Source: Northern_Echo
Strachan finally tastes favourable Riverside result
Middlesbrough 3 Scunthorpe United 0[LNB] IT'S amazing what a couple of changes can do. With Danny Coyne and Jeremie Aliadiere recalled to the starting line-up, Middlesbrough turned in a display that re-ignited hopes of a play-off place.[LNB] From the moment Coyne's name was read out as a replacement for goalkeeper Brad Jones, who has fallen victim to the boo-boys, there was a different atmosphere around the Riverside Stadium. There was also a different performance.[LNB] Coyne was rarely tested as Middlesbrough moved Scunthorpe United aside with complete ease and the only surprise was that it was only 3-0 at the final whistle and that Leroy Lita was sent off for an off the ball incident late on.[LNB] Middlesbrough had already gone close through Lita and Isaiah Osbourne before referee Neil Swarbrick handed a controversial penalty and sending off.[LNB] Cliff Byrne, the Iron full-back, was deemed to have deliberately hauled down Aliadiere when he charged through on goal. A penalty and red card followed and Adam Johnson slotted the spot-kick away for his tenth of the season.[LNB] A series of efforts on goal followed in the first half, but it took until moments before the interval for Strachan to enjoy the second.[LNB] Justin Hoyte burst inside from the left. His pass out wide was intercepted but fell into the path of Rhys Williams to crash a first time strike in off Joe Murphy's post.[LNB] It was completely deserved and they did not have to wait long for a third, with Aliadiere given too much freedom to direct his shot in off the far post just 44 seconds after the restart.[LNB] The pace of the game suffered as a result of the comfortable gap between the two sides, but having won for the first time at home under Strachan they can now start to look at the top six again, with just two points separating them from sixth place Blackpool.[LNB] MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2): Coyne; McMahon, Wheater, Pogatetz (Riggott 83), Hoyte; O'Neil, R Williams, Osbourne, Johnson (Yeates 70); Lita, Aliadiere (Bent 64). Subs: Steele, Taylor, Arca, L Williams.[LNB] SCUNTHORPE UNITED (4-5-1): Murphy; Byrne, Jones, Mirfin, M Williams; Thompson, Woolford, J Wright (Sparrow 74), McCann, O'Connor (A Wright 46); Hayes (Forte 46). Subs: Slocombe, Togwell, Spence, Canavan.[LNB]
