Will Lankshear continued his impressive start to the season with a double‑goal performance, helping Middlesbrough secure a 3-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion at the Riverside Stadium. The former Tottenham youngster, who joined Boro over the summer, now boasts six goals in his first five appearances, underlining his rapid adaptation to the Championship. Both of his strikes came after the West Brom goalkeeper, Max O'Leary, failed to clear rebounds, and Alfie Jones added a late header to seal the win with three minutes remaining.
The match opened with a somber moment as the crowd observed a minute's silence in memory of PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, the two police officers who lost their lives on the nearby A66 when a vehicle traveling the wrong way collided with their marked police car. The tribute set a reflective tone before the teams kicked off.
Middlesbrough began brightly, creating an early chance when Isaac Price slipped a back‑pass straight to Riley McGree. The Australian midfielder, however, flicked a first‑time effort wide, missing an opportunity to put the home side ahead.
West Brom responded with a promising attack of their own; a precise through‑ball from Jayson Molumby released Felix Myhre, who swept his shot wide of the post, leaving the Boro defence untested. The first half was a tight affair, with both sides struggling to find a breakthrough.
Boro’s Jeremy Sarmiento had to leave the pitch with an injury before the break, prompting manager Kim Hellberg to make a tactical substitution at halftime, introducing summer signing Sebastian Berhalter in an effort to inject fresh energy. The second half began with a controversial moment.
After a shot from Morgan Whittaker struck the post, the rebound fell to Max O'Leary, who inadvertently struck the ball with the back of his head. The ball looped into the penalty area, where Lankshear, who had been caught offside earlier, managed to get his head on the ball and direct it into the net, giving Middlesbrough a contentious lead. West Brom fought back quickly.
In the 65th minute, Isaac Price delivered a superb cross from the left flank. Jimmy‑Jay Morgan rose above his marker, Luke Ayling, and headed the ball past O'Leary to equalise, restoring parity and raising the stakes for the final minutes. Eight minutes later, Boro regained the advantage.
Substitute Kyle Joseph unleashed an angled shot that O'Leary managed to block with his legs, but the rebound fell to Lankshear, who calmly volleyed home to make it 2-1. The striker’s composure under pressure highlighted his growing confidence at the club. The decisive blow came in the 87th minute when Alfie Jones, coming off the bench, capitalised on a miscued clearance from Ayling.
Jones met the loose ball with a well‑timed header, sending it past the bewildered goalkeeper and cementing Middlesbrough’s win. After the final whistle, Hellberg praised his side’s resilience. "I’m extremely pleased with the result and the way we turned the game around after the break," he said. "Our pressing in the second half was intense, and we created a flood of chances.
The first half was disappointing – we lacked intensity, gave away too much possession, and made basic errors. But the lads showed character, pressed better, won their duels, and deserved the three points." West Brom’s manager, James Morrison, reflected on his team’s performance, acknowledging the frustration of conceding a goal that appeared offside.
"We’ve been trying to manage momentum and start each half strongly," he remarked. "The timing of goals has been a problem for us – we scored in the Carabao Cup only to concede immediately after. We’re a new squad, learning as we go, and we’ll improve with experience." The match also featured a reminder for fans to use Chrome for an optimal video playback experience, as well as promotional messages about watching Championship highlights on mobile devices and entering the Super 6 competition for a chance to win £250,000. Overall, Middlesbrough’s victory marked their second consecutive home win in the Sky Bet Championship, building on the confidence generated by their recent Carabao Cup triumph over Doncaster.
Lankshear’s brace not only boosted his personal tally but also demonstrated his growing importance in Kim Hellberg’s attacking setup. As the season progresses, Boro will look to maintain this momentum, while West Brom will aim to tighten up defensively and convert their chances more efficiently in the upcoming fixtures.