Middlesbrough 1-2 Accrington Stanley - Match Report

896b1fa2fed911e2bfa222000ae904e2_6 LEAGUE TWO Accrington Stanley condemned Middlesbrough to their second defeat in four days as they beat last year's quarter finalists 2-1 at The Riverside. Lukas Jutkiewicz's ninth minute strike was cancelled out by Marcus Carver just before half time. Piero Mingoia sealed the cupset in the 79th minute. But Boro will be frustrated by the amount of chances they wasted as they were the only side who looked like winning for the first 80 minutes. The Teessiders were playing their first home game in the League Cup since they beat Yeovil 5-1 back in 2008. A run that has seen them clock up in excess of 3,500 midweek miles. Their opponents Stanley were looking to avoid going out in the 1st round for the second year running. It was the first time these two teams had met in any fixture and it was Stanley who came out on top in a very one sided game. Middlesbrough fielded a strong team for cup they won in 2004, Tony Mowbray handed starts to seven of the team that were beaten by Leicester at the weekend. Which included a 100th start for Marvin Emnes in a Middlesbrough jersey. Stanley manager James Beattie left out three of his side that lost their opening fixture at league newcomers Newport County 4-1. Middlesbrough were almost gifted a goal in the third minute by Accrington's Peter Murphy. The right back was caught napping in possession by Grant Leadbitter, who teed up Marvin Emnes in the penalty area; Accrington stopper Ian Dunbavin made a smart save. From the resulting corner; Lukas Jutkiewicz found space inside the penalty, but the number nine's header crept wide of the post. Accrington themselves nearly found themselves on the end of a present from Middlesbrough centre half Ben Gibson. His wayward pass straight to Peter Murphy, gave Accrington the chance to take an early lead; but a world class save from Boro keeper Jayson Leutwiler kept the score goalless. Middlesbrough broke immediately down the other end. After Boro's initial counter attack fizzled out; a hopeful header over the top from Jozsef Varga found Lukas Jutkiewicz who beat a Stanley offside trap to slot home the opener after just ninth minute. Boro should have made it two not long after. Leadbitter's through ball found Hoyte down the right wing, his perfect cross into the six yard area could not be converted by Jutkiewicz who really should have doubled his tally for the night. The gap in class between the two teams continued throughout the first half. Accrington continued to be wasteful in possession and the hosts continued to create chance after chance. Jutkiewicz continued to cause the Lancastrians problems in the penalty area. Both centre halves didn't pick him up as he made his way towards the backpost as Muzzy Carayol whipped a dangerous delivery into the box; unfortunately for Boro it was behind Boro's striker. Accrington centre forward Marcus Carver was making the most of the scraps he was receiving from his midfield. He caught Grant Leadbitter in possession just inside is own half, it took a last ditch tackle off Boro skipper Rhys Williams to deny him a chance to go one-on-one with Leutwiler. Completely against the run of play Accrington scored a contentious equaliser. A long throw into the box was not dealt with by Jayson Leutwiler after he came to punch; despite the best efforts of Rhys Williams and Justin Hoyte to hoist clear Marcus Carver's 39th minute, goal bound flick. Assistant referee Matt McGrath adjudged the ball to have crossed the line. A goal-mouth scramble almost resulted in Boro once again taking the lead. The Accrington defence were at sixes and sevens trying to rid the ball from the box, it eventually fell to Carayol who stung the palms of Dunbavin in the League 2 side's net. Boro finished the half very strongly, with a procession of corners, however the sides went into half time at 1-1. The Teessiders were out well before their counterparts and seemed to have a sense of urgency going into the second half. They were keen to not put in the same kind of performance in the second half as they did against Leicester on Saturday. A gut-busting run from the centre of defence by Boro's Gibson resulted in his shot falling kindly to Jutkiewicz, moments after the restart. However his lay off to Leadbitter was blazed high and wide by the Smoggie number seven. The home faithful sensed Boro were on the front foot as they were having several