Saville strike knocks
Robins off Perch

After Saturday’s dour draw against Reading where Boro managed to end the Royal’s 100% start to the season, they now came up against the only other Championship side who up until Saturday had held an identical run of four straight wins.

Bristol had been held to a draw themselves at Barnsley where they had first choice Keeper Dan Bentley missing with a “slight” neck injury. With tonight's game coming up so soon afterward it would be touch and go if Bentley would be back between the sticks. Neil Warnock had a few injury worries of his own with Hall and Fletcher still out and now captain Britt raised questions after his withdrawal at half time on Saturday with a tight leg.

It wasn’t the news Boro fans were hoping for when the teams were announced, Captain Britt was indeed missing which meant that Wing was able to regain a place on the bench with a total of three changes made to Saturday, Spence, Johnson and the returning Patrick Roberts coming in for Bola, Tav and of course Britt. Bentley’s injured neck was deemed OK for the Robins number one Keeper to start. Ex Boro loanee Kalas was on the bench for the Robins tonight which highlighted the difference between the strengths of the two squads.

Resplendent in a classic blue and black striped away kit Boro kicked off on a wet but warm Autumn evening. An enterprising opening two minutes from Boro saw most of the play in the Bristol half but the first real threat came from a break from the home side that ended with Wiemann attempting a long-range dinked effort which went well wide. Boro were up next with Roberts getting past a defender inside the 18-yard box on the right, finding Chuba centrally six yards out whose effort was desperately blocked by a last-ditch challenge going out for a corner to Boro. Promising start so far!

McNair sent it in the corner but it was headed clear allowing Wells to break but Captain for the evening Howson was Jonny on the spot and broke it up. Eight minutes now into the game and there was nothing so far to suggest that Bristol were atop the Championship with Boro in the lower to middle echelons of the table as Johnson won Boro’s second corner of the evening. A low near-post corner was delivered but Referee Tim Robinson judged that a jostle between Chuba Akpom and a defender came off the shin of the Boro Striker (indeed Boro’s only Striker) which looked the least controversial decision rather than the correct one.

Bristol had another long-range effort from Pato but again it scuffed past Bettinelli’s upright going well wide as we approached twelve minutes. So far Johnson had been probing down the left but Spence and Roberts looked the most likely to spark something o the right-hand side.

Akpom had another chance this time a looping effort forcing Bentley to tip over his crossbar from a well-worked tight angle for Boro’s third corner on twenty minutes. The corner was routinely headed clear and two minutes later a Hunt cross found Martin but Bettinelli was never really troubled. The game was entering a steady workmanlike performance from both sides and arguably neutrals would have done well to keep up attention levels before Saville fired a delicious cross into the Bristol box to Chuba who just couldn’t get a clean connection with his left boot. That’s twice now that Chuba had been knocking on Dan Bentley’s door.

Dijksteel then had to be alert as Bakinson advanced, finding Paterson for the Robins and conceded a corner inside the Boro box which was headed well wide by Mawson on thirty-two minutes. Just afterward Paddy McNair delivered a peach of a free-kick to the far side of the box met by Dael Fry but his stretched toe-poke went wide across the goalmouth on thirty-seven minutes. Sam Morsy then caught the Ref’s attention and Jonny Howson was called over to make it clear that the next time his “exuberance” was on display it will be a booking.

The game now see-sawed, a Bristol attack created mayhem in Bettinelli’s box and then Boro counter attacked with Roberts bursting forward but his pass was intercepted by Vyner, and then as the game swung to the other end Martin finished the Robins attack with a poor final ball with three minutes of the first half remaining. One minute added time came up as Saville was barged over blocking a dangerous run. The half ended with honours even, nil-nil with Boro looking more than a match for their opponents heartened by the fact that Akpom had two or maybe even the games three best chances so far. A solid, organised, disciplined performance with an attacking threat from Boro who had definitely edged the half.

No changes at the restart from either Manager as Bristol got the second half underway. Robins wing back Rowe put in an early cross but wayward best described it. Bristol had started the half the livelier side but Boro still looked composed and a Johnson run after picking up a midfield deflection ended with Chuba closing in on Bentley but the keeper got down well to a deflection off Vyner which took the sting and trajectory out of the Boro wing-backs attempt.

Spence tore down the line, cut inside the box and Mawson got a challenge in to hook the ball clear ending the opportunity but in doing so done himself some serious damage as he stretched and turned or twisted something in his right leg. Kalas came on for the stretchered off Mawson as Bristol started attacking down the right with Wells. Johnson and Roberts worked a chance in reply for Boro but Marvin’s shot was more in keeping with the other set of markings on the pitch for the egg-shaped ball, high and wide.

