SM
Ipswich vs. Man United: 3 hrs 12 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
RL
Championship | Gameweek 46
May 5, 2019 at 12.30pm UK
 
ML

1-2

Smith (86' pen.)
FT(HT: 0-2)
Assombalonga (28' pen.), Obi Mikel (37')

Boro miss out on playoffs by one point

:Headline: Result: Boro miss out on playoffs by one point: ID:358315: from db_amp
Tony Pulis' men finished a point behind Derby in the race for a top-six finish after the Rams beat West Brom.

Middlesbrough claimed a 2-1 win at Rotherham but it was not enough for them to snatch the final Sky Bet Championship play-off spot.​

First-half goals from Britt Assombalonga and John Obi Mikel put the visitors in a commanding position before Rotherham pulled one back through Michael Smith late on.

Boro held on for the victory but Derby's win over West Brom meant Tony Pulis' men finished outside of the top six, a point behind the Rams.​

It was already-relegated Rotherham who did the early pressing with Smith forcing Darren Randolph into a neat stop with a shot across goal.​

Boro's first chance was a good one as Assombalonga snuck through on goal but slipped his effort wide when one-on-one with Lewis Price.​

The visitors' other frontman Ashley Fletcher was the next to take aim but again he did not trouble Price from the edge of the box.​

An even better opportunity fell to Boro defender Ryan Shotton but he headed Lewis Wing's free-kick over when unmarked.​

Smith was then guilty of missing a glaring chance at the other end as he spooned over after Matt Crooks had opened up Boro's defence down the left and squared back for the striker.​

The away side were quick to make them pay when Assombalonga won and scored a 28th-minute penalty after being pulled down in the box by Clark Robertson.​

​The striker should have made it 2-0 moments later as he fired wide after beating the offside trap.​

Middlesbrough did not to wait too much longer to double their lead, though, with Mikel netting in the 37th minute.

The ball fell to the Boro skipper from a corner and he viciously lashed it into the roof of the net through a crowd of bodies.​

Mo Besic could have made the points even more secure in the second half after he latched onto a loose ball from Semi Ajayi and powered towards goal, only to fire over from the edge of the box.​

Rotherham continued to have a go and it took a brave block from George Saville to deny Joe Newell from inside the box following a good move.​​

Ajayi then rose highest from a corner but his header was incredibly clawed out by Randolph.​

Millers substitute Kyle Vassell was the next to come close as he burst down the left and his poked shot was kicked away by Randolph.​

​Vassell came even closer moments later as he muscled his way through before unleashing a fierce strike which rattled the woodwork.​

​And it was Vassell in the thick of it again in the 86th minute, winning Rotherham a penalty after he was tripped by Mikel when he was about to pull the trigger.​

​Smith stepped up and finally beat Randolph from the spot with a cool finish, but Rotherham were unable to find an equaliser at the end of a match which saw both sides suffer disappointment.

amp_article__358315 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-05-05 14:00:15:
html db last update - 2019-05-05 14:00:15 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland1695226121432
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1610422191232
3Burnley168621961330
4Leeds UnitedLeeds158522491529
5Middlesbrough1683529191027
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom166821811726
7Watford168262524126
8Millwall166641914524
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City165742020022
11Derby CountyDerby165562020020
12Stoke CityStoke165561920-120
13Norwich CityNorwich164752524119
14Swansea CitySwansea155461110119
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds165471826-819
16Luton TownLuton165381826-818
17Coventry CityCoventry164572223-117
18Oxford UnitedOxford Utd164571924-517
19Plymouth ArgylePlymouth164571728-1117
20Preston North EndPreston163761624-816
21Cardiff CityCardiff164481524-916
22Hull City163671621-515
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR161871326-1311
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .