Source: Telegraph
Middlesbrough 0 West Bromwich Albion 5: match report
This was one Saturday evening Ex-Factor that will not bear repeat viewing in the Southgate household as West Bromwich Albion picked Middlesbrough apart in a comprehensive mauling.
Forget about the X Factor, the entertainment on show at the Riverside was dominated by former Boro player Chris Brunt whose two goals strengthened West Bromwich Albion's position at the top of the Championship.
Brunt, who was deemed surplus to requirements at Middlesbrough during Steve McClaren's reign as manager made incumbent Gareth Southgate rue his predecessor's judgement as his team suffered a humiliating defeat that saw them booed off a the final whistle.
Brunt put his side ahead in the 17th minute in fortuitous circumstances when his 25-yard free kick – awarded after Rhys Williams brought down Jerome Thomas – was deflected off Roman Bednar to leave Danny Coyne hopelessly wrong-footed.
There was also a hint of good fortune about Brunt's second goal which arrived in the 31st minute as Coyne's rushed clearance as he sought to beat Luke Moore to a through-ball fell to the Northern Ireland international who found the target with a volley from all of 40 yards.
No wonder Brunt, who left Boro for Sheffield Wednesday due to the presence of Stewart Downing, said in a programme interview that he had been relishing a return to these parts where he was schooled by academy manager Dave Parnaby.
After a bright opening by Boro that represented a false dawn for their supporters, the visitors had gone on to dominate proceedings and extended their lead in the 42nd minute when Yousuff Mulumbu met fellow midfielder Graeme Dorrans' in-swinging cross with a glancing header that floated over Coyne.
"You're getting sacked in the morning jibes" were then aimed at Boro manager Southgate before boos rang around the Riverside at half-time thanks to disgruntled Teessiders.
The closest a meek Boro side came to reducing the arrears came when debutant Sean St Ledger nodded Adam Johnson's free kick straight into Scott Carson's hands.
Brunt, whose goal celebrations had been muted out of respect to his former mentors, could have rubbed salt into wounds late on when the ball fell to him invitingly on the edge of the box but his volley drifted just wide.
Instead, Bednar had the final say, taking advantage of leaden, ponderous defending to beat Coyne from the edge of the box with a low shot after skipping past flat-footed opponents.
Boro were at sixes and sevens – as they were throughout most of last season in the Premier League – and Thomas completed the rout in the 89th minute when he outmanoeuvred Tony McMahon by thumping a low shot beneath Coyne.
