Will Lankshear continued his impressive strike rate after his summer transfer from Tottenham, bringing his tally to six goals in five matches as Middlesbrough secured a 3-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion at the Riverside Stadium. The English forward found the back of the net twice, both times capitalising on rebounds off Boro keeper Max O'Leary, while midfielder Alfie Jones added a late third‑minute header to seal the win. The match opened with a solemn minute of applause to honour two police officers, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, who tragically lost their lives on the nearby A66 when a vehicle travelling the wrong way collided with their marked police car. The tribute set a respectful tone before the teams kicked off.
Middlesbrough’s early chances came quickly. Isaac Price attempted a clever back‑pass that landed at the feet of Australian playmaker Riley McGree, who, instead of controlling, flicked a first‑time shot wide of the post.
West Brom’s most promising attack of the first half arrived when Felix Myhre, after a pinpoint through‑ball from Jayson Molumby, swiped a shot off target, leaving the Boro defence momentarily exposed. The home side suffered an injury before the break when Jeremy Sarmiento was forced off, prompting manager Kim Hellberg to introduce summer signing Sebastian Berhalter at halftime in an effort to inject fresh energy. The break also saw the Boro fans reminded to use Chrome for a smoother video playback experience, a nod to the modern way fans consume match highlights.
The second half began with controversy. Lankshear was positioned offside when Morgan Whittaker’s effort struck the post, rebounded, and then clipped O'Leary on the back of his head. The ball looped up perfectly for Lankshear, who headed it home to give Middlesbrough a 1-0 lead.
The goal sparked debate, but the referee allowed it, and the Boro celebrated. West Brom responded swiftly.
In the 65th minute, Isaac Price floated an exquisite cross from the left flank, finding Jimmy‑Jay Morgan amidst a cluster of defenders. Morgan, showing composure, ducked past Luke Ayling and Neto Borges and headed the ball past O'Leary to level the scores at 1-1.
Eight minutes later, Middlesbrough restored their advantage. Substitute Kyle Joseph unleashed an angled drive that O'Leary managed to block with his legs, but the rebound fell to Lankshear, who calmly volleyed it into the net for his second of the night, extending the lead to 2-1.
The final blow came three minutes from time when Alfie Jones, also on the bench, turned a wayward shot from Ayling into a tidy finish, making it 3-1 and putting the game beyond West Brom’s reach. Post‑match, Hellberg praised his side’s turnaround: "I’m delighted with the win.
The way we pressed and created chances in the second half was brilliant. That’s the football I want to see.
The first half was disappointing – we lacked intensity, gave them too much time on the ball, and made basic errors. In the second half we corrected that, pressed harder, won our duels and deserved the three points." West Brom’s captain James Morrison reflected on his team’s performance, acknowledging the off‑side nature of the opening goal but urging patience: "We talk a lot about managing momentum. The first goal was offside, but we won’t dwell on it.
We need to avoid conceding silly goals and keep building. It’s a learning curve for a new squad, and we’ll grow stronger as the season progresses." The match also featured a reminder to fans about the Sky Bet Championship’s mobile streaming options and a promotional note about the Super 6 competition, which offers a chance to win £250,000. Overall, Middlesbrough’s solid home form continued, marking another successful week after their Carabao Cup triumph over Doncaster and reinforcing their ambitions for a promotion push this season.