How did the players fare in Middlesbrough's 2-0 win over Watford?
MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1):
6 Steffen: Left his line decisively to claim a couple of crosses, but had his now familiar couple of shaky moments playing the ball out
7 Smith: Was always in the right place defensively and got forward to deliver a couple of decent balls into the box
8 Lenihan: Marked Watford’s central strikers out of the game as his positional awareness enabled him to dominate
7 McNair: Defensively secure as he returned to the starting side, but should probably have scored with a second-half volley that flashed wide
7 Giles: Was never troubled in a defensive sense and made his usual flurry of dangerous breaks down the flank
8 Howson: Shut down the Watford midfield and produced an excellent through ball to set up Forss’ goal
8 Hackney: Oozed class and composure whenever he was on the ball and came close with a second-half shot that Bachmann saved
7 Forss: Posed a constant threat down the Boro right and produced a clinical finish to double his side’s lead on the stroke of half-time
8 AKPOM: Another hugely impressive performance linking play and causing a threat in the ‘number ten’ role – claimed his 14th league goal of the season
7 McGree: Repeatedly asked questions of the Watford defence as he cut infield dangerously from his position on Boro’s left
8 Archer: Made a massive difference with his pace and direct running behind the Watford defence – helped set up Akpom’s opener
Subs:
Watmore (for Forss, 72)
Crooks (for Archer, 83)
Mowatt (for Akpom, 90)
Dijksteel (for McGree, 90)
(not used): Roberts (gk), Bola, Jones.
WATFORD (4-2-3-1):
Bachmann 6; Ferreira 4 (Asprilla 63, 4), Sierralta 4 (Bacuna 46, 4), Cathcart 5, Kamara 4; Gaspar 4, Choudhury 4; Martins 5 (Pollock 71), Kone 4 (Araujo 46, 4), Sarr; Davis 5 (ADEYEMO 46, 6).
Subs (not used): Okoye (gk), Morris.
Man Of The Match: CHUBA AKPOM – The Championship’s leading goalscorer continues to be a revelation in his role off the shoulder of Boro’s lead striker.
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