Pre match news

The Blues made two changes to the side that started on Sunday, with Onuoha making his first start of the league campaign in place of Garrido, but with Micah Richards playing at left back. Up front, Danny Sturridge came in for Ched Evans after impressing in his stint as substitute on Sunday, the Welsh striker starting on the bench.

The match

The hosts had early claims for a penalty waved away by referee Mason when the ball seemed to strike Richards’ hand at a free kick. Within a minute Robinho was setting himself up for a shot after cutting in from the left, but his effort curled long way round Turnbull’s left post.

Eight minutes were on the clock when Ireland robbed Digard to set up Robinho, whose shot forced Turnbull into a good save, with the rebound being quickly cleared to safety. Two minutes later Downing whipped in a cross that deflected off Onuoha on the way over to Alves, who headed the chance straight at Joe Hart.

Boro’s Brazilian striker looked to be setting himself up for a good chance on his left a quarter of an hour in, but a superb tackle from Onuoha denied him, and City were quickly breaking down to the other end. The first chance, to SWP, came to nothing, but within seconds Micah Richards was cutting in from the left flank to fire a well-hit effort straight at Turnbull.

Richard Dunne needed treatment halfway through the first half after colliding with Hart as Alves homed in on a long ball over from the right, and on 29 minutes Sanli’s volley on the turn did not trouble City’s keeper. On the half hour fine work from Ireland released Sturridge, who moved in from the right to get onto his left foot inside the area and shoot directly at Turnbull. Vincent Kompany picked up the first yellow card of the night shortly afterwards, and in doing so earned himself a one-match ban after reaching five in the league season so far. The Belgian will miss the game against Spurs, with the ban starting a week from tonight’s game.

Gareth Southgate’s side had the best of the rest of the half, with Alves closest to getting a chance when he clambered above Onuoha to try to get to a cross. A quiet half ended with mild controversy, the home fans thinking Sturridge was feigning injury while Boro attacked. Eventually the City striker was treated, with a chorus of boos from the home fans, and Stevie Ireland received a yellow card for a foul during the attack that Lee Mason had waved on.

The second half started with a similar incident, and with City’s best chance of the game so far. Stuart Downing took a boot to the face while Ben Haim cleared, and straight away Stephen Ireland was bursting into the box and shooting for the far bottom corner – but Turnbull made a good save, and Elano’s follow-up on the rebound looped easily back to the Boro stopper. 

Within two minutes Turnbull had kept the score level with an even better save. Sturridge backheeled to SWP, whose instant low shot rebounded away off the keeper’s feet.

But on 52 minutes Boro took the lead in controversial circumstances. Sturridge and Wheater tangled on the edge of the box, and referee Mason pointed to the spot. Replays showed that the incident  was right on the line with Wheater looking to be outside, but eventually Afonso Alves stepped up to send Hart the wrong way and put the home side into a scarcely-deserved lead.  

The penalty had livened both sides up, with City now chasing the game. Ben Haim drove a low shot that forced Turnbull to make a save on 58, and seconds later Sanli was whipping a shot across Hart and just past the post.

City pressed for the equaliser, and Danny Sturridge spurned a great chance with 19 minutes left.  Kompany’s long-range shot was saved, and the rebound fell invitingly to the young striker – who blazed the ball across the goal and well wide when just a few yards out.

Boro’s solid defence continued to frustrate City, with SWP’s mazy run into the box on 84 minutes looking to set up a corner – which for some reason never came, Robinho earning a yellow card for his protests.

The home side continued to threaten on the break, and the final nail in the coffin came at the very end of the four minutes of stoppage time. Gary O’Neil set up Sanli, whose stabbed shot rebounded off Hart and back to O’Neil, who slammed the ball high into the back of the net to put the seal on a disappointing defeat for the Blues at the Riverside.