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Goalscorer Szilard Nemeth comes off for Daniel Graham.
Geoff Horsfield finds some space in the box and shoots but Bradley Jones refuses to be beaten and tips the ball round the post.
Zoltan Gera makes way for Geoff Horsfield as Bryan Robson goes for 3 up front for the last 10 minutes.
Nwankwo Kanu is denied by Bradley Jones as his excellent header is parried away by the goalkeeper.
Stewart Downing sends an inswinging corner into the box directed at the near post but Russell Hoult catches.
Ronnie Wallwork tries to play in Paul Robinson but Andrew Davies comes across to claim.
The linesman is being substituted because of an injury.
Boudewijn Zenden is withdrawn by Steve McClaren to be replaced by Ray Parlour.
Clumsy play by Boro gifts Albion a free kick in the edge of the area in a central area. Neil Clement stands over it but launches it over the bar.
Boudewijn Zenden goes on a solo run from his own half, does well but eventually runs out of steam and loses possession.
Zoltan Gera on the edge of the box attempts a left-footed shot but it is wide of target.
Stewart Downing is put in the book for a foul on Richard Chaplow.
Szilard Nemeth is caught offside and Albion are awarded a free kick.
A long ball nearly lets Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink through on goal but a backward header from Neil Clement gets it back safely to Russell Hoult.
Albion substitute Kevin Campbell for Nwankwo Kanu and Martin Albrechtsen for Junichi Inamoto.
The whistle goes on a great half for Boro as they go in with a comfortable lead.
Robert Earnshaw nearly grabs a late goal as he hooks the ball with his right foot but Ugo Ehiogu gets a slight touch sending the ball wide.
The third official indicates that there will be 2 minutes of added time at the end of the first half.
Boro have a free kick on the edge of the area which Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink angles in but Neil Clement clears for Albion.
A great ball from the left channel finds Robert Earnshaw who heads just wide of the target.
Andrew Davies is brought on in place of Colin Cooper who leaves the field with an injury.
Szilard Nemeth scores again as he beats the offside trap to slot home.
George Boateng tries to play the ball in for goalscorer Nemeth but he overhits it and the ball goes out.
Szilard Nemeth breaks through into the box, zig-zagging past Albion's defenders to blast the ball at Hoult and Hasselbaink is there for the follow up.
Szilard Nemeth puts Boro ahead following up from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink rebounded shot.
A mistake from Ugo Ehiogu gives Albion posession in the box and Boro are lucky that Gareth Southgate is there to defend.
Zoltan Gera puts the ball into the area but George Boateng smacks it out and Boro escape on the break.
Thomas Gaardsoe is shown the yellow card for his late tackle on Szilard Nemeth.
Colin Cooper on the right hand side delivers a cross into the box, plays a one-two with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink but Cooper goes down injured in the box
Another fantastic save from Bradley Jones denies Robert Earnshaw as he breaks through on goal.
Downing cuts from the right to the left, finds Zenden who puts in a pin point cross for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink who heads down just wide of the post.
Bradley Jones makes a vital save for Boro as Campbell breaks free to fire a shot at goal.
Albion come forward on the right hand side and try to thread the ball through to the box but Gareth Southgate sends the ball out.
The ball falls to Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink on the edge of the area but his touch lets him down and Russell Hoult comes out to claim.
West Brom are awarded a free kick 25 yards out. Right footed it is curled into the box but is put out of play for a goal kick.
Referee Howard Webb gets the game underway at the Riverside.
There was no happy return to the Riverside for former Middlesbrough manager Bryan Robson. The West Brom boss was given a tremendous ovation before the kick-off, but then saw his team loose ground in the Premier League relegation battle. Three thousand Albion fans arrived at the ground in free transport courtesy of the Midlands club. The fans were in jubilant mood before the kick-off, following the recent revival of their team and there was a banner unfurled with the words 'The Great Escape'. Middlesbrough were in desperate need of a win to revive flagging hopes of a UEFA cup spot and to atone for a dismal midweek performance against Fulham. West Brom began full of confidence and threatening to record their first win at Middlesbrough for over half a century. The Baggies showed more threat in attack and Kevin Campbell went close in the opening minutes. Middlesbrough hit back and leading scorer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink headed inches wide of the far post from a left-wing cross from Boudewijn Zenden. Robert Earnshaw broke through the middle with a scoring chance for the visitors before he was denied by Brad Jones. Jones, once again deputising for the injured Mark Schwarzer, was quick off his line to save just inside the penalty area. Jones was again in action from a close-range Campbell header soon after. West Brom were playing the better football and Middlesbrough were lucky to survive when Richard Chaplow broke down the right after a mistake by former Baggies defender Ugo Ehiogu. The game suddenly turned in Middlesbrough's favour with a three-goal scoring spree that delighted their fans and left West Brom shattered. It was ironic that the relegation battlers had looked the better side before the three-goal burst. After Russell Hoult had saved from Hasselbaink, Slovak international Szilard Nemeth followed up to open the scoring. Nemeth pounced before the danger was cleared with a shot into the right-hand corner of the net. The Nemeth goal came in the 26th minute and six minutes later he was involved in a Hasselbaink goal. Nemeth broke down the left before Hoult got a hand to his shot. The ball looked to be spinning into the net as Hasselbaink provided a finishing touch. It was debatable as to whether Hasselbaink or Nemeth had scored though the Dutchman accepted the congratulations of his team-mates. It was one of the easiest goals in the illustrious career of the striker. Nemeth was enjoying one of his best games of his Middlesbrough career to date. The Slovak has often been the butt of disgruntled fans, but he was enjoying an influential role in Boro's scoring burst. After Hoult had parried a Hasselbaink effort, Nemeth followed up with a six-yard header into a gaping goal to make it 3-0 eight minutes before the interval. Five minutes before the break Earnshaw headed wide with a chance to reduce the arrears. Middlesbrough walked off at half-time to a standing ovation from their fans but the scoreline was rather cruel on West Brom. The second half was something of an anti-climax with the highlight a superb 25-yard free-kick from Stewart Downing in the last minute that completed a comfortable home win. Man of the Match: Szilard Nemeth - The Slovak forward gave one of his best displays in a Boro shirt and could have had a hat-trick as West Brom were swept aside.
Corners
Fouls
Goal attempts
Shots off target
Offsides
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