Match ends, Middlesbrough 2, Ipswich Town 0.
Middlesbrough 2-0 Ipswich: Jordan Hugill and Marcus Tavernier score in Boro win
- From the section Championship
Middlesbrough picked up a first home win in five matches as they condemned bottom club Ipswich to another defeat.
The hosts took the lead through Jordan Hugill's first-half penalty after Jordan Spence was adjudged to have fouled the striker in the air.
Either side of that goal, Darren Randolph pulled off a pair of impressive saves to deny Ipswich from a Trevoh Chalobah header and a Freddie Sears shot.
Substitute Marcus Tavernier doubled Boro's lead in the second half as he slotted home a ball from Jonny Howson at the near post.
Victory would have come as a welcome way to end 2018 for Middlesbrough supporters after coming into the game on a run of three defeats in their past five league matches.
The most recent of those came when Sheffield Wednesday were 1-0 victors at the Riverside, but the home fans had to wait until Hugill's spot-kick to breathe a bit easier.
Ipswich, like they did at QPR on Wednesday, had their chances before falling behind, but were out of contention when Tavernier swept in the second.
Goalkeeper Dean Gerken kept the scoreline respectable as he kept out late efforts from Adam Clayton, George Friend and Hugill.
Paul Lambert's side are now five points adrift at the foot of the table and seven from safety after just two wins in 25 matches this season.
Middlesbrough manager Tony Pulis:
"It was a good result, I thought the players played well but, again, we could have scored more goals.
"But the two goals that we get, we've had easier chances, but it's a great win and I'm really pleased for the lads.
"We're in the top six, we've got an opportunity now to add to the squad in the transfer window and push on.
"I think the way the lads kept going, at 1-0 we had a couple of chances, we should have had a penalty again that we don't get, it was more a penalty than the first one, but in the end we could have scored three or four. I'm really pleased for them and the confidence is important."
Ipswich Town manager Paul Lambert:
"I didn't think it was a penalty as Hugill wasn't getting there. I don't think we deserved to lose the game.
"Some of the football we're playing is at a high level, we're just missing a cutting edge.
"It's a big game on Tuesday (at home against Millwall), but if we keep playing the way we are, we'll get results."
Line-ups
Middlesbrough
- 23Randolph
- 20Fry
- 24Flint
- 4AyalaSubstituted forBatthat 90+1'minutes
- 16Howson
- 26Wing
- 37BesicSubstituted forClaytonat 85'minutes
- 22Saville
- 3Friend
- 19DowningSubstituted forTavernierat 61'minutesBooked at 65mins
- 11Hugill
Substitutes
- 6Batth
- 8Clayton
- 9Assombalonga
- 17McNair
- 28Tavernier
- 31Lonergan
- 39Gestede
Ipswich
- 1Gerken
- 12Spence
- 4Chambers
- 5Pennington
- 30Kenlock
- 11NolanSubstituted forDozzellat 79'minutes
- 6ChalobahBooked at 18mins
- 21DownesBooked at 39mins
- 7Edwards
- 9JacksonSubstituted forRobertsat 71'minutes
- 20Sears
Substitutes
- 3Knudsen
- 10Harrison
- 15Bishop
- 19Roberts
- 22Nsiala
- 23Dozzell
- 33Bialkowski
- Referee:
- Jeremy Simpson
- Attendance:
- 23,334
Match Stats
Home TeamMiddlesbroughAway TeamIpswich
- Possession
- Home42%
- Away58%
- Shots
- Home19
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home9
- Away4
- Corners
- Home5
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away12
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Middlesbrough 2, Ipswich Town 0.
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Dean Gerken.
Attempt saved. Jordan Hugill (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by George Friend with a cross.
Attempt missed. George Friend (Middlesbrough) header from very close range is too high. Assisted by Jordan Hugill.
Attempt saved. Lewis Wing (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Marcus Tavernier.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Gwion Edwards (Ipswich Town) because of an injury.
Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Danny Batth replaces Daniel Ayala.
Attempt missed. Jordan Roberts (Ipswich Town) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Myles Kenlock with a cross.
Attempt saved. George Friend (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Attempt saved. Adam Clayton (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jordan Hugill.
Attempt blocked. Aden Flint (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Marcus Tavernier with a cross.
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Myles Kenlock.
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Myles Kenlock.
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Matthew Pennington.
Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Adam Clayton replaces Muhamed Besic.
Flynn Downes (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jordan Hugill (Middlesbrough).
Jordan Roberts (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Muhamed Besic (Middlesbrough).
Attempt saved. Jordan Hugill (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by George Friend with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Ipswich Town. Andre Dozzell replaces Jon Nolan.
Foul by Gwion Edwards (Ipswich Town).
George Friend (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Lewis Wing (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Jonny Howson.
Offside, Middlesbrough. Muhamed Besic tries a through ball, but Jordan Hugill is caught offside.
Goal!
Goal! Middlesbrough 2, Ipswich Town 0. Marcus Tavernier (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jonny Howson.
Attempt missed. Aden Flint (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Muhamed Besic following a set piece situation.
Substitution
Substitution, Ipswich Town. Jordan Roberts replaces Kayden Jackson.
Foul by Jordan Spence (Ipswich Town).
Marcus Tavernier (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Gwion Edwards (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by George Friend (Middlesbrough).
Offside, Ipswich Town. Flynn Downes tries a through ball, but Gwion Edwards is caught offside.
Booking
Marcus Tavernier (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Jordan Spence (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Marcus Tavernier (Middlesbrough).
Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Marcus Tavernier replaces Stewart Downing.
Attempt saved. Jordan Hugill (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by George Saville.
