Middlesbrough 1 Watford 1: Mowbray relieved to take three points after controversial winner

Boro snatched victory and kept up their unbeaten start to the npower Championship at the Riverside courtesy of a Scott McDonald strike that looked well offside.

The Australian was not complaining. It broke his 11-game goal drought and fired Boro back into third spot going into a two week international break.

“Was it offside?” asked Mowbray. “Maybe. Probably. But it doesn’t matter.

“There are plenty of times when the flag goes up and it goes against you so we are happy to take it.

“But it was harsh on Watford because they probably will feel they deserved something from the game.

“It comes down to fine margins and that decision has gone against them but that’s life, especially in this division.

“For us, I think we made hard work of it. They caused a lot of problems, especially from set-plays where they were a real threat at times so there is a bit of relief about it.

“But we have won back-to-back games now, and back-to-back games here at home too so we have got to be happy with that.

“It would have been a disappointing two weeks if we had conceded a late goal but as it is we go into the break in a good position and in good spirits and we can regroup ready to go again in a fortnight.”

Boro broke the deadlock on 41 minutes as Robson pushed the ball into the box for McDonald to burst from an offside position and when Scott Loach blocked his first shot he reacted well to steer the rebound home. Watford threatened after the break with a barrage of corners as Carl Dickinson had an effort blocked on the line.

Middlesbrough: Steele,McMahon,McManus,Bates,Bennett,Robson, Rhys Williams,Bailey,Zemmama (Haroun 59),Emnes, McDonald (Ogbeche 70). Unused substitutes: Arca,Martin,Smallwood. Booked: Robson. Goals: McDonald 41.

Watford: Loach,Hodson (Forsyth 90),Mariappa,Nosworthy,Dickinson, Yeates,Buaben (Jenkins 83),Hogg,Deeney,Sordell, Iwelumo (Beattie 65). Unused substitutes: Gilmartin,Mirfin. Booked: Hogg.

Referee: J Waugh (South Yorkshire).

Man of the match: Scott McDonald.