Boro show ultimate strength in adversity

PLAYERS AND FANS UNITE TO WIN AGAINST THE ODDS

- By CRAIG JOHNS

IT just felt like one of those days where Middlesbrough would not be denied. Where the collective desire of the players and the supporters to battle through so much adversity was so powerful that nothing but a Boro win against Birmingham City was possible.

The Riverside was raucous, but the amount of obstacles put in Boro’s way were vast. The Rob Edwards-Wolves situation dominated the buildup to the game. And then during it, stand-in boss Adi Viveash was forced into a tactical rethink as Boro lost Dael Fry, and later Matt Targett to injury. On top of that, the officiating standards were so poor once again.

Boro refused to be denied on this day though. The Teesside spirit was strong, and it was fitting that it was two of their bonafide Teessiders in Fry and Hayden Hackney who got the goals to seal the 2-1 win.

Blues boss Chris Davies noted it after. In truth, there wasn’t much different about how Boro looked in the absence of Edwards. But the feeling in the Riverside was very different. 'Galvanised' was how Davies described Boro. Viveash felt it too. He described is as 'special' to lead the club in that environment. The third of three banners from the Red Faction fittingly read: “Unity is Strength....” On this day it most certainly was.

After a lowkey start, Boro got themselves in front when Fry turned home Callum Brittain’s corner. But their first bit of in-game adversity hit when Fry was forced off injured in the 24th minute. They were forced to change tactics and play the next 36 minutes with a back three of midfielder Alan Browne, career right-back Luke Ayling, and left-back Matt Targett.