[themaclad]

Middlesbrough 4 Jones 2 Van den Berg Bangora Preston North End 0(NIL)

Middlesbrough line-up: Dieng; Dijksteel, van den Berg, McNair (Clarke, 82), Bangura; Barlaser, Howson (McCabe, 88); Rogers (Greenwood, 70), Crooks (Gilbert, 82), Jones (Silvera, 70); Latte Lath. Subs not used: Gover, Coburn, Coulson, Cartwright.

PNE line-up: Woodman; Storey, Lindsay, Hughes; Potts, Whiteman, Ledson (Whatmough, 88), Best; Keane (Ramsay, 45), Frokjær (Stewart, 88); Osmajić (Evans, 45). Subs not used: Cornell, Bauer, Browne, Holmes.

Attendance: 24,502 (456 PNE pre-sales).

Referee: Mr A Kitchen.

Not a lot you can say about this traditional miles away from home midweek performance except it was pap, we made Boro look like 1970's Brazil. Mr Fantastic has apologised to the fans , thanks for that still got hammered though.
Zero ability to pass to a same coloured shirt, inability to actually tackle, zero pressing otherwise it was spot on.
Sad thing though Boro were not that good but at least they had an excuse a large injury list.
As we usually arrive at the ground hours before kick off, have to say there were some absolutely top notch cars in the car park including one of these

Prices range from 194000 to 216000

Right back to the massacre sorry game, Browne injutred although made the bench, opening stages we looked the better side however reality soon kicked in, defence splitting pass Jones ambles on to it one down. Second ten minutes later maybe a shade unlucky with it, corner to the back post posible hand ball but Van den Berg (Sepp's brother) claimed the goal without knowing much about it.
Ten minutes later more non tackling, pas through the defence and Jones said thank you very much, three down not half time away fans already drifting towards the exit door.
Boro could have had more before half time luckily though we kept them out.
Osmajic only bright spark in the first period chased lost cause and then did his groin just on half time.
Second period we did at least put up a bit of a fight, Ramsay made his first appearence looked decent, will play on Friday as Potts is suspended, the booking he got last night was a nonsense
Boro looked dangerous when attacking a couple of good Woodman saves kept them out, a bit of game time for Stewart late on before Bangora added a fourth with virtually the last kick off the game
Dreadful
Then had a mystery tour home via Leeds and Blackburn no idea why, summed up the night lost somewhere in the North of England

Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick told BBC Sport Tees:

"It was a good night for us, scoring the goals we did and looking dangerous.

"I still think there's more to come from us. We've probably played better in some games and not come away with any points.

"Tonight we've played well in spells and won 4-0, but I'm delighted. There are a lot of positives to take from tonight.

"It's now a great game for us (against Leeds) on Saturday. We'll prepare well in the next few days and look forward to it."

Preston boss Ryan Lowe:

"I'm angry and disappointed. There were harsh words in the dressing room.

"They have given us some fantastic football, but when we went one down there was fear that set in. The first-half performance was nowhere near the levels we expect.

"If we want to keep being a mid-table team, then those are mid-table performances. But we don't want to be that team.

"We came here with full belief we could challenge. I expect us to be better. I will stick with the players, but they know it's not good enough.

"We have let everyone down and what we have to do now is put it right as quickly as we can."