effort across the goal required a more impressive save.

However Boro’s bubble was quickly burst minutes later, a long ball forward from the visitors caught the Boro defence sheepishly off guard, a further flick on helped the ball onto Cox on the edge of the area, the Ireland international was quick to spot Mejias off his line and produced a delicate chip over the Boro keeper who will once again share some of the blame.

Boro searched for an immediate response however Reading’s tactics of simply trying to run the clock down started as early as the 20^th minute to the frustration of the Riverside crowd. The visitor’s extra man in midfield made it difficult for Leadbitter or Clayton to get on the ball while the alternative “long ball” strategy was also having little effect.

It took until the 32^nd minute before Boro really threatened once again when Tomlin forced another save out of Federici. Moments later Reach’s cross from the left picked out Clayton in the box however he struck his volley wide of the target, then on the stroke of half time Leadbitter’s corner fell perfectly on the head of Kike but the Boro striker skewed his chance over the bar.

After the break the hosts made an attempt to reapply the pressure; however Reading were keen to break up the game at every opportunity. Federici received an aggrieved response from the home fans as he seemed to take an age over every goal kick while two early substitutes, Hope Akpan for Aaron Kuhl and Craig Tanner for Cox, also slowed the game down.

As Boro pushed for an equaliser Karanka made a change of his own, introducing Bamford in place of Tomlin as the hosts switched to a more attacking 4-4-2.

Minutes later they almost received their reward, Reach’s cross from the left deflected off a Reading defender before clattering onto Federici’s near post. Minutes later Leadbitter’s in swinging corner was headed goal bound by Adomah but the Reading keeper made a smart save low down.

With 15 minutes to go Karanka seemingly went all out attack by switching to a back three, Hines made way for Dean Whitehead while Luke Williams was also introduced with Clayton making way.

What followed were constant waves of Boro attacks, a low cross from Williams appeared to set up Kike but the striker couldn’t apply the finishing touch. With six added minutes shown Bamford went close with a spectacular volleyed effort from range; however that concluded a frustrating afternoon in which leaves Boro seven points behind top placed Nottingham Forest.

Player Ratings       

Tomas Mejias    5 - Caught off his line for the goal, had little to do after that       

George Friend   6- A bit indecisive when going forward, little to do defensively

Seb Hines   5.5- Sloppy in possession giving too many long balls away

Kenneth Omeruo   6.5- Calming figure in Boro’s backline, cleaned the danger when he had to

Damia Abella   6- Good on the ball, tried to start Boro attacks

Grant Leadbitter (C)   6.5- Tried to keep the game rolling but found it tough due to Reading’s antics

Adam Clayton   5.5- Struggled to get on the ball and dictate the game

Adam Reach   6- Made a few promising runs, crossing was hit and miss

Albert Adomah   6- Rarely used in the first half, found a bit more space to run in after the break

Lee Tomlin   5- Did little to influence the game subbed after an hour

Kike   5- Struggled to hold the ball up and wasted a few chances

Subs   

Patrick Bamford   6- Showed signs that he could be a good addition but received few chances

Luke Williams   5.5- Struggled to link up with the rest of the team after coming on with 15 minutes
to go

Dean Whitehead   6- Allowed more offensive players to get forward as Boro pushed for an equaliser

My Boro Man Of The Match: Kenneth Omeruo