Middlesbrough 2 Barnsley 1

Published: 10 Feb 2010 - 09:00:00

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Middlesbrough 2 Barnsley 1 ASK Gordon Strachan why he felt the need to change just about every member of his Middlesbrough side, and he will no doubt cite last night's victory over Barnsley as vindication. Two months ago, the Teessiders would not have won the game. Two minutes from time, and it was still in the balance. But despite their dogged opponents staging a spirited second-half comeback, Boro dug in themselves to claim only their fifth Championship home win of the season. The battling qualities that Strachan failed to identify in many of the players he inherited were finally apparent as the hosts threw their bodies on the line and worked tirelessly to protect the advantage provided by Chris Killen and Gary O'Neil's first-half goals. It has taken a while, but perhaps Strachan's Riverside revolution is finally up and running. Up, running and diligently tracking back whenever the need arises. This is the Scotsman's team now, and while Boro ultimately made heavy weather of beating a Barnsley side who had been thoroughly outclassed before the interval, Strachan will nevertheless have finished his 53rd birthday yesterday evening in a much better mood than when he started it. Progress might be slow, but it is still progress of a sort. The scale of last month's rebuilding operation should not be downplayed, as underlined by O'Neil's status as the only player in last night's starting line-up who also started Gareth Southgate's final match as manager in late October. The rate of player turnover has been remarkable, but Strachan still has time to guide his squad back into the play-off position that was relinquished at an early stage of his tenure. On last night's evidence, a play-off position remains a possibility. The Teessiders were understandably short of cohesion, but at least they created more opportunities in the opening 45 minutes than they had in the whole of their previous two home games put together. Crucially, thanks to Killen and O'Neil, they took two of them. Killen had already wasted one decent opportunity by the time he broke the deadlock, racing on to O'Neil's pass, lofting the ball over goalkeeper Luke Steele, but shooting into full-back Kieran Trippier's legs when fellow forward Jonathan Franks was completely unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box. Scott McDonald had also gone close early on, drilling against Steele's legs when well placed 12 yards out, but the misses were forgotten when Killen broke his Boro duck in the 24th minute. Jonathan Grounds flicked on O'Neil's corner at the front post, and the New Zealander stole in completely unmarked to prod home from close range. The goal was just reward for a bright opening half-hour, but Boro's lead would have been short lived had referee Carl Boyeson spotted Emanuel Pogatetz's handball from Hugo Colace's cross. The act was not deliberate, but Pogatetz, who was making his first start for more than a month, was fortunate to avoid censure. There was another let off for the hosts moments later, as Darren Moore headed wide after latching on to a deep freekick. That was as good as Barnsley's first-half attacking got though, and after emerging unscathed, Boro doubled their lead ten minutes before the break. Barry Robson caught the Barnsley defence napping with an incisive through ball, and O'Neil galloped clear before rolling an assured finish into the bottom left-hand corner. Tellingly, it was only the second time Boro had scored two first-half goals at the Riverside all season. A third might have come in the 43rd minute, but Steele produced a fine low save to turn the impressive O'Neil's 18-yard strike around the right-hand upright. Steele also saved from Franks in the closing stages of the first half, and while the Boro youngster is unlikely to be the long-term solution to the left-midfield problem that was caused by Adam Johnson's departure, he is capable of filling the gap until Strachan can re-enter the loan market. Two goals to the good at the interval, Boro began the second half in the same assured manner they had finished the first, but Barnsley gradually gained an increased share of possession and began to pose more problems. Nevertheless, it was still something of a surprise when the visitors pulled a goal back in the 66th minute. The Boro defence failed to deal with a long throw, and Hugo Colace cracked a low left-footed strike past Danny Coyne. Things almost got worse four minutes later, but former Sunderland striker Andy Gray headed straight at Coyne when unmarked in the 18-yard box. A yard either side of the goalkeeper, and Barnsley would have been level. The final ten minutes saw the visitors continue to press, but with Stephen McManus particularly impressive at the heart of the back four, Boro held firm. Matchfacts Goals: Killen (24, 1-0), O'Neil (35, 2- 0); Colace (66, 2-1) Bookings: O'Neil (75, time wasting) Referee: Carl Boyeson (Hull) 4 Attendance: 17,775 Entertainment: MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2): Coyne 6; Naughton 6 (Hoyte 90), McManus 7, Grounds 6, Pogatetz 6; Flood 5, O'NEIL 7, Robson 6, Franks 6; Killen 7 (Miller 68, 6), McDonald 5. Subs (not used): Steele (gk), Bennett, McMahon, Lita, L Williams. BARNSLEY (4-5-1): Steele 6; Trippier 6 (Hume 76), Moore 5, Foster 5, Dickinson 6; TEIXEIRA 6, Colace 6, De Silva 4 (Rodriguez 46, 5), Doyle 4, Hallfredsson 4 (Hammill 58, 4); Gray 5. Subs (not used): Preece (gk), Butterfield, Macken, Potter. MAN OF THE MATCH GARY O'Neil the Boro skipper made a succession of driving runs into the heart of the penalty box.