Will Lankshear continued his impressive start to the season, finding the back of the net twice in Middlesbrough's 3-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion at the Riverside Stadium. The former Tottenham youngster, who joined Boro in the summer, now boasts six goals in his first five appearances, underscoring his rapid adaptation to Championship football. The match began with a somber moment as a minute of applause was observed for PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, the two police officers who tragically lost their lives on the A66 when a vehicle traveling the wrong way collided with their marked police car just under two miles from the stadium. Their memory was honoured before the teams kicked off.
Early chances fell to both sides. Middlesbrough nearly opened the scoring when Isaac Price supplied a neat back‑pass to Riley McGree, who, in a flash of instinct, flicked a first‑time shot wide of the target. West Brom responded with a promising move when Jayson Molumby threaded a precise through‑ball to Felix Myhre, whose ensuing strike drifted harmlessly over the bar. The home side suffered an early setback when Jeremy Sarmiento was forced off with an injury, prompting manager Kim Hellberg to introduce summer signing Sebastian Berhalter at the interval in an attempt to inject fresh energy into the side.
The second half got underway with a controversial opening goal. Morgan Whittaker struck a powerful shot that struck the post and rebounded. The ball then hit West Brom goalkeeper Max O'Leary on the back of his head and lofted into the air, where Lankshear, who had been positioned offside, managed to head the ball into the net. Although the goal was contentious, the referee allowed it to stand, giving Middlesbrough a 1-0 lead.
West Brom soon equalised. Isaac Price delivered a superb cross from the left flank, and Jimmy‑Jay Morgan rose above his marker, Luke Ayling, to meet the ball with a well‑timed header that found the back of the net in the 65th minute, restoring parity at 1-1.
Just eight minutes later, Boro reclaimed 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 goal showcased Lankshear's poise and his knack for capitalising on second‑ball opportunities.
The final blow came in the dying minutes of the match. Alfie Jones, who had been introduced earlier, seized upon a mis‑directed attempt from Ayling, turning the ball past the bewildered goalkeeper to seal a 3-1 win for Middlesbrough.
After the final whistle, Hellberg praised his team's resilience, saying, "I'm delighted with the result. The way we turned the game around after the break was fantastic – intense pressing, lots of chances created. That's the kind of football I want to see. The first half was honestly terrible.
We lacked intensity, gave them too much time on the ball, and made basic errors. In the second half we corrected that, fought our duels, and earned a fair win." West Brom manager James Morrison reflected on his side's performance, acknowledging the disappointment of conceding a questionable goal and the need to improve their defensive discipline. He added, "We're a new team still finding our rhythm. Mistakes happen, but we’ll learn and get stronger.
The timing of goals has been frustrating – we just got knocked out of the Carabao Cup after scoring, so we need to keep working on consistency." Beyond the on‑field action, the match featured a few technical notes for fans. Viewers were advised to use the Chrome browser for optimal video playback, and the club reminded supporters that Championship highlights are available to watch for free online. Additionally, the club promoted its Super 6 competition, offering a chance to win £250,000 at no cost.
Overall, Middlesbrough's victory not only marked a successful continuation of their early season form but also highlighted Lankshear's growing importance to the squad. His two‑goal haul, combined with contributions from substitutes Kyle Joseph and Alfie Jones, illustrated the depth and attacking options available to Hellberg.
As the team builds momentum following their recent Carabao Cup win over Doncaster, Boro fans will be hoping the side can maintain this high level of performance as the Championship campaign progresses.