Match ends, Middlesbrough 3, Brentford 1.
MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough3BrentfordBrentford1
Middlesbrough moved up to second in the Championship table as they sealed all three points against Brentford at the Riverside Stadium.
Boro broke the deadlock when Diego Fabbrini cleverly played Cristhian Stuani through to poke the ball home.
But Brentford restored parity when keeper Dimi Konstantopoulos miscued his clearance into the path of Lasse Vibe.
Stuani made it 2-1 after powering home Albert Adomah's cross before the latter got Boro's third at the near post.
Middlesbrough took the lead when Stuani latched onto a ball inside the box from Diego Fabbrini to tap home.
The hosts had a goal disallowed when Fabbrini again sent a ball into the box which was met by David Nugent, but his effort was given offside.
Brentford equalised after Konstantopoulos attempted to clear a ball into the box but mistakenly played the ball to Vibe, who easily slotted the ball into the net.
In an end-to-end second half, Boro could have taken the lead when Adomah crossed to Nugent but his header was blocked, before Judge's lobbed chance went just wide of the mark for the Bees.
Boro were back in front when Adomah sent a superb cross into the box, which was met by the onrushing Stuani, who struck the ball past Bees keeper David Button.
Provider turned scorer soon after when Adomah went on a terrific run and finished superbly from a tight angle to notch Boro's third.
Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka: "Cristhian Stuani is a very good player and I expect a lot from him this season.
"It wasn't easy for him to come here. But he's an experienced player and he can score goals.
"I think he can score more goals than Patrick Bamford did. Christian is more experienced, hopefully he can score the same or more."
Brentford boss Marinus Dijkhuizen: "There was a lot of good football from my team and we created a lot of big chances.
"We created the same number of chances but the quality of their finishing was the difference.
"They also bring a lot of quality from the bench. They're a very good side. But the chances are so big for us and the fact we created three is a complement to us because Middlesbrough defend very well."
Line-ups
Middlesbrough
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Konstantopoulos
- 24Nsue
- 4Ayala
- 5AmorebietaBooked at 47mins
- 3Friend
- 8Clayton
- 7Leadbitter
- 18StuaniBooked at 31minsSubstituted forForshawat 78'minutes
- 31FabbriniSubstituted forAdomahat 60'minutes
- 19Downing
- 35NugentBooked at 37minsSubstituted forKikeat 88'minutes
Substitutes
- 9Kike
- 10De Pena
- 13Mejias
- 16Stephens
- 26Kalas
- 27Adomah
- 34Forshaw
Brentford
Formation 4-3-3
- 27Button
- 2ColinBooked at 80mins
- 29BarbetBooked at 86mins
- 6Dean
- 3Bidwell
- 20Diagouraga
- 12McCormackSubstituted forWoodsat 90+1'minutes
- 17Kerschbaumer
- 21Vibe
- 8DjuricinSubstituted forUdumagaat 78'minutes
- 18JudgeBooked at 58mins
Substitutes
- 15Woods
- 16Bonham
- 22O'Connell
- 31Smith
- 35Udumaga
- 47Canos
- Referee:
- Graham Salisbury
- Attendance:
- 20,138
Match Stats
Home TeamMiddlesbroughAway TeamBrentford
- Possession
- Home48%
- Away52%
- Shots
- Home18
- Away17
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away4
- Corners
- Home4
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Middlesbrough 3, Brentford 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Alan Judge (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Ryan Woods.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Konstantin Kerschbaumer (Brentford) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Lasse Vibe.
Substitution
Substitution, Brentford. Ryan Woods replaces Alan McCormack.
Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Kike replaces David Nugent.
Post update
Attempt missed. Adam Forshaw (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a set piece situation.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Adam Clayton (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by David Nugent.
Booking
Yoann Barbet (Brentford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Yoann Barbet (Brentford).
Post update
Emilio Nsue Lopez (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Attempt missed. George Friend (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Grant Leadbitter with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Adam Clayton (Middlesbrough) because of an injury.
Post update
Delay in match Harlee Dean (Brentford) because of an injury.
Post update
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Harlee Dean.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Adam Clayton (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Booking
Maxime Colin (Brentford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Maxime Colin (Brentford).
Post update
George Friend (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