Johnson collected a loose ball and tried to find Akpom with a low cross but Bentley read the intention, got down low, smothered it setting up an attack which lead to a throw-in near the Boro corner flag Martin collected the throw-in deftly flicking it into the path of the advancing Wells who blasted his effort well over. Definitely something about those Rugby markings on the pitch tonight for both sides.

A Boro corner won by Johnson came in but cleared out only to Spence in the middle of the pitch who tried to create something linking up with McNair but his dribble ended up running into a blind alley on the left-wing. A more open game now, but danger for Boro came when Dijksteel slipped, McNair then came across and had to take Weimann out conceding a free-kick and collecting a yellow.

The free-kick came in from thirty-five yards out, headed out first by Dijksteel then McNair, Akpom collected it and chased down the middle of the pitch being sniped at twice by Red shirts and then grabbed back or hauled over depending on perspective just over the halfway line. The free-kick was taken quickly but the Ref objected and hauled play back and with it ended Boro momentum.

Holden then made his first changes with Semenyo and Diedhiou coming on for Wells and Martin on sixty-nine minutes. On the restart, Roberts had a great dribble, worked a chance but his shot was blocked, and as Roberts himself recycled it to Morsy the ex Wigan man blasted well over as had been the recurring theme all evening. Then on seventy-three minutes, unexpectedly a present from the Gods courtesy of a dithering Moore on the edge of his box and an alert smothering Saville closing down won possession and coolly slotted home left-footed with aplomb. Spence then immediately went off for Tav before the restart.

Saville was again in the action with a clash of heads and needing some treatment. The following break in play saw a shattered Roberts going off on seventy-seven minutes for Marcus Browne who had fifteen minutes to make an impact plus the likely lengthy injury time for Mawson. Calm, clear heads were now required, no disrespect to the slightly groggy Boro goalscorer.

Jonny Howson was spoken to for being too liberal in his use of time and then Semenyo had Fry worried but Dael cleared it at the second attempt, a warning if we needed one that we needed to remain sharp in this. A flick on to Bakinson running through saw McNair get a challenge in to prevent an opportunity as screams for a penalty echoed around the Stadium with just three minutes of the ninety remaining but remember there was that lengthy stoppage to account for.

Boro were taking the sting out of the game but Bristol were now throwing themselves literally at Boro, Diedhiou then Semenyo combined to cause a flutter as the home side started to launch balls. Six added minutes came up on the fourth official's board. Browne and Tav broke but Kalas cleared ending up winning a free-kick. Akpom then went off and Woods came on presumably to help with the high balls being launched.

The ball cleared out to Kalas, Johnson quickly covered him and winning a crucial goal kick. Nathan Wood then got himself up the pitch as Bettinelli dawdled over the taking and earned a yellow card for his troubles. The Ball came up from Bettinelli but Hunt prevented young Wood from making his mark. Four of those added minutes now elapsed but Bristol were only too aware that Barnsley had pulled level in the dying seconds against them over the weekend.

Another ball came in, Tav missed it and Bettinelli had to be brave with the ball bouncing about, eventually claiming it and going down after colliding with Dijksteel who was buffering the encroaching Diedhiou. After some treatment, Bettinelli was able to restart the game, his clearance earning a throw-in for Boro with vital seconds ticking over.

Seven minutes now of added time and Wood stood strong conceding a free-kick and a late opportunity for Bristol to launch it. Tav headed clear this time, collected his own ball, fed Browne who was offside and frustratingly another free-kick to the Robins. Tee’d up, the ball was about to be launched but Tim Robinson’s whistle pierced the night sky. An away win for Boro at the unbeaten side top of the Championship.

There were several contenders for MOM and half a dozen of them would have been worthy of the accolade. Dijksteel continues to impress as did Fry and of course McNair. The midfield three had battled, fought, and won the day with Morsy showing a steely bite and Howson calm in his reading and decision making alongside Saville putting in a shift and of course scoring. My heart says Saville but my head says Roberts for the MOM who caused problems for Bristol all night until he went off so it goes to Roberts with Saville getting a very special worthy mention.

A very organised and confident looking Boro side who are starting to brim with confidence. Only one defeat in six now and having played most of the top teams so far in the Championship are looking more Karanka than Pulis at this stage.

Team Line-ups, Substitutions and Match Stats