Boro 3 – Stoke 1: The Boro see off visitors at the Riverside Stadium

Middlesbrough strolled past Stoke City with a 3-1 win on Saturday at the Riverside Stadium. Boro wanted to continue adding points following a disappointing 1-1 draw with Swansea City in their previous game whilst Stoke were hoping to increase their winning streak after back-to-back victories against Queens Park Rangers and Blackburn Rovers. As it stands, Boro are in 7th place, with 70 points from 45 matches, while Stoke sit in 13th, with 61 points from 45.

It was an impressive opening from The Boro, with Matt Crooks giving Boro the lead in the 21st minute. Boro then scored once more and increased their lead thanks to a goal from Lewis Baker, 25 minutes in to see out the first half 2-0.

Boro continued to apply pressure in the second and were rewarded, thanks to Matt Crooks finding the net again, at 72 minutes. The Potters in turn, then responded just before the final whistle increasing their lead with an effort from Nick Powell so at full time it was 3-1 to Boro.

Both coaches used the full entitlement. For Boro, Marc Bola, Josh Coburn and Souleymane Bamba, came on for Andraz Sporar, Duncan Watmore and Isaiah Jones, Stoke replaced Nick Powell, Steven Fletcher and Mario Vrancic with Jaden Philogene-Bidace, William Forrester and Lewis Baker.

Boro will next play Preston North End away, with Stoke facing Coventry City at home.