Overview
- Middlesbrough beat West Brom 3-1 at the Riverside on Saturday after a poor first half and a markedly improved second-half performance that produced three decisive goals.
- Will Lankshear scored twice from rebounds to complete a match-winning brace and now has six goals in five games since joining from Tottenham this summer.
- Replays showed Lankshear was offside when the first rebound arrived and both of his goals came from rebounds off goalkeeper Max O’Leary, raising questions about the calls but with no formal protest reported.
- Manager Kim Hellberg praised the tactical changes and intensity that turned the match around and described the first half as 'terrible,' while West Brom boss James Morrison blamed costly errors for the defeat and declined to criticise the officials.
- The win, which followed Middlesbrough’s midweek Carabao Cup progress and featured Alfie Jones scoring late on his league return, keeps Boro flying early in the season and may increase outside interest in their prolific new striker.