Johnson double fails to keep Southgate in his job

Adam Johnson lit up the Riverside Stadium last night with a stunning individual goal that did nothing to keep his manager, Gareth Southgate, in a job this morning.

With tensions high on Teesside following three successive home defeats, Johnson followed up a successful first half penalty with a sublime piece of wing wizardry that prevented a fourth.

The 22-year-old, whose match-winning display is sure to have caught the eye of Sunderland boss Steve Bruce who was in the stands, singled-handedly calmed nerves and eased frustrations among the Teesside faithful.

But that did little to prevent Southgate from being called in by Southgate after the post-match press conference to end his three-and-a-half-year reign. Not since Middlesbrough’s first season in the Premier League in 1995-96 had their supporters had to stomach four consecutive reversals on home soil – and Johnson made sure that was not the case last night.

This was not a performance of Championship promotion contenders against a woeful Derby and it proved insufficient to keep Southgate in his job.

Following defeats for both West Brom and Newcastle, Middlesbrough stay fourth but are now just a point short of the top two along with Cardiff City. Hardly the time for panic stations by the River Tees.

It is true that this success will count for little if they fail to follow it up with positive results at either Preston on Saturday or when Plymouth travel to the North-East a week later.

Southgate had lost the support of many of the club’s fans who turned out in new record Riverside low numbers and Gibson has ran out of patienc.

Southgate promised changes on the back of the defeat to Watford and, on a night when there was an air of despondency from the moment fans arrived outside the ground, he delivered.

He may not have made the number that had been expected, but Tony McMahon and Mark Yeates felt the full force and were made the fall-guys, with Justin Hoyte and Rhys Williams recalled.

The after-shocks of last season’s relegation continue to rest heavily on the supporters’ minds and regardless of their away success this season, it is the performances at the Riverside which cost Southgate dearly.

Attendances have been dropping, there was a new low of 17,459 last night, and he could ill-afford a poor start and a poor result again.

But once Gary O’Neil had missed an early opportunity after Johnson picked him out at the back post, a relatively low-key start paved the way for the visiting supporters to make the most of an eerie atmosphere by chanting “Southgate out”.

The sporadic Boro fan applauded, the vast majority stuck with the team. O’Neil and Johnson may have contrived to miss the game’s early chance to calm nerves, but the latter made no mistake from the spot 20 minutes later to eradicate such threats in the stands.

After darting inside the box, his pace brought a trip from defender Shaun Barker. Referee Jonathan Moss pointed to the spot and Johnson calmly slotted straight down the middle of Stephen Bywater’s goal to take the lead.

Southgate immediately emerged from the dug-out to urge his relieved players to continue in the same manner to that which had earned a first goal at the Riverside for 297 minutes, dating back to September 12.

His calls were almost rewarded moments later. Both Leroy Lita and Jeremie Aliadiere turned and shot inches wide of Bywater’s right upright, leaving Derby within just one goal of increasing tensions among the home fans again.

Derby, however, looked a team short of confidence away from home, having failed to win any of their matches away from Pride Park this season. Goalkeeper Brad Jones was never tested, apart from with a few crosses, which ensured the lead was kept.

And just when Middlesbrough threatened to allow Derby back into it, Johnson worked his magic – not for the first time this season.

From a seemingly impossible position, faced with a crowded box, the former England Under-21 international cut inside from the left touchline, taking on three players with a couple of step-overs, before curling a perfect right-foot shot beyond Bywater from 18 yards.

It was a goal worthy of winning any match and it brought further relief among supporters, who rose to their feet to applaud the game’s match-winner.

From that moment on Derby resigned themselves to losing, while Middlesbrough, who did have a few half chances, failed to make the most of that and were unable to add to their tally.

Matchfacts

Goals: Johnson pen (22mins, 1-0); Johnson (59, 2-0)
Bookings: Hulse (76, foul); Connolly (83, foul)
Referee: Jonathan Moss (Leeds) 7
Attendance: 17,459
Entertainment: ✰✰

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2): Jones 5; Hoyte 6, Wheater 7, St Ledger 6, Bennett 7; O’Neil 5, Digard 5 (Yeates 81), Williams 6, JOHNSON 8; Lita 5, Aliadiere 5 (Emnes 89). Subs (not used): Coyne (gk), Pogatetz, Walker, Grounds, McMahon.

DERBY COUNTY (4-4-2): Bywater 4; Connolly 4, Barker 4, LEACOCK 6, Moxey 5; Teale 6 (Mills 79), Savage 6, Livermore 5, McEveley 5 (Croft 20, 5); Hulse 3, Commons 4 (Dickov 12, 5). Subs (not used): Deeney (gk), Buxton, Hendrie.

MAN OF THE MATCH
ADAM Johnson – his goals are keeping Boro in the promotion race.