Source: Northern_Echo
BRISTOL CITY 2 MIDDLESBROUGH 1
NICKY Maynards stoppage-time winner condemned Middlesbrough to a 2-1 defeat at Bristol City and wrecked the Teessiders' unbeaten start to the Championship season.
Maynard evaded Jonathan Grounds to lash home a 14-yard finish after Paul Hartleys long ball caught the Boro defence napping in the 91st minute.
The Robins striker had previously broken the deadlock in the 63rd minute, with Grounds again at fault as he was easily brushed aside.
Adam Johnson had threatened to earn Boro a point with an 80th-minute penalty, but the wingers fifth goal of the season ultimately counted for little.
Deprived of both Robert Huth and Tuncay Sanli, who both joined Stoke City earlier this week, the Teessiders produced comfortably their most unconvincing defensive display of the campaign.
Middlesbrough enjoyed by the far the best of a relatively open first half, but were unable to make their superiority count.
Leroy Lita, who was repeatedly booed as he returned to his first professional league club, wasted the visitors first opportunity, spurning the opportunity to cross for the better-placed Marvin Emnes as he shot straight at goalkeeper Dean Gerken in the seventh minute.
Gerken also saved from Johnson in the early stages, but the former Darlington shot-stopper was forced to look on helplessly as defender Carey sliced Johnsons driven low cross inches past the post in the 23rd minute.
Boro went even closer on the stroke of half-time, with David Wheater heading Johnsons right-wing free-kick against the crossbar.
The centre-half, who took over the captains armband from the departed Huth, out-jumped the entire Bristol City defence, only for his looping header to rebound off the woodwork.
The hosts failed to record a single shot on target before the break, although Jonathan Grounds, who shuffled across to centre-half in Huths absence, was forced to produce an excellent last-ditch challenge to prevent Maynard breaking clear.
The Robins finally tested Danny Coyne two minutes after the break, although the Boro keeper was hardly stretched to keep out Careys ten-yard header from Paul Hartleys free-kick.
The second half followed much the same pattern as the first, with Middlesbrough enjoying the upper hand but struggling to convert their dominance of territory and possession into chances.
And the Teessiders paid a heavy chance for their lack of a cutting edge when City broke the deadlock against the run of play in the 63rd minute.
Grounds was at fault, slipping as Maynard brushed him aside far too easily as he cut in from the inside left channel.
The Bristol City striker was suddenly left with space in the box, and he made the most of it by curling a precise low finish in the bottom right-hand corner of the net.
But the hosts were only ahead for 17 minutes before Boro drew level from the penalty spot.
Carey blocked substitute Aliadieres shot with his arm, and Johnson displayed commendable composure to convert his fourth Championship goal of the season.
Unfortunately, Aliadiere was unable to display similar composure with three minutes left, blazing over from inside the penalty area after Wheaters long ball sent him clear.
And that miss proved extremely costly in the first minute of stoppage time. Hartleys long ball caught the Boro defence napping, and Maynard stole in behind Grounds to lash a fierce low shot past Coyne.
BRISTOL CITY (5-3-2): Gerken; Wilson, Carey, McCombe, Fontaine, McAllister; Elliott, Hartley, Skuse; Haynes (Akinde 52), Maynard (Sproule 90).
Subs (not used): Basso (gk), Orr, Johnson, Ribeiro, Blackman.
MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2): Coyne; McMahon, Wheater, Grounds, Taylor; Yeates, Williams, Arca, Johnson; Emnes (Aliadiere 71), Lita.
Subs (not used): Steele (gk), Hoyte, Hines, Bennett, Walker, Franks.
