Rate it!

2 votes

West Bromwich Albion stole a 1-0 victory against Middlesbrough at the Riverside thanks to a Jonas Olsson volley just after half-time.

Middlesbrough will be disappointed not to have taken anything away from a match they dominated bar a 20-minute period either side of half-time.

The goal came eight minutes into the second half. Middlesbrough failed to clear a Greening corner and, with his back to goal, Ishmael Miller hooked the ball back into the danger area for centre-back Olsson to volley home.

West Brom suffered an early blow when South Korean playmaker Kim Do-Heon caught his studs in the turf and was forced off. Shaken by their early loss, the midlands club retreated to the edge of their box and invited a Middlesbrough onslaught.

Mido led it and appears to have struck up a good understanding with Alfonso Alves. A quick one-two between the home side's front pairing saw Alves rock Scott Carson's cross bar after 15 minutes. Jeremie Aliadiere followed up, but saw his volley well blocked.

From the resulting corner Robert Huth could only pull his header wide, after which West Brom's five-man midfield took control for the remainder of the half. They had much more of the ball but were restricted to efforts from distance - Robert Koren and Borja Valero stinging the palms of Ross Turnbull.

Valero's effort won a corner that provided West Brom with their best opportunity of the half. Greening swung over an inviting cross and Turnbull had to make an outstanding point blank save from a Ryan Donk header.

Moments later Boro's Alves went one better than Donk, beating Scott Carson from a Downing corner but not Paul Robinson stationed on the back post. That proved to be Boro's last meaningful chance of the half.

West Brom began the second half in confident mood and, buoyed by the introduction of Ishmael Miller, pushed for the opening goal. It came fifty three minutes in and Gareth Southgate will be disappointed with his side's defending for it.

Falling behind forced Middlesbrough into action, Alves firing straight at Carson following a Gary O'Neill centre.

Moments later, Mido and Alves caused scares in the Baggies defence, but Carson stood strong and their lead remained in tact.

Gary O'Neill then saw two sharp efforts saved by Carson either side of Mido's blast into the stands.

Middlesbrough's complete dominance was occasionally punctuated by a West Brom effort, Borja Valero firing a free-kick over the bar.

The home side continued to press, and David Wheater or Alves would have probably scored on other days, but it wasn't to be.

As they became reckless in pursuit of that elusive equaliser Boro left themselves vulnerable to a West Brom counter punch . Bednar and Miller really should have done better following quick breaks, but it matters little now.

Marcus Foley / Eurosport