Delano Burgzorg netted a 90th-minute winner as Middlesbrough defeated West Brom 3-2 in a thriller at The Hawthorns.
Burgzorg rifled in Boro’s 90th-minute winner from Samuel Silvera’s pass to settle a dramatic contest at The Hawthorns.
Middlesbrough took a 42nd-minute lead through Charlie Taylor’s own-goal from Alex Gilbert’s shot which ricocheted off the right post, before Silvera doubled their lead with a 58th-minute finish.
Isaac Price’s free-kick and Jed Wallace’s strike in the space of five minutes pulled West Brom level.
Middlesbrough remain second and now three points off league leaders, Coventry, whilst West Brom stayed 18th in the table.
Despite their FA Cup third-round victory at Swansea on penalties hours before Eric Ramsay was appointed officially as manager last Sunday (11 January), West Brom were greeted with numerous empty seats around the Hawthorns for Ramsay’s first game in charge.
West Brom however started on the front foot in line with Ramsay’s high-intensity attacking style, yet struggled to carve out many chances aside from an early shot from Aune Heggebo which Sol Brynn saved.
Middlesbrough quietly spent the opening half-hour soaking up the Baggies’ attacking pressure aside from two wide shots from Aidan Morris on rare attacks.
The first half soon began to look set to be remain goalless towards half-time as Karlan Grant saw a 39th minute shot saved by Brynn in the middle of end-to-end chances, as Middlesbrough’s Morris and Tommy Conway saw shots denied.
Boro eventually broke the deadlock before half time in the 42nd minute through unfortunate luck after a neat passing move fell for Gilbert, whose shot ricocheted off the right post and Taylor unfortunately deflected the ball helplessly into his own net off his left shin.
West Brom continued their high-intensity press early in the second half but a 58th-minute mistake allowed Morgan Whittaker to tee up Silvera to rifle low into the far-bottom left corner to extend Boro’s lead.
Middlesbrough almost sealed victory from a 70th-minute corner but Adilson Malanda nodded his header down on the bounce, which allowed Josh Griffiths to flick the ball over the bar.
West Brom soon upped their ante further and won a 75th-minute free-kick despite Grant having been fouled inside the box, from which Price curled low into the bottom-right corner.
That goal sparked the Baggies into more life and five minutes later, Iling-Junior’s cutback pass was flicked on by Josh Maja towards Wallace, and the ex Millwall player calmly rifled into the far-left corner to restore parity.
The game subsequently became end-to-end until Boro got control of the game in the 90th minute and fizzed the ball around the box, until Silvera teed up Burgzorg to rifle in the winner under Griffiths’ legs.
What’s Next?
West Brom are back in league action on Tuesday 20 January against Norwich City at The Hawthorns in a 7:45pm GMT kick-off.
Middlesbrough face another away trip just over 24 hours later on Wednesday 21 January as they visit Stoke at the BET365 Stadium at 8pm.
Teams
West Brom: Josh Griffiths, Krystian Bielik (Wallace 64′), Nat Phillips (Dike 92′), Chris Mepham (Campbell 76′), Charlie Taylor, Isaac Price, Callum Styles, Karlan Grant, Mikey Johnston, Samuel Iling-Junior, Aune Heggebo (Maja 64′)
Substitutes: Oliver Bostock, George Campbell, Cole Deeming, Daryll Dike, Josh Maja, Alfie Gilchrist, Jed Wallace, Harry Whitwell, Joe Wildsmith
Middlesbrough: Sol Brynn, Matt Targett, Luke Ayling, Adilson Malanda, Alan Browne, Hayden Hackney, Alex Gilbert (Burgzorg 65′), Aidan Morris, Samuel Silvera, Tommy Conway (Castledine 92′), Morgan Whittaker (Fry 82′)
Substitutes: Delano Burgzorg, Leo Castledine, Dael Fry, Sverre Nypan, Sontje Hansen, Law McCabe, Jon McLaughlin, Fin Munroe, Abdoulaye Kante
Referee – Josh Smith
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