Middlesbrough 2-2 Hull: Marvin Johnson red card proves costly for Jonathan Woodgate
Report and highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash at the Riverside Stadium
Sunday 24 November 2019 15:13, UK
Middlesbrough made it 10 games without a win after throwing away a 2-0 lead against Hull City as Marvin Johnson's red card proved pivotal in a 2-2 draw.
Despite their recent woeful form, Jonathan Woodgate's team were outstanding in the first half, taking a deserved two-goal lead courtesy of a Marcus Tavernier strike (7) and a brilliant team goal finished off by Ashley Fletcher (26).
However, with the game firmly in their control, Johnson lost his head just before half-time when recklessly sliding in on Eric Lichaj leaving the referee no option but to brandish a red card.
Hull took advantage of their extra man after the break and Jared Bowen scored two quickfire goals (71 and 75) to silence the Riverside Stadium.
A point does move Woodgate's side out of the bottom three but only on goal difference.
After picking up a confidence-boosting point at QPR, the hosts looked sharp in the opening stages and got the early goal Woodgate craved.
Paddy McNair's run and low cross missed Britt Assombalonga but Tavernier was on hand at the back post to steer home his first goal for nearly a year.
Assombalonga was a constant threat with his movement and clever hold-up play - and he played a huge part in doubling Boro's lead on 28 minutes. Assombalonga's dummy allowed the ball to run for Fletcher, who then played a sensational one-two with his team-mate and finished the quality move off in style by rounding George Long.
The Riverside were enjoying Boro's confident attacking display but referee Jeremy Simpson gave Hull a way back into the game when he brandished a straight red for Johnson's high blocked tackle on Lichaj.
It was one-way traffic after the break towards Boro's goal with Woodgate deciding to replace striker Fletcher with midfielder Adam Clayton with the hope of defending the lead.
They were doing a decent job of restricting Hull until Bowen came to the party on 71 minutes, firing a powerful effort from 25 yards into the bottom corner via a slight deflection off Tom Eaves.
That goal increased the tension in the Boro defence and Bowen made them pay five minutes later.
He rose highest at the back post but his blocked header dropped back to him at a tight angle and he ruthlessly slammed home past Randolph to turn up the heat on Woodgate.
Man of the match: Jared Bowen
Big players have the ability to make game-changing moments - something that we saw from Hull's star man, who will have impressed any onlooking Premier League managers with his quality. Grant McCann will have been disappointed not to have got him into the game more, especially in the first half. Take Bowen out of this Hull side and their prospects certainly do not look as bright.
What the managers said...
Middlesbrough boss Jonathan Woodgate: "We're disappointed. As long as we had 11 players on the pitch we were absolutely sensational. Then Marvin gets sent off. It's a lack of discipline. I've told him he cost the team and he knows that.
"You can't tackle like that and expect to stay on the pitch. What did he say to me? He said nothing. What can he say? He cost his team, he's disappointed. He can't answer anything back, can he?
"We didn't win and we should have. We're low on numbers. You can't panic. I can see the signs - if we keep 11 men on we win the game without question. Ill-discipline will cost you."
Hull City boss Grant McCann: "I'm disappointed we didn't win the game. The first half we were sloppy, didn't start well.
"We were a bit loose in everything we did - passing, tracking runners - and Middlesbrough deserved to be 2-0 up. The sending off was a big moment in the game, but historically playing against 10 isn't easy.
"Jarrod is a top player, his first goal was an excellent finish. His second was one he has done on numerous occasions for Hull. Jarrod has real determination to be the best he can be."
'It's horrendous. A stupid challenge'
Sky Sports pundit Nigel Adkins had this to say regarding Johnson's red card: "What are you doing, what's he doing?
"It's a poor pass back there from Jarrod (Bowen) but if you are going to make the challenge, go for the ball, what's your leg doing up there.
"Thankfully Eric is all right but that is horrendous. It's a stupid, stupid challenge.
"The team, from being in total control, 2-0 up, he's now put the team in a situation - it was a poor decision from the player. I called it straight away, a red card."
What's next?
Boro have a richly-important home clash with Barnsley on Wednesday night, a game live across our Sky Sports platforms while Hull host high-flying Preston North End.
