Middlesbrough 2 Swansea City 1 - Duncan Watmore delivers belated gift for Neil Warnock

Warnock turned 72 on Tuesday, and his players handed him the perfect present a day later as Watmore’s brace banished the memories of Saturday’s defeat to Huddersfield Town. The former Sunderland forward, who only signed as a free agent three weeks ago, claimed his first two goals in a Boro shirt, and while Yan Dhanda pulled a goal back for Swansea, Boro held on to secure a deserved three points.

Middlesbrough were the better side throughout, although it was their own goalkeeper, Marcus Bettinelli, who was the first to be called into the action.

The Fulham loanee got down well to keep out Jamal Lowe’s driven strike after Andre Ayew had played a slide-rule pass to his fellow forward in the box, and while the ball rebounded kindly for Connor Roberts, his follow-up effort was blocked by Marcus Tavernier’s outstretched leg.

It proved an important step, as Boro took the lead in the 26th minute.

Marvin Johnson’s precise pass sent Watmore galloping down the left, and after cutting inside the forward fired in a 20-yard strike that found the corner of the net via a deflection off Marc Guehi’s boot.

It was his first goal since netting in a 5-0 win over Tranmere for Sunderland back in October 2019.

The hosts stepped up a gear in the second half and claimed a deserved second goal in the 67th minute. Paddy McNair’s pass sent Watmore scampering into the right of the box, and the 26-year-old claimed his second strike of the night as he drilled a crisp low finish into the bottom corner.

Swansea responded with a goal of their own with 12 minutes remaining, when substitute Dhanda beat Bettinelli with a 20-yard strike after cutting in from the left.

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