Match Review: Birmingham City 0 Boro 1

A Riley McGree wonder-strike secured Boro victory at Birmingham City.

Michael Carrick's men rolled their sleeves up to make it three wins in a row in the Championship and further close the gap on the play-off chasing pack.

McGree's first half strike was a goal worthy of winning any game with the Aussie unleashing a thunderbolt against his former club.

It was a third unchanged line-up in a row for Carrick as his side looked to build on the wins against Norwich City and QPR.

Boro started brightly and Marcus Forss came within a whisker of latching on to a short backpass inside the opening couple of minutes.

The legs of goalkeeper John Ruddy denied Emmanuel Latte Lath from close range before a deflected clearance fell to Paddy McNair, whose shot was just over the top.

Boro were all over Birmingham, and the opening goal came inside 20 minutes and came in some style. Luke Ayling did well down the right, and McGree unleashed an unstoppable left-foot strike which Ruddy had absolutely no chance with.

The home side looked to muster an immediate reply, but Jordan Jones turn and shot was wide of the upright.

But business returned to normal within minutes and McNair worked his way into the box before seeing a shot blocked. Ruddy was also called into action to save from Ayling.

It took some quick thinking to cut out a ball from Lewis O’Brien when Latte Lath was well-placed to apply the finishing touch.

On a rare occasion Birmingham threatened it was Alex Pritchard, the man who refused to play for Sunderland before joining the Blues, who fired high and wide.

Off the pitch the Boro fans showed their support for one of Teesside’s own, Birmingham manager Tony Mowbray, who is currently sidelined due to medical reasons.

Latte Lath went close again for Boro as the half entered its closing stages when he grazed the upright with a low strike.

Ayling also had a penalty appeal waved away when he was through on goal and it appeared he had been brought down without the ball being played.

Matt Clarke headed wide in the final moments from a corner, but there were no further goals before the whistle and the home side were booed from the field.

Having already made one enforced change during the first half, Birmingham made two more at half-time in a bid to find a route back into the contest.

It was an untidy start to the second period, further interrupted when there was a delay while fourth official Jeremy Simpson took over refereeing duties from Any Davies.

With 25 minutes remaining Carrick made his first change of the night, Sam Greenwood replacing Forss.

Finn Azaz was next to come on when he replaced goalscorer McGree as the game entered its final 15 minutes.

Boro were managing the game to good effect after Birmingham’s initial raise in tempo at the start of the second period, and the home fans were quick to voice their frustrations.

Chances were limited in. the second half. Greenwood sent a free-kick over the bar, but entertainment was in short supply. No matter, though, as Boro ground out a third successive victory, despite eight minutes of added time.