MIDDLESBROUGH are back in the Premier League after holding ten-man Brighton to
a draw.
Cristhian Stuani netted the priceless early goal which proved enough to send
Aitor Karanka’s men back to the big time.
Dale Stephens did equalise with a header shortly after half-time before being
sent off for a horror
tackle on Gaston Ramirez.
Chris Hughton’s men pressed for a winner against the odds but could not find a
way through, leaving Karanka and Boro to count the £170million bounty they
will pick up in the top flight next year.
Karanka sprung a huge surprise by dropping Stewart Downing and Jordan Rhodes –
who has scored four in his last four games.
NOW READ:
But with both players signed reportedly signed against his wishes this season,
you wondered if it was two fingers up to the hierarchy in what could be the
Spanish boss’ last game in charge.
Or perhaps it was just tactical genius – because on 20 minutes their
replacements Stuani and David Nugent combined to put Boro ahead.
Gaston Ramirez floated in a free-kick to the far post which Nugent headed back
down, allowing Uruguayan ace Stuani to tap home.
Boro should have been home and dry by half-time but they failed to make the
most of several openings.
The best of which came when Albert Adomah picked out Stuani, whose crisp
volley was destined for the net were it not for Connor Goldson brilliantly
turning the ball over the bar.
Ramirez also came within a whisker of doubling the lead as his lob agonisingly
landed on the roof of the net.
Chris Hughton threw on James Wilson at the break and within ten minutes they
were level as Stephens somehow squeezed the ball in from a tight angle with
a header from Anthony Knockaert’s free-kick.
But just four minutes later Stephens had his moment of madness and was given a
straight red for a high foot on Ramirez that saw the Southampton loanee
taken off on a stretcher with a bloodied left shin.
Brighton rallied impressively despite the man disadvantage but were unable to
net a the all-important winner – even with EIGHT minutes of second-half
injury time.
There was a pitch invasion at full-time as Boro players, staff and fans
celebrated wildly their return to the top flight after seven years in the
wilderness.