How did the players fare in Middlesbrough’s 2-1 defeat to Burnley?
MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1):
6 Steffen: Didn’t do an awful lot wrong and generally used the ball effectively when he had it at his feet
6 Smith: Kept things fairly tight down Boro’s right-hand side and continues to be an important defensive asset
6 McNair: Just about justified his place in the side ahead of Fry, although Barnes proved a handful for all of Boro’s defenders
5 Lenihan: Looked shaky on occasion and got on the wrong side of Tella when the Burnley forward should really have scored in the first half
6 Giles: Delivered some dangerous balls into the Burnley box, although Tella got the better of him on more than one occasion
7 HOWSON: Was the key to getting Boro back on the front foot at the start of the second half – remains as important as ever
5 Hackney: Wasn’t one of his more effective games and he had pretty much run his course by the time he was taken off
6 McGree: Displayed plenty of energy as he returned to the side down Boro’s right, but wasn’t really a factor in the final third
7 Akpom: Claimed his customary goal from the penalty spot, but couldn’t find the target with a stoppage-time header
6 Ramsey: Never stopped running down Boro’s left-hand side, but perhaps lacked the composure needed to unlock the Burnley defence
7 Archer: Was a handful for the Burnley back four, especially in the second half, and did well to win Boro’s spot-kick
Subs:
5 Crooks (for Archer, 69): Wasn’t really a factor in the final 20 minutes of the game
Forss (for Hackney, 77)
(not used): Roberts (gk), Fry, Bola, Mowatt, Barlaser.
BURNLEY (4-2-3-1):
Muric 6; Roberts 8, Al Dakhil 7, Beyer 7, Maatsen 6; Cullen 6, Brownhill 7; Gudmundsson 6 (Cork 79), TELLA 8 (Obafemi 86), Zaroury 6 (Vitinho 55, 5); Barnes 8.
Subs (not used): Peacock-Farrell (gk), Twine, Benson, Ekdal.
Man Of The Match: NATHAN TELLA – The Burnley forward created problems all evening and claimed the assist for Roberts’ winning goal.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here