attempts at Dunbavin in a short period of time. Ledesma and Leadbitter tested from long distance before the ball went out for a goal kick. Middlesbrough were then unhappy with referee Scott Duncan who decided to award Accrington a dubious corner. It somehow worked into the Boro's favour as the ball was cleared, four red shirts followed the ball into their opponents half; Stanley's defence were not alive to the danger. But Lukas Jutkiewicz's tame cross couldn't find anyone as the ball fizzled out for a goal kick. Boro's frustrations started to mount. The Stanley backline were reducing the hosts to long range shots; Mustapha Carayol's 55th minute effort ended up in the top tier of The Riverside's north stand. The pressure on the away side's net continued to mount. Lukas Jutkiewicz missed a chance he would have expected to hit the target from. Grant Leadbitter swung in a deadly ball from a corner, but the Boro striker was put off enough by Tom Aldred that his shot went tamely wide. Boro were now camped in the Accrington half of the pitch. Ledesma came close in the 65th minute, after a good bit of work to control Mustapha Carayol's corner, his left footed shot went agonizingly over. Former Boro trainee James Gray was then introduced into the action, he replaced their goalscorer Marcus Carver, who received a warm hand from his travelling support. Boro goalscorer Jutkiewicz was replaced by Main up front, and the striker almost made an immediate impact. Rhys Williams pile driver from downtown fell kindly at the feet of Main, however the striker was adjudged to have been tackled fairly at the last minute. Trickery down Boro's left from Carayol presented recently brought on Adam Reach with an opportunity, however the flanker could not find the target as his shot sailed miles over the bar. Reach the turned provider for Luke Williams, another fellow substitute, his long range shot stung the palms of Dunbavin. His parry fell kindly to the feet of Williams whose weak shot went wide. Accrington, once again against the run of play scored and this time took the lead. Watford loanee Piero Mingoia found a lot of space on the edge of the Middlesbrough box from an corner that wasn't cleared properly. Mongoia's 80th minute shot flew past the outstretched arm of Leutwiler. Boro continued to pile forward in search of an equaliser to level the game and send it to extra time. All three substitutes Main, Reach and Williams had shots in a goalmouth scramble, however none were able to find the net. Jozsef Varga came close just as the fourth official announced five minutes of added time, his stinging shot was met by the fingertips of Dunbavin. From the resulting corner Leadbitter's goal bound shot was tipped around the post once again by the Accrington stopper. At the final whistle a chorus of boos rang around The Riverside as Middlesbrough lost their second game on the bounce after earlier leading; this time it was to a team two leagues below them. After watching his side create countless opportunities but failing to find the net, Tony Mowbray said:
"We didn't take our opportunities, we didn't turn our domination into goals is obviously frustrating. We cannot hide from the fact that we didn't put the ball in their net and we paid for it. "The players application for the challenge in front of them was fine. They looked like the team that were in a different league to them, yet bottom line you have to score goals, you have to take your chances. "Credit it to them, they hung in, they dug in, they defended very resolutely. The way they got their head on every ball that came in to the box. And yet two set plays, a long through and a corner and they score two goals."
Teams: Middlesbrough (4-4-2) Leutwiler, Hoyte, Friend, R Williams (c), Leadbitter, Varga, Jutkiewicz (Reach 72'), Emnes (L Williams 78'), Ledesma (Main 72'), Carayol, Gibson Goals: Jutkiewicz (9') Accrington Stanley (4-5-1) Dunbavin, Murphy, Liddle, Aldred, Richardson, Hatfield, Clark (McCartan 70'), Mingoia (Wilson 90'), Hunt (c), Carver (Gray 70'), Atkinson Goals: Carver (39') Mingoia (81') WhatCulture.com Man of the Match: Ian Dunbavin Attendance: 6,774 (185 away)
Contributor
Contributor

I'm a jack of all trades sports writer. A connoisseur of long ball, cross-field, championship football; I am often spotted with my head in my hands in and around The Riverside Stadium. Try and fail to play cricket; much better as a spectator with pint(s) of beer in hand.