Source: Daily_Mail
Sheff Wed 1 Boro 3: Magic Johnson displays Premier power
There can be few players in the Championship more gifted or dangerous than Boro's Adam Johnson and, if the Teessiders can negotiate January without losing him, they have a serious chance of bouncing back into the Premier League.
But Boro may need to show Johnson - like footwork to outfox suitors.
After the 22-year-old winger had sealed victory with an 84th minute shot, his boss Gareth Southgate said: 'He's a special talent. I thought he was outstanding.'
Wednesday manager Brian Laws was equally effusive about Johnson, who has now registered six goals this season, saying: 'He has pace and end product, he's possibly as effective a player in the Championship as there is.
'He could be the key player to get them out of the division. Take Johnson out and would they be as effective? I doubt it.'
Admittedly, the Wednesday defenders Johnson was skipping around are from a mid-table Championship side, but the confidence with which Johnson performed was impressive.
This was a fifth win in seven Championship matches for Boro - they moved into second place behind West Brom - and those two meet at the Riverside on Saturday.
The ultimate comfort of the win was not clear two minutes in when Luke Varney gave Wednesday a thrilling start with a soaring strike, but Johnson, supported by Julio Arca and Rhys Williams in midfield, led Boro's response with speed and intelligence.
Varney had buoyed Hillsborough with a jink past Tony McMahon and a fierce diagonal shot that flashed past Boro keeper Danny Coyne, crashed down off the crossbar and in.
As Southgate suggested Boro could have reacted by folding 'and getting a pasting', but there is some grit in the side as well as the skill of Johnson.
It was Johnson's 18th-minute cross that Wednesday captain Darren Purse headed into his own net for the equaliser. Having begun on the left, his natural side, Johnson soon switched wings with Gary O'Neil and immediately carried more threat.
In a counter-attack prior to the equaliser, Johnson burst forward at pace and in the next attack, the ball came to the winger on the right touchline. Cutting in, he delivered a speeding, curling cross that flicked Purse's forehead and slid inches away from the despairing dive of Wednesday keeper Lee Grant.
Middlesbrough were the stronger unit for the rest of the half and started the second by pressurising Wednesday strongly.
The unfortunate Purse gifted possession three minutes after the interval and Marvin Emnes's pass was battered beyond Grant by striker Jeremie Aliadiere.
Hillsborough groaned as Wednesday laboured thereafter. There were a couple of half chances for Purse but Wednesday keeper Grant made a good save from Seb Hines in the 52nd minute and Boro were always in control.
It took them another half an hour to enforce that superiority and when they did it was unsurprising that Johnson was the man on the end of it.
O'Neil supplied the cross from the right and Johnson controlled it with his left before switching the ball on to his right and drilling it low into the corner.
For Wednesday, Laws could reflect upon some bright forward play but the defence will need work before Friday's derby showdown at Bramall Lane.
As for Boro, they would be unwise to get carried away. 'By my reckoning we still need to get another 80-odd points,' said Southgate.
