Source: Northern_Echo
Sheffield Wednesday 1 Middlesbrough 3
HAVING signed St Ledger in the morning, it was somehow fitting that Middlesbrough produced a thoroughbred display in South Yorkshire last night.
It might not quite have been a classic, but the 3-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday was largely achieved at a canter, and proved sufficient to lift the Teessiders to second in the Championship table.
Seven matches into the campaign, and students of the form will already have tipped Gareth Southgates side to be involved when the promotion race enters its final furlong.
Last nights win came courtesy of a Darren Purse own goal, Jeremie Aliadieres third goal in the space of two games, and Adam Johnsons sixth goal of the season, and proved further evidence of Boros class at Championship level.
The likes of Johnson and Gary ONeil were simply too good for their opponents, while David Wheater and Julio Arca also provided further top-flight nous when it was needed.
But it all started badly. Sean St Ledger was named on the substitutes bench after completing his loan move from Preston, and the defender watched his new team-mates concede inside the opening two minutes. To make matters worse, the player doing the damage was a striker Gareth Southgate attempted to sign two years ago.
Luke Varney was a Crewe player when Southgate failed to lure him to the Riverside, but the forward chose the visit of the Teessiders to open his Wednesday account in style.
Having outpaced Tony McMahon to reach a long ball from the back, Varney waltzed inside Seb Hines before unleashing a venomous shot that cannoned into the net off the underside of the crossbar. To say that goalkeeper Danny Coyne got nowhere near it would be an understatement.
Buoyed by their early opener, and energised by the pace of Varney and Jermaine Johnson, the Owls dominated the early exchanges.
Coyne kept out a low drive from Marcus Tudgay, but the visitors gradually found their rhythm, largely thanks to the efforts of the irrepressible Johnson.
The winger has been the star of Boros strong start to the season. After teeing up Marvin Emnes for a low shot that was easily saved by Lee Grant, the England Under-21 international played a pivotal role in Boros equaliser.
His 40-yard run took the ball into the right-hand corner, and when a weak clearance presented him with a crossing opportunity, he delivered a devilishly teasing centre into the box. Purse had to go for it, but his glanced header left a startled Grant helpless.
Back on level terms, Boro quickly assumed control, with Johnson and ONeil probing effectively from the flanks and Rhys Williams and Arca gradually gaining the upper hand in midfield.
That the visitors were not ahead at the interval was largely down to Aliadiere, who failed to lob Grant with a looping header before dragging a weak shot across the face of goal.
He threatened again on the stroke of half-time, but having initially looked favourite to reach a stray Purse header, he was thwarted by a brave last-ditch challenge from Mark Beevers that led to the Wednesday defender being stretchered from the field.
Four minutes after the break though, and Aliadiere rediscovered the form that earned him the weekend brace.
Played in by Emnes, he took one touch to control before striking a well-judged shot that beat Grant at his near post.
Boro were almost out of sight four minutes later, but while Hines rose superbly to meet ONeils corner, Grant produced a magnificent save.
Boros win was sealed when Johnson scored the goal of the game late on. Receiving Aliadieres cross on the left he cut inside before drilling a fierce shot into the corner.
Matchfacts Goals: Varney (2mins, 1-0), Purse (19, own goal, 1-1), Aliadiere (49, 1-2), Johnson (85, 1-3) Bookings: Aliadiere (75mins, dissent) Referee: Anthony Bates (Stoke) 6 Attendance: 21,722 Entertainment:
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (4-4-2) Grant 5; Buxton 6, Purse 4, Beevers 5 (Hinds 45mins 5), Spurr 5; JOHNSON 7, Potter 5, Miller 5 (McAllister 72mins), Gray 4 (Clarke 72mins); Varney 6, Tudgay 5. Subs (not used): ODonnell (gk), Sodje, Esajas, Simek.
MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2) Coyne 5; McMahon 6 (St Ledger 82mins), Wheater 6, Hines 5, Grounds 7; ONeil 7 (Hoyte 90mins), Williams 6, Arca 6, JOHNSON 9, Aliadiere 7, Emnes 6 (Lita 71mins). Subs (not used): Jones (gk), Bennett, Yeates, Franks.
MAN OF THE MATCH ADAM Johnson - The winger continues to look totally out of place at Championship level.
