Match ends, Middlesbrough 0, Sheffield Wednesday 1.
MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough0Sheff WedSheffield Wednesday1
Managerless Sheffield Wednesday sealed a second successive Championship victory as they beat faltering Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.
Ex-Boro winger Adam Reach coolly slotted home the only goal after latching on to a Barry Bannan delivery.
Marcus Tavernier came close to a leveller for Boro after the break with his deflected shot going just over the crossbar.
Lewis Wing almost found an equaliser for the hosts late on when he fired low following some smart play with Mo Besic, but his effort went wide.
The visitors have now won both of their games since sacking Jos Luhukay, sending them nine points clear of the Championship relegation zone.
Meanwhile, Middlesbrough have won just once in their past seven games in all competitions and are now eight points off the top two.
Boro drop to fifth in the table, while Wednesday move up to 16th with their win.
Bannan capped his return to the Owls' starting line-up after serving a one-game suspension with an assist as he set up Reach's first-half winner.
Middlesbrough boss Tony Pulis told BBC Tees:
"I thought we started brightly enough and got into some great positions. They got their goal with their first shot on target.
"One or two of the lads dropped their heads a little bit, and didn't play with the brightness and confidence that they should do.
"In the second half, we had a go. The team worked hard in the second half, they gave it everything. The majority of them really showed some character and kept going."
Sheffield Wednesday caretaker boss Lee Bullen told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"The first 10 minutes were tough, the next 35 were splendid after a change in formation and we deserved to go in front, and the second half was very dogged.
"We had to stand up to a bit of an onslaught, but the discipline, communication levels and understanding of what we wanted were fantastic.
"Considering Middlesbrough had so much pressure on us, I can't remember Keiren Westwood having a real save to make."
Line-ups
Middlesbrough
Formation 3-5-1-1
- 23Randolph
- 4AyalaBooked at 41mins
- 24Flint
- 20FrySubstituted forHugillat 45'minutes
- 17McNairBooked at 81mins
- 16HowsonSubstituted forWingat 78'minutes
- 8ClaytonBooked at 25minsSubstituted forTavernierat 68'minutes
- 37Besic
- 3Friend
- 19Downing
- 9Assombalonga
Substitutes
- 1Konstantopoulos
- 10Braithwaite
- 11Hugill
- 22Saville
- 26Wing
- 28Tavernier
- 46Walker
Sheff Wed
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Westwood
- 2PalmerBooked at 83mins
- 15Lees
- 34Hector
- 6FoxBooked at 86mins
- 23HutchinsonSubstituted forPelupessyat 73'minutes
- 19Matias
- 20Reach
- 10Bannan
- 18Lucas JoãoSubstituted forOnomahat 14'minutesSubstituted forBoydat 66'minutes
- 9Fletcher
Substitutes
- 7Onomah
- 8Pelupessy
- 12Thorniley
- 17Nuhiu
- 21Boyd
- 24Baker
- 25Dawson
- Referee:
- Peter Bankes
- Attendance:
- 30,341
Match Stats
Home TeamMiddlesbroughAway TeamSheff Wed
- Possession
- Home56%
- Away44%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away2
- Corners
- Home5
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Middlesbrough 0, Sheffield Wednesday 1.
Post update
Foul by Marcus Tavernier (Middlesbrough).
Post update
Marco Matias (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jordan Hugill (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Muhamed Besic following a set piece situation.
Booking
Morgan Fox (Sheffield Wednesday) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Lewis Wing (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Morgan Fox (Sheffield Wednesday).
Post update
Attempt missed. Lewis Wing (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Muhamed Besic.
Post update
Daniel Ayala (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Steven Fletcher (Sheffield Wednesday).
Post update
Foul by Britt Assombalonga (Middlesbrough).
Post update
Michael Hector (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Liam Palmer (Sheffield Wednesday) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
Paddy McNair (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Paddy McNair (Middlesbrough).
Post update
George Boyd (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Lewis Wing replaces Jonny Howson.
Post update
Daniel Ayala (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Steven Fletcher (Sheffield Wednesday).
