Source: Team_Talk
Spot-on Robson two good for R's
Two first-half penalties from Barry Robson put Gordon Strachan's team in charge at the Riverside Stadium.[LNB]And Rangers, who were reported to have approached the administrators of Crystal Palace this week to ask for permission to speak to Eagles boss Neil Warnock, were unable to mount a recovery as they slipped to a sixth loss in seven games.[LNB]Robson opened the scoring from the spot in the 39th minute after Peter Ramage had been penalised for a foul on Jeremie Aliadiere.[LNB]And the former Celtic midfielder added a second from 12 yards six minutes later following Kaspars Gorkss' heavy challenge on Leroy Lita.[LNB]Rangers hit the woodwork twice through Jay Simpson and Mikele Leigertwood, but they failed to get on the scoresheet for a fourth successive away game.[LNB]Strachan made two changes to his Boro side, with Chris Killen returning from a hamstring problem to replace the injured Scott McDonald and Lita coming in for Julio Arca, who dropped to the bench.[LNB]Leigertwood returned from suspension to captain Rangers. The midfielder replaced Matt Connolly, who was ruled out by an ankle injury.[LNB]Rangers came agonisingly close to taking the lead in the 14th minute as Simpson struck the post with a shot from the edge of the area.[LNB]At the other end, Boro saw appeals for a penalty waved away by Andy Woolmer after Damion Stewart appeared to block O'Neil's corner with his arm.[LNB]Leigertwood then tested home goalkeeper Danny Coyne with a low drive from 18 yards, but it was the Teessiders who looked the most likely to open the scoring as the opening period drew to a close.[LNB]And so it proved six minutes before the break as Aliadiere - who had spurned a glorious opportunity moments earlier - was brought down in the box by Ramage, handing Robson the chance to blast home the resulting penalty.[LNB]Simpson saw an effort parried away by Coyne as Rangers looked to respond.[LNB]But Boro added a second in the 45th minute, Robson once again making no mistake from the spot after Gorkss had gone into the book for a strong challenge on Lita.[LNB]There was little in the way of goalmouth action after the interval as Middlesbrough protected their two-goal advantage with relative comfort.[LNB]Stewart did head wide for the visitors in the 64th minute, but they rarely looked like finding a route back into the game.[LNB]And Lita almost added a third for Boro, only for Ikeme to palm away the forward's powerful strike.[LNB]Rangers' afternoon was summed up with 12 minutes remaining as Leigertwood connected with Ramage's cross but saw his shot bounce back off the post with Coyne well beaten.[LNB][LNB]
