Alan Browne produced a goal and assist as Middlesbrough came from behind to win 2-1 at Stoke to return to second in the Championship table.
Conway lashed in the 59th-minute winner from close-range for Boro from Browne’s cross, just 11 minutes after Browne had pulled them level with his own close-range finish.
Stoke had initially taken a 15th-minute lead through Tomas Rigo’s strike, yet the Potters finished a man down after Bosun Lawal was sent off for a 77th-minute foul on Aidan Morris.
The result meant that Stoke slipped to eighth following Watford’s 1-1 draw at home to Portsmouth, whilst Middlesbrough returned to second in the table after Ipswich displaced them last night (20 January).
As gusty wind swept around the BET365 Stadium at kick-off with seven points between Stoke and Middlesbrough, the hosts adapted quickly to the tricky conditions as a seventh-minute corner came to nothing in front of a sparse crowd.
Middlesbrough’s sloppy start soon proved their undoing as Matt Targett’s tame hit up the left flank was intercepted, and the ball was swiftly passed about until Cisse teed up Rigo to burst forward with a thunderous strike from 25 yards past Sol Brynn to his near right corner to put the hosts in front.
Kim Hellberg’s Boro soon found some composure amidst their dominant possession but lacked any real cutting edge, as Morgan Whittaker put a shot wide in the 22nd minute after he picked up Targett’s forward pass up the left flank.
Stoke on the other hand hadn’t conceded in 2026 yet in all competitions and almost extended their lead after Bae Jun-Ho played a neat 29th-minute pass into the path of Million Manhoef, but the forward smashed his on-the-turn shot onto the crossbar.
The Potters however were lucky to still lead at half time after Tommy Simkin fumbled his save of Targett’s curled shot to Morgan Whittaker, only to swiftly regroup to block Whittaker’s follow-up strike just before the offside flag was raised.
Hellberg in response hooked Alex Gilbert and Samuel Silvera at half time for Delano Burgzorg and Leo Castledine, which immediately sparked more life into Boro as a quick Cisse attack was intercepted and switched into a counter-attack.
The ball eventually was fed through for Hayden Hackney in the 48th minute but his shot blocked by Simkin to Morris, who rifled a low shot back towards goal but the attempt was deflected for Browne to lash in from close range to restore parity.
Castledine two minutes later saw his shot deflected behind by Manhoef, but Browne rifled wide from the subsequent corner-kick as Boro continued to grow in confidence.
Stoke’s defence stood firm until Browne whipped in a 59th-minute cross from the right flank, which flew across the box until Conway lashed in at the far left post to put Boro in front.
Castledine nearly further added to Middlesbrough’s turnaround with a 63rd-minute strike, which unfortunately flew over the bar.
Stoke’s attempts to at least snatch an equaliser were dealt a blow in the 77th minute after Lawal was red carded for a foul on Morris.
Middlesbrough eventually survived late pressure to see out the win which returned them to second in the table and 11 points of the Potters.
What’s Next?
Stoke face a tricky Midlands derby away to Birmingham City on Saturday 24 January at 3pm GMT.
Middlesbrough meanwhile face another play-off chaser as they host Preston at 12:30pm at the Riverside Stadium on the same date.
Teams
Stoke: Tommy Simkin, Maksym Talovierov, Ashley Philips, Ben Wilmot, Bosun Lawal, Tomas Rigo, Ben Pearson (Bocat 75′), Lamine Cisse, Bae Jun-Ho, Sorba Thomas, Million Manhoef (Seko 67′)
Substitutes: Eric Bocat, Aaron Cresswell, Ruben Curley, Jaden Dixon, Favour Fawunmi, Fraser Fielding, Jake Griffin, Steven Nzonzi, Tatsuki Seko
Middlesbrough: Sol Brynn, Alan Browne, Luke Ayling, Adilson Malanda, Matt Targett, Hayden Hackney, Aidan Morris, Samuel Silvera (Castledine 46′), Morgan Whittaker (Nypan 79′), Alex Gilbert (Burgzorg 46′), Tommy Conway (Fry 92′)
Substitutes: Delano Burgzorg, Leo Castledine, Dael Fry, Sverre Nypan, Sontje Hansen, Cruz Ibeh, Law McCabe, Jon McLaughlin, Finlay Munroe
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