Goals:

0-1: Vossen (21, outpaced the Millwall defence to reach Omeruo’s long ball and hooked a first-time finish over Forde and into the corner)

0-2: Bamford (28, took the ball from Reach and stepped inside his opponent before stroking a low finish into the corner)

0-3: Vossen (34, slotted home from inside the area after Reach held off Webster to roll the ball back to him)

0-4: Vossen (44, rolled the ball into an empty net after Bamford’s initial shot from inside the area had been blocked)

1-4: McDonald (78, hammered into the roof of the net after Upson’s blocked shot had rebounded fortuitously into his path)

1-5: Kike (79, received Nsue’s cut back from the right and drilled home via the inside of the left-hand post)

Bookings: McDonald (52, foul)

Referee: Mick Russell (Cambridge) – Couldn’t really make a judgement on whether Vossen’s early header had crossed the line and generally controlled things well 6

Attendance: 10,328

Entertainment: *****

 

MILLWALL (3-4-1-2):

FORDE 6; Dunne 4, Webster 2 (Shittu 46, 6), Williams 3; Wilkinson 3, Powell 4 (Gueye 46, 6), Upson 5 (Woolford 70, 5), Malone 3; McDonald 6; Gregory 4, Fuller 4.

Subs (not used): King (gk), Briggs, Angel, Easter.

 

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2):

7 Konstantopoulos: Showed no ill effects from last weekend’s injury against Blackburn and was quick off his line to dominate his box

8 Nsue: Has proved a more than capable deputy at right-back with his comfort in possession adding to Boro’s attacking threat – set up Kike’s goal

8 Ayala: Dominated Fuller throughout and helped set up Vossen’s second goal with an excellent long ball over the top

7 Omeruo: Is gradually returning to the form he displayed throughout last season and barely had to break sweat to repel Millwall’s attacks

7 Friend: A typically composed and effective display from a player who rarely allows his high standards to dip

7 Adomah: Always offered a threat with his pace and acceleration down the right and was constantly looking to beat his opponent on the outside

8 Leadbitter: Committed his long-term future to Boro this week and reminded everyone why he is so important with another dominant midfield performance

7 Clayton: Returned from suspension to help shore up the base of the Middlesbrough midfield and barely made a misplaced pass all game

9 Reach: Set up his side’s second and third goals and ran the Millwall defence ragged down the left-hand side – seems to get better every week

9 VOSSEN: Ended his lengthy goal drought in sensational fashion with a 23-minute treble – his first goal in particular was superb

8 Bamford: Scored one and set up another as he made it five goals in his last six matches – a player at the very top of his game

 

Subs:

6 Veljkovic (for Clayton, 63): Slotted into midfield nicely enough and played one superb ball to release Bamford through the middle

7 Kike (for Vossen, 71):  Wasn’t on the field for long, but still had time to score his seventh of the season with a terrific low finish

Wildschut (for Reach, 81)

(not used): Mejias (gk), Gibson, Whitehead, Tomlin.

 

Man Of The Match: JELLE VOSSEN – The Belgian had gone 12 games without a goal – then three arrived in the space of 23 minutes. His superb attacking display showed exactly why Boro were so keen to sign him.