Match Report: Boro 3 Blackpool 0

Two more Chuba Akpom goals provided the platform for Boro to march to another Riverside victory.

Paddy McNair also got on the scoresheet as Michael Carrick's men turned in another excellent performance to see off Blackpool.

The win keeps Boro in third place and reduces the gap to second-placed Sheffield United to 10 points.

Boro almost snatched the lead inside the opening 10 minutes.  Darragh Lenihan flicked the ball on from a free-kick, Paddy McNair chested it goalwards, and Blackpool goalkeeper Chris Maxwell was well placed to make a vital save.

It was the cue for a good spell of pressure as Blackpool were forced deep and struggled for an out-ball.

Maxwell was Blackpool’s saviour again when he denied Riley McGree after great work by Cameron Archer to leave Charlie Goode chasing fresh air.

Blackpool scrambled a Tommy Smith cross and Boro’s pressure was relentless for much of the half.

The goal that Boro deserved finally came in the 32^nd minute with a wonderful strike from Akpom, who floated and curled his shot into the far corner from just inside the box.

It was his 16^th goal of the season and was up there with his best finishes in a Boro shirt.

The in-form marksman was also the subject of a penalty appeal moments before the break when he was sent to the ground while working himself an opening to shoot.

Blackpool actually had the ball in the net a couple of minutes into the second half, but Jerry Yates was well offside when he applied the finishing touch after great work by Josh Bowler.

But it was Boro who almost doubled the advantage when Tommy Smith put his laces through the ball with a great strike that had Maxwell at full-stretch to keep out.

It was the visitors who carved out the next chance, and Yates should have done better when he headed a CJ Hamilton cross against the far post.

The next goal was always going to be decisive, and it was Akpom again who delivered, finishing off well after a neat one-two with the impressive McGree.

The opportunities continued to come and it took some good defending from Ryan Giles to deny Bowler, who had a decent chance after more good play by Hamilton.

It was debut time with just under half-an-hour remaining when Dan Barlaser replaced the terrific Hayden Hackney.

Blackpool had a lucky escape when a Giles cross was almost turned into the net by a visiting defender, but Boro’s advantage was extended within a minute.

The third goal came from the resultant corner and it was a first of the season for McNair when he arrived at the far post to tap home a Lenihan flick-on.

When Boro threatened again, Akpom couldn’t quite get on the end of a neat ball from Barlaser and McGree had a shot deflected over the bar.