Steele’s penalty heroics enable Mowbray’s men to remain on course

Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray admitted he was concerned his side would throw away the lead in a turbulent final period at the Riverside.

Boro looked to be cruising after first-half goals from Ishmael Miller and birthday boy Richard Smallwood, but Blackpool hit back in a ding-dong second half, clawing one back through Wes Thomas before Scott McDonald restored Boro’s lead.

Blackpool forced a second goal through Chris Basham then, in a pivotal moment, won a disputed penalty only for Jason Steele to save from Thomas Ince and Boro sealed victory late on through Adam Reach.

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Boro are just one point behind second-placed Hull City on 47.

“It was a bit nervous in the second half and when we gave away the penalty it looked as if we would throw it all away, but Jason made a truly fantastic save to keep us in front,” said Mowbray after Boro secured their first home league victory over Blackpool for 39 years.

The penalty came when Jonathan Woodgate tackled Gary Taylor-Fletcher and, although the referee waved play on, the linesman persuaded him to alter his opinion.

“The frustration is that an official 70 yards away can over-rule one 10 yards away without even having a discussion,” said Mowbray. “That was a little strange.

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“But, in the end, it wasn’t crucial because Jason made the save, we won the game, we got the three points and we move on.

“I was pleased because in the first half we played some fabulous football. It was as good as we have played all season.

“We knew they would come at us in the second half because we couldn’t keep that level of play up and they had to gamble a bit.”

Blackpool manager Michael Appleton was dismayed with his side’s poor showing in a one-sided first half.

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“It was disappointing for myself and the staff and more so for the players because they were well short of how they can play.

“I’ve got to say I didn’t see that first half coming. We improved in the second half and nearly did enough to get back into it. At the end of the day, we are one excellent penalty save away from salvaging a game away at a side that are up at the top.

“When I took over people told me when Blackpool are good they are very, very good – but when they are bad they are awful. I think in the first half I saw that bad side of us.”

Middlesbrough: Steele, Hoyte (Parnaby 21), Woodgate, R Williams, Halliday, Emnes (Jutkiewicz 82), Leadbitter, Bailey, Smallwood, Miller (Reach 65), McDonald. Unused substitutes: Leutwiler, Zemmama, Thomson, L Williams.

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Blackpool: Gilks, Crainey, Broadfoot, Cathcart, Baptiste, Basham, Gomes (Sylvestre 57), Taylor-Fletcher, Delfouneso (Martinez 37), Thomas, Ince. Unused substitutes: Halstead, Eardley, Kevin Phillips, Harris, Dicko.

Referee: S Attwell (Warwickshire).

Man of the match: Ishmael Miller.