Middlesbrough 2-1 West Brom: Boro comeback leaves Steve Bruce winless with Baggies

Marcus Tavernier helped turn possible defeat into victory for Middlesbrough with an assist and a goal against West Brom at the Riverside.

Tavernier laid on a brilliantly worked equaliser for Paddy McNair on the hour before he scored the winner himself nine minutes later to seal a 2-1 win and prevent Steve Bruce from enjoying his first success as West Brom manager.

Jayson Molumby, on loan from Brighton, had given the Baggies the lead in the 28th minute at the Riverside as Albion found the target for the first time in six matches.

However, ending the 479-minute goal drought was not enough for Bruce to celebrate a victory in his fourth match in charge, leaving West Brom 11th and six points off the play-offs.

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Boro, who have won seven games in a row at home, climbed back into the play-off zone courtesy of the turnaround, which followed a frustrating start for the Teessiders.

When referee Michael Salisbury deemed there was not even a foul by West Brom full-back Conor Townsend, who appeared to pull down Isaiah Jones early on, the home side's frustration grew.

Boro's best opportunity in the opening period came when goalkeeper Sam Johnstone spilled an effort from Riley McGree.

After that the hosts struggled to get going and the players and fans questioned other decisions from Salisbury, who was booed off with his assistants at the break.

There was also some hesitancy and sloppy play at the back from the home defence and goalkeeper Joe Lumley which disappointed the crowd and manager Chris Wilder.

West Brom exploited that on one occasion midway through the opening period when Andy Carroll managed to roll Dael Fry to get to the byline.

Carroll's low ball into the six-yard box was half cleared as far as Molumby, who struck first time into the bottom corner of the net for his first goal for the club.

Other than the complaints about a few decisions, Boro had little to shout about and were unable to test Johnstone or show signs of levelling before the break.

West Brom looked the better of the two in the early exchanges after the restart too, so Wilder introduced Duncan Watmore and Andraz Sporar to his forward line.

The move instantly lifted the hosts and six minutes later they were level, when McNair slid in to convert Tavernier's low cross into the area after a sublime through-ball from the impressive McGree.

Boro were in command from that moment on, the home support were lifted and the winner seemed inevitable.

It arrived nine minutes later. Anfernee Dijksteel and Jones superbly created the opening, with the latter's low ball to the back post finding Tavernier to fire beyond Johnstone for his first goal since September.

Wilder's tactical changes had worked and a ninth league win from his 15 matches in charge of Middlesbrough was achieved.

What the managers said...

Middlesbrough's Chris Wilder: "We are proud of our record here, we have worked hard to get these wins, they haven't come easy, but we want to keep it going. It is important this place is a tough place to get a result until the end of the season. We are all trying to stick runs together, I haven't got a crystal ball, the fans are seeing progression in terms of how we are playing and having a go for the football club. I really think everyone can see that, we are all in and we are enjoying it - especially nights like tonight.

"At 8.15pm it was a tough night. I was happy with how we started then after some baffling decisions from the referee we all got frustrated, including me. I thought there were some poor decisions, especially the Isaiah Jones one [when Conor Townsend appeared to pull him down], when I was told minimal contact by the fourth official! That was a game-changing decision.

"We had to calm everyone down at half-time and get back to what we are good at in the second half. The players and supporters needed a lift, we did start off better in the second half, but we mixed our game up a bit. Duncan, Andraz and Aaron - the front three - were a major problem to them."

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West Brom's Steve Bruce: "I'd have loved a couple of wins but it hasn't been the case. We need to turn it around quickly if we are going to mount something. We have 13 games left and eight at home, I am still sure we can make a fist of it. The club have made me welcome, so have the supporters and I am determined to turn it around. I do believe if we can win a couple of games we can be there or thereabouts. I was very pleased with the first half performance, from where we were at the weekend it was night and day. Unfortunately, second half we have given two poor goals away, made mistakes and been punished.

"We just didn't control the game like we did (in the) first half. The substitutes Chris made made a difference to them but unfortunately at the top end of the pitch, with the players we have missing, we can't make that sort of change. Our home form has stacked up a bit, but we have to improve away from home and we have to get that first win under our belt. We have to wait now until Monday [to face Swansea] but hopefully we can get that win then."

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