Overview
- Middlesbrough beat West Brom 3-1 at the Riverside on Saturday to claim a second home league win and extend a strong start to the campaign.
- Will Lankshear scored twice from rebounds to make it six goals in five games after his summer move from Tottenham, with both finishes coming from shots that were blocked or saved by West Brom keeper Max O’Leary.
- The opening goal and a late build-up both featured offside positions that replays showed, and West Brom manager James Morrison called the goals “silly” but stopped short of blaming the officials.
- Manager Kim Hellberg credited a tactical and personnel shift after half-time for the turnaround, citing intense pressing and improved chance creation that produced the decisive goals.
- The game began with a minute’s applause for two police officers who died on the nearby A66, and the result leaves Middlesbrough buoyed for the promotion race while West Brom face defensive questions and possible transfer moves to strengthen their squad.