Middlesbrough Hit the Top Ten
Middlesbrough FC have moved into the top ten in the EFL Championship despite the Vertu Motors-supported team seeing its winning run come to an end.
A 4-0 success at Sunderland had moved the team away from the relegation zone and meant confidence was high on the return to action at the Riverside following the international break.
All eyes were on the game as Wayne Rooney took charge of visitors Birmingham City for the first time, but ‘Boro boss Michael Carrick had the last laugh against his former team-mate as his side extended its winning run to five.
The game would be a close-run affair with Morgan Rogers grabbing the winner two minutes from the end with his first goal for the club.
That moved ‘Boro up into 13th in the table ahead of the long trip to Norfolk to face Norwich City.
Goals from Sam Greenwood and Samuel Silvera at either end of the second half would be enough to secure a 2-1 victory, with a reply from Jonathan Rowe coming too late to halt ‘Boro’s impressive winning run.
Unfortunately, a number of injuries to key players ahead of the visit of in-form Stoke saw Carrick’s team beaten 2-0 in the final game of the month, although twelve points from a possible 15 means the team sit tenth in the standings going into an EFL Cup fourth-round tie with Exeter City.