Pre Match :
Before the match, a special man close to boro family heart returned to The Riverside. Leo Percovich was in a tragic car crash which killed his 2 young daughters. Leo returns with some powerful words motivating and thanking both the fans and players the reason Leo is so dear in the Boro fans eyes is that he was apart of the club for quite a few years as a coach.
Leo when he returned today.
Line-Ups ;
Middlesbrough :
Darren Randolph
Ryan Shotton
Daniel Ayala
Ben Gibson
George Friend
Johnny Howson
Adam Clayton
Muhammed Bèsic
Adama Traore
Britt Assombalonga
Stewart Downing
Aston Villa :
Sam Johnstone
Ahmed Elmohamady
James Chester
John Terry
Alan Hutton
Mile Jedinak
Ryan Snodgrass
Connor Hurihane
Jack Grealish
Albert Adomah
Lewis Grabban
First Half :
In the first half, Aston Villa was the better team from beginning to the end of the half. Boro was losing the balls by stupid pass and sloppy challenges, Villa took advantage of this in the 15' minute from a corner. Mile Jedinak was the one to score for the Villa side from the front post of Darren Randolph's head and into the back of the net. After the goal, the ball was passed around between the two teams.
Second Half :
The second half was getting lively for the home side balls were still being lost in sloppy was, however, more balls were reaching the final three and into the box of the Villa half throughout both halves of the match Villa defenders had key man Adama Traore sussed stopping him from connecting with the ball and gaining possession for Villa. A key chance for the Boro came when substitute Fabio Da Silva came on and livened the game up, gaining the ball Fabio pushed up and passing the ball into box missing striker Britt Assombalonga and winger Adama Traore.
Top 3 :
Gold - Mile Jedinak ( Aston Villa defensive midfeilder )
Silver - George Friend ( Boro Left Back )
Bronze - Daniel Ayala ( Middlesbrough Centre Back )
