How did the players fare in Middlesbrough's 2-0 win over Ipswich Town?
MIDDLESBROUGH (5-3-1-1):
8 Randolph: Made two crucial first-half saves to keep out Chalobah’s header and Sears’ low shot
7 Howson: Was asked to play out of position at wing-back, but responded with a fine display – set up Tavernier’s goal
6 Fry: Played as the right of the three centre-halves and always looked solid – didn’t afford Ipswich’s attackers any room
6 Ayala: A typically dominant defensive display from the Spaniard, who snuffed out Ipswich’s aerial threat with a minimum of fuss
6 Flint: Marshalled the Boro backline effectively, but got away with a mistake that almost led to an Ipswich equaliser on the stroke of half-time
6 Friend: Got forward effectively all afternoon, and almost scored with a late strike that was saved by Gerken
8 WING: Drove Boro forward from the heart of midfield and would have scored in stoppage time had Gerken not produced an excellent stop
5 Besic: Played in the ‘Clayton role’ at the base of midfield, but was extremely sloppy in possession, especially in the first half
6 Saville: Improved as the game wore on and seemed to enjoy himself playing further up the field – set up a number of chances for Hugill
6 Downing: Delivered the cross that led to Hugill winning his penalty, but wasn’t at his influential best before he was replaced
7 Hugill: Calmly converted the spot-kick he won, and dominated the Ipswich defence in the closing stages – unlucky not to have scored more
Subs:
8 Tavernier (for Downing, 61): Gave Boro a real boost of energy when he came off the bench and claimed his fourth goal of the season
Clayton (for Besic, 84)
Batth (for Ayala, 90)
(not used): Lonergan (gk), McNair, Assombalonga, Gestede.
IPSWICH (4-3-3):
Gerken 7; Spence 4, Chambers 5, Pennington 4, Kenlock 5; Downes 5, CHALOBAH 7, Nolan 4 (Dozzell 79); Edwards 5, Jackson 5 (Roberts 71), Sears 6.
Subs (not used): Bialkowski (gk), Knudsen, Nsiala, Harrison, Bishop.
Man Of The Match: LEWIS WING – The former Northern League midfielder has been one of Boro’s brightest lights in the first half of the season.
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