Match ends, Middlesbrough 3, Norwich City 1.
MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough3NorwichNorwich City1
Middlesbrough produced an impressive comeback at the Riverside Stadium to beat a 10-man Norwich side and move nine points clear of the Championship drop zone.
Michael Carrick's men went behind early on after Ashley Barnes' unconventional finish before the referee showed a controversial red card to Borja Sainz after he was adjudged to have kicked out at Boro captain Jonny Howson.
Moments later the home side made the extra player count when alert winger Marcus Forss fired past Canaries keeper Angus Gunn.
Emmanuel Latte Lath doubled the lead just before half-time with a cool finish inside the box, before Lukas Engel secured all three points with a fine volley.
Defeat for Norwich temporarily stunts their play-off aspirations, and moves Middlesbrough up to 12th place.
It was the home side who created the first notable chance when Dimitris Giannoulis broke through the Norwich back line to force a save from goalkeeper Seny Dieng, with Sainz firing the follow-up wide.
But the Canaries broke the deadlock with Ashley Barnes latching onto a chipped ball from Gabriel Sara. Barnes fluffed his lines on the first attempt before poking home his fifth goal of the season with his second.
The turning point for David Wagner's side came after 30 minutes when Sainz's coming together with Howson prompted the referee to send him off.
Boro instantly made the extra player count when left-back Engel played a lovely weighted pass across the face of the Norwich goal for Forss to stab into the back of net, prompting a roar of relief from the Finland international.
Things went from bad to worse for Norwich when Middlesbrough's Matt Clarke whipped in a cross that the unmarked Latte Lath chested down before turning and coolly slotting the ball home.
Norwich, who started the evening within two points of the play-off places, found themselves under relentless pressure in the early stages of the second half when Riley McGree made a charging run behind the Norwich defence, forcing Gunn to save with his feet at the near post.
Middlesbrough asserted their dominance after 62 minutes when Luke Ayling's cross was met by a first-time volley from Engel, who fired his shot into the ground and over Gunn.
Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick told BBC Radio Tees:
"We didn't start terrifically well and we were a little bit indecisive but I thought we got to grips with the game, and the sending-off made a difference.
"I thought we made the most of [the extra man advantage], because it's not a given because 10 men can be tricky, but I thought the boys approached it really well.
"I didn't see [the incident] so can't give an opinion on it, but there's no denying it was a big moment in the game.
"We were desperate to win the game tonight and get the reward to match the players' commitment."
Norwich manager David Wagner said:
"In the first half an hour, until the red card, it was one of our best away performances this season.
"We were very good in all departments, scored a wonderful goal, and had chances to score more.
"Was it a red card? I have my opinion and I think everyone knows what that will be, but it doesn't count. We may appeal it because if someone gets hurt we will be very short of [players].
"Hopefully if we do appeal we will be successful."
Line-ups
Middlesbrough
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1Dieng
- 17McNair
- 3van den Berg
- 5Clarke
- 12AylingSubstituted forDijksteelat 69'minutes
- 16HowsonSubstituted forBarlaserat 69'minutes
- 28O'Brien
- 27Engel
- 8McGreeSubstituted forAzazat 80'minutes
- 21ForssBooked at 20minsSubstituted forGilbertat 87'minutes
- 9Latte LathSubstituted forSilveraat 69'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Barlaser
- 11Jones
- 14Gilbert
- 15Dijksteel
- 18Silvera
- 20Azaz
- 23Glover
- 29Greenwood
- 33Thomas
Norwich
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 28Gunn
- 3Stacey
- 5HanleySubstituted forSørensenat 70'minutes
- 6Gibson
- 30Giannoulis
- 17Gomes Sara
- 23McLeanBooked at 47minsSubstituted forvan Hooijdonkat 77'minutes
- 16FassnachtSubstituted forNúñezat 45'minutes
- 10BarnesSubstituted forWelchat 87'minutes
- 7SainzBooked at 30mins
- 9SargentSubstituted forGibbsat 70'minutes
Substitutes
- 8Gibbs
- 12Long
- 14van Hooijdonk
- 15McCallum
- 19Sørensen
- 21Batth
- 26Núñez
- 35Fisher
- 43Welch
- Referee:
- Robert Madley
- Attendance:
- 23,545
Match Stats
Home TeamMiddlesbroughAway TeamNorwich
- Possession
- Home62%
- Away38%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away3
- Corners
- Home2
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Middlesbrough 3, Norwich City 1.
Post update
Attempt saved. Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Daniel Barlaser with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Alex Gilbert replaces Marcus Forss.
Substitution
Substitution, Norwich City. Finley Welch replaces Ashley Barnes.
Post update
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Marcelino Núñez.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Lukas Engel (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Finn Azaz replaces Riley McGree.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Paddy McNair (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Riley McGree.
Post update
Daniel Barlaser (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Marcelino Núñez (Norwich City).
Post update
Lewis O'Brien (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Ashley Barnes (Norwich City).
Substitution
Substitution, Norwich City. Sydney van Hooijdonk replaces Kenny McLean.
Post update
Anfernee Dijksteel (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Liam Gibbs (Norwich City).
Post update
Attempt saved. Anfernee Dijksteel (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Lewis O'Brien with a cross.
Post update
Attempt missed. Lukas Engel (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the left side of the box is too high. Assisted by Daniel Barlaser.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution
Substitution, Norwich City. Liam Gibbs replaces Josh Sargent.
Comments
Join the conversation
...Does that paragraph seem a little odd to anyone?
That’s the first decision we’ve had at the riverside all season - all kinds of penalties, goals, offsides not given. Need quite a few more for these to ‘even themselves out’.
Never seen a game change more on 1 decision. Completely outclassed for 30 minutes, then Norwich sat back which was a big mistake.
Most teams in the league have played 36 games, yet he has been 'selected' to officiate only 12 times prior to tonight. In those 12 games he has produced 61 yellow and 4 red cards. Across other competitions he has been 'selected' to officiate a further 7 times, producing an additional 30 yellow cards.
Only selected for 19 games🤔 Any vacancies at Clintons???
If Norwich had avoided defeat tonight I was on course to win a £4,500 accumulator bet.
To make matters worse, I'm a Stoke fan. So remember, there's always someone worse off than you...
Ask Rotherham who took 4 points + Stoke who just beat the Boro.
Leicester have given 6 points to the Boro.
It doesn't make sense, but that's a fact!
Mind you, Norwich are ok at home, but travel badly like cheap plonk.
It's a long way back, but Canaries fans were commendable, well done.
Surely the reason for appealing the red should be because it was unfair.
“It was the home side [Boro] who created the first notable chance when Dimitris Giannoulis [Norwich player] broke through the Norwich back line to force a save from goalkeeper Seny Dieng [boro], with Sainz [Norwich] firing the follow-up wide.
But the Canaries broke the deadlock”