Source: Northern_Echo
Middlesbrough 2 Scunthorpe United 0
TONY MOWBRAY has always said that Kris Boyd will score goals if the chances fall to him and tonight the Middlesbrough manager was proved right.[LNB] After a January in which Boro would have been happy to see the Scotsman's salary off their monthly wage bill, Boyd started February by proving he still has an eye for goal.[LNB] It was the former Rangers striker, who turned down transfer window moves to Russia and Turkey in the hope that an emotional return to Ibrox would be struck, that put Middlesbrough well on their way against Scunthorpe United.[LNB] His predatory strike, his sixth for the club and his first since scoring in the return fixture on November 9, rarely looked like being cancelled out against a team in serious relegation trouble.[LNB] But Middlesbrough still had to wait until 21 minutes before the end for the vital second, when Tony McMahon's floated free-kick missed the head of everyone before finding the net to give the defender only his second senior goal.[LNB] The goals were enough to extend Middlesbrough's unbeaten run in the Championship to six matches, increasing the gap to the bottom three to six points.[LNB] It was imperative that Middlesbrough won ahead of a crucial run of fixtures that will determine whether they head into the final six weeks of the season deep in the relegation mire.[LNB] After this Saturday's trip to Crystal Palace, their next six matches are all against teams with an eye on promotion, so a healthy unbeaten run through this period could also do wonders for their own ambitions.[LNB] Scunthorpe had lost four of their last five matches and had lost the services of key man Martyn Woolford to Bristol City on Monday. They were also unable to include former Hartlepool United defender Michael Nelson in their ranks, having signed too late on deadline day to be eligible to play, and they named just five of their seven allotted substitutes.[LNB] This, it is safe to assume, was one match that Middlesbrough, if they have serious eyes on climbing up the table, should have won and it did not take long for them to find the breakthrough.[LNB] Jason Steele, the Middlesbrough goalkeeper, had cleared his lines after being in the right place to hold an Eddie Nolan header that planted in to his arms from Mark Duffy's free-kick.[LNB] Once Marvin Emnes had been dispossessed on half-way, the counter attack looked off. However, Seb Hines, out to prove he deserves to stay in the team following the arrival of German Maximilian Haas, spotted Boyd looking to exploit space behind the Iron defence.[LNB] Boyd, who has struggled to win over the Teesside support with lethargic displays, ran to meet Hines' long pass. Goalkeeper Josh Lillis made the fatal error of leaving his line too quickly, and the Scotland international lifted over Lillis and in to an unguarded net.[LNB] And Middlesbrough should have added a second before the restart. With Emnes and Julio Arca, both recalled for the departed Gary O'Neil and the injured Barry Robson, tidy in possession, along with Andrew Taylor and Nicky Bailey, the home team took control of the midfield.[LNB] Their ability to retain possession allowed them to push forward and create chances for Boyd and Leroy Lita, although both missed the target from decent positions after promising moves.[LNB] Shortly before half-time Joe Bennett should also have increased the lead. His marauding run from full-back ended with Emnes sliding through a pass after a neat exchange with Taylor. Bennett, however, missed from eight yards when he had Boyd screaming at him to play him in.[LNB] Referee Rob Lewis should have awarded a penalty when Emnes' trickery through the box looked to have been thwarted by the arm of Nolan. Instead, though, Middlesbrough were faced with a second half in which they needed to increase their advantage to avoid late embarrassment.[LNB] Arca curled a 22-yard free-kick narrowly wide and Scunthorpe found it hard to make a significant impression in the Middlesbrough half.[LNB] But Mowbray and his assistant, Mark Venus, looked on in the hope that an extra bit of comfort would arrive in the shape of a goal to avoid any late nerves.[LNB] The situation looked as if it had worsened when the referee changed his mind after pointing to the spot; when Lita dropped to the floor in the area after a tackle from behind by Paul Reid.[LNB] Complaints from Scunthorpe ended with the official chatting with his assistant and Lita was booked for simulation instead.[LNB] But after the fury had waned from the Middlesbrough corner, they earned a free-kick deep inside the Scunthorpe half. McMahon floated over a free-kick that narrowly missed Lita's head and it bounced straight inside Lillis' left post.[LNB] Victory was sealed, further progress made. Greater tests are ahead, but another step forward under Mowbray.[LNB]
