Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday player ratings: One key 8 for Boro's controller

Middlesbrough

Brynn: Little to do. 6

Malanda: Played in front of Ayling, almost as a deep-lying midfielder at times. Sloppy several times. Booked. 5

Fry: One key first-half challenge. Solid. 7

Ayling: Boro’s best on the night alongside Morris. 7

Brittain: Got in some good positions, if not always with the execution. 6

Morris: Saw plenty of the ball, and started to take hold and control the game in the second half. 8

Browne: Did not take the shooting option when it opened up a couple of times. 6

Targett: Mixed bag, really. Came off in final quarter with an injury issue. 6

Whittaker: A welcome returnee for Boro. Looked ‘at it’ in first period after his goal before fading a little. Booked. 7

Conway: Trademark work rate for the team. Little attacking punch. 6

Strelec: Did not hit the heights of Sunday. Struggling to piece two games together. 5

Substitutes: Sarmiento (Whittaker 60) 6.

Sene (Conway 78).

Silvera (Strelec 78).

Bangura (Targett 81).

Not used: Wildsmith, Castledine, Edmundson, Hansen, Ibeh.

Sheffield Wednesday

Cooper: Sold short by Otegbayo for goal. 6

Palmer: Solid. Old pro. 6

Otegbayo: Appalling mistake for goal. Decent recovery. But still. 5

M Lowe: Composed enough in possession, apart from one error. 6

Fusire: Not error-free. Plenty of energy, mind. 6

Heskey: Kept going. 6

Nakamba: Handed a first Owls start. Did well enough. 6.

Thornton: Back in the starting line-up. Had some joy as play opened up for him at times early on. Booked for a second-half tug. 6

Adaramola: Got joy down the left in first half. 7

McNeill: One or two promising positions. 6

Yates: Very quiet, but little to feed off. 5

Substitutes: Chalobah (Nakamba 62) 6.

J Lowe (McNeill 62) 6.

Grainger (Thornton 68). Had a big chance. 6

Kobacki (Yates 83).

Not used: Stretch, Iorfa, McGhee, Moses, Silcott-Duberry.