2 weeks Ago
Michal Helik gave United the lead seven minutes before the break to provide his team with the advantage following a promising first half. That work was undone three minutes into the second period though, when Kelechi Iheanacho grabbed an equaliser, and Boro found a winner via Neto Borges with 10 minutes to go. We picked out the key talking points from the Riverside Stadium.
The U’s started brightly and could’ve taken the lead with just five minutes on the clock. Matt Phillips picked out Przemyslaw Placheta with a great low cross, however the latter could only fire the ball at Boro goalkeeper Mark Travers. It was then the turn of Phillips to get his angles wrong, as he scuffed narrowly wide after a Siriki Dembele corner found its way through the crowd to him at the back post.
Mark Harris had the chance to charge though a gap in the Boro defence, but Jonny Howson recovered well, and then appeals for a penalty when Howson seemingly clipped Harris were waved away. United were finally rewarded for an encouraging first half when Helik volleyed in following a throw-in seven minutes before half-time. Three minutes into the second period though, Iheanacho converted a Samuel Iling-Junior cross, and from that point on, the U’s never really looked like troubling the Boro goal.
It looked like United might grind out a draw, but a smart backheeled finish from Borges won the points for the hosts. Gary Rowett made an enforced change at half-time, when Peter Kioso replaced the injured Phillips, a switch which saw Hidde ter Avest shuffle across to left wing back and Kioso line up down the right. Rowett then replaced all three of his attackers with 25 minutes to go, but the changes did little to spark life into the U’s.
None of Stan Mills, Tom Bradshaw or Tyler Goodrham could assert themself on the game, while the performances of Goodrham are becoming a worry. His bright and energetic displays in the opening months of the season have been replaced by those seemingly lacking in confidence. Goodrham has one assist since his red card at Exeter City in the Emirates FA Cup, and he hasn’t looked at all the same player in 2025.
United have scored a goal in each of their last four games, and three of them have come from set pieces. Throw-ins from Will Vaulks led to the goals at Norwich City and Boro, while Helik scored from a Phillips corner at Hull City. Goals from set plays aren’t the problem, however struggling to get on the scoresheet from open play certainly is.
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