Match ends, Middlesbrough 3, Sheffield United 0.
MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough3Sheff UtdSheffield United0
Middlesbrough picked up a first win of the season as they blew Sheffield United away with three quick goals.
Martin Braithwaite poked in an early Lewis Wing corner for the opener before centre-back Aden Flint doubled the lead with a header on his home debut.
Stewart Downing made it 3-0 inside 25 minutes as his speculative stab towards goal bounced over Dean Henderson.
Leon Clarke was denied a second-half consolation for the Blades when he was twice denied by Boro's Darren Randolph.
Boro, who rescued a point on the opening day with two late goals in a 2-2 draw at Millwall, have now won their second fixture of a league campaign in seven of the past eight seasons.
Sheffield United are pointless from their first two games after a 2-1 home defeat by Swansea on Saturday. The Blades have now lost their first away game of the season in each of their past six campaigns.
Chris Wilder's side were as good as out of the game once Downing had finished off Ryan Shotton's diagonal ball. Such was Boro's dominance, they barely needed to break sweat in the second half.
As well as chances for Clarke in the second half, who also flashed a header narrowly wide, Enda Stevens also had a shot palmed away for Sheffield United by Randolph.
Middlesbrough manager Tony Pulis told BBC Tees:
"We played really well first half and I thought the tempo of the game and everything we did was first class.
"Second half we dropped off a little bit. But it's the first week of the season and to be asked to play after Saturday, to put in this performance, especially in the first half, was brilliant.
"We've got to make sure we dust ourselves down for Birmingham on Saturday, who didn't play tonight and you would think will be a little bit fresher.
"It's difficult to pick anyone out as there's so many players tonight who have put in a wonderful effort for the football club."
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"We've missed the two best chances of the game, they haven't.
"We can't defend set plays and people aren't organised enough to do their jobs and they switch off, so I'm going to have to take another look at it.
"It'll look tonight to a lot of people inside the ground that we can't defend set plays. We've been royally punished.
"They've had the desire to put the ball in the net where we haven't done our individual roles. We've given a couple of set plays away and they've made it count after a good delivery.
"Basically, you look at that and when you go 3-0 down early in those circumstances, the game's basically done."
Line-ups
Middlesbrough
Formation 4-3-3
- 23Randolph
- 5Shotton
- 20Fry
- 24Flint
- 3Friend
- 26WingSubstituted forLeadbitterat 82'minutes
- 8Clayton
- 16HowsonSubstituted forMcNairat 71'minutes
- 10Braithwaite
- 9AssombalongaSubstituted forFletcherat 78'minutes
- 19Downing
Substitutes
- 1Konstantopoulos
- 7Leadbitter
- 17McNair
- 18Fletcher
- 21Johnson
- 27Chapman
- 28Tavernier
Sheff Utd
Formation 5-3-2
- 1Henderson
- 2Baldock
- 6BashamBooked at 51mins
- 12Egan
- 5O'Connell
- 3Stevens
- 7LundstramSubstituted forWoodburnat 45'minutes
- 8EvansBooked at 63minsSubstituted forLeonardat 82'minutes
- 4Fleck
- 9ClarkeBooked at 38mins
- 17McGoldrickSubstituted forDuffyat 69'minutes
Substitutes
- 10Sharp
- 11Woodburn
- 14Leonard
- 19Stearman
- 20Bryan
- 21Duffy
- 25Moore
- Referee:
- Robert Jones
- Attendance:
- 22,960
Match Stats
Home TeamMiddlesbroughAway TeamSheff Utd
- Possession
- Home41%
- Away59%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away16
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away4
- Corners
- Home7
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Middlesbrough 3, Sheffield United 0.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Chris Basham (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mark Duffy with a cross.
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Ben Woodburn (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by George Friend (Middlesbrough).
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Attempt missed. Leon Clarke (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Ben Woodburn with a through ball.
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Attempt blocked. John Egan (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by John Fleck.
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Attempt blocked. Mark Duffy (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by John Fleck.
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Attempt saved. Enda Stevens (Sheffield United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Mark Duffy.
Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Grant Leadbitter replaces Lewis Wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield United. Ryan Leonard replaces Lee Evans.
Post update
Attempt saved. Aden Flint (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Stewart Downing with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Ashley Fletcher replaces Britt Assombalonga.
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Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by John Egan.
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Attempt blocked. Britt Assombalonga (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Paddy McNair.
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Foul by Lee Evans (Sheffield United).
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Paddy McNair (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Aden Flint.
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Attempt saved. Leon Clarke (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mark Duffy.
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Attempt saved. Lee Evans (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ben Woodburn.
