Source: Daily_Mail
Plymouth 0 Middlesbrough 2: Celtic loan star Stephen McManus punishes Argyle
Stephen McManus scored his first goal for Middlesbrough as they put a big dent in Plymouth's survival hopes with victory at Home Park.[LNB]The Pilgrims were not playing like a side deep in relegation trouble as they enjoyed some decent spells during the game, but Alan Judge spurned their best chance of a leveller when his penalty was saved by Brad Jones.[LNB]And Jonathan Franks' late strike made the result safe for the Teessiders. [LNB]Franks for the memories: Boro teenager Jonathan Franks scores the clincher[LNB]Plymouth, who are now four points away from safety, had a case for apenalty inside the opening 10 minutes when Jamie Mackie's strikeappeared to hit the elbow of a defender, but his appeals were wavedaway by the referee.[LNB]At the other end Middlesbrough, who seemed to be lacking ideas in attack, saw Barry Robson fire an effort over the crossbar.[LNB]Mackie again caused problems for the Boro defence when he set up achance for Bradley Wright-Phillips soon after, but the forward's effortwas deflected behind for a corner. From the resulting set-piece RedaJohnson sent his header wide of a post.[LNB] The Pilgrims wasted another chance to break the deadlock when Judge's corner was headed wide by Mackie.[LNB]And the hosts were made to pay as Middlesbrough took the leadagainst the run of play through on-loan Celtic defender McManus, whorose to head home Robson's free-kick after 22 minutes.[LNB]Plymouth tried to find an instant response with Johnsonorchestrating a good move upfield but, when the ball eventually fell toWright-Phillips, the former Southampton man shot straight at Jones inthe Boro goal. [LNB]Good Gord: Boro boss Strachan[LNB]Paul Mariner's men were gifted the perfect chance to level matterswhen Justin Hoyte was adjudged to have handled Judge's effort threeminutes before the break.[LNB]Judge tried to place his penalty into the bottom corner of the netbut Jones did excellently to palm the ball away to his left andpreserve the visitors' slender advantage.[LNB]Middlesbrough came close to doubling their advantage within threeminutes of the restart as Lee Miller headed the ball over DavidStockdale, but Leroy Lita could not make enough of the opportunity.[LNB]Lita, who was booked for an alleged dive in the first half, enragedthe home supporters when he again appeared to go down unchallenged butfortunately for Boro he escaped a potential dismissal.[LNB]Boro were enjoying the better of the chances in the second half as Robson's left-footed drive was parried by Stockdale.[LNB]Plymouth were not going to go down without a fight and Johnsonheaded over the bar shortly after the hour mark as the hosts searchedfor an equaliser.[LNB]Mariner's men almost got their reward in stoppage time, but Johnson's header was excellently tipped over the bar by Jones.[LNB]And that miss proved costly as Franks netted from long range deepinto added time, meaning Boro have now not lost in seven league visitsto Plymouth.[LNB] Click here for all the latest results and standings from the ChampionshipDes Kelly: Why Keane says we've seen the last of Roy of the Ravers [LNB][LNB]
