MX23RW : Wednesday, August 5 17:10:50| >> :600:107789:107789:
Dec 7, 2019 at 3pm UK at Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 18,681
Middlesbrough
1-0
CharltonCharlton Athletic
Saville (1')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Result: First-minute Saville goal enough for Boro to beat Charlton

Result: First-minute Saville goal enough for Boro to beat Charlton
© Reuters
Struggling Boro have now claimed back-to-back home wins.

George Saville's first-minute strike proved sufficient to earn Middlesbrough a deserved 1-0 win over Charlton.

Saville struck after 50 seconds to settle things at the Riverside and ensure Jonathan Woodgate won his dug-out duel with former Leeds team-mate Lee Bowyer and celebrate back-to-back home wins for the first time in his managerial career.

Middlesbrough were without nine senior players through a combination of injury, illness and suspension, meaning Woodgate had to hand 19-year-old Djed Spence a first league start.

But his patched-up side did him proud as they claimed a fourth win of the season.

The Teessiders had been thrashed by Leeds in their previous game but any fears of an Elland Road hangover were dispelled as they claimed the lead inside a minute.

Ashley Fletcher nipped in ahead of Dillon Phillips to prevent the Charlton goalkeeper from gathering Britt Assombalonga's deflected shot and the ball broke kindly for Saville, who swept home his first goal of the season from inside the area.

It came at the start of a first half that was completely dominated by the hosts, who caused a series of problems down the flanks thanks to direct running of Spence and fellow youngster Hayden Coulson.

Saville curled a sixth-minute strike wide as Boro controlled the early stages and Coulson went close midway through the first half when he cut in from the left, only for his side-footed shot to be blocked.

The chances continued to come before the break but Boro's forwards were unable to make the most of them.

Assombalonga fired over on the half-hour mark after his initial shot had been blocked by Deji Oshilaja and glanced a header wide after Adam Clayton floated over an inviting cross from the right.

Charlton failed to record a single effort at goal before the interval, forcing Bowyer into a double half-time change that saw Lyle Taylor return to the fray after an injury absence that had sidelined him since the end of August.

The visitors were a livelier proposition in the second half, although Boro still came close to claiming a second goal as Assombalonga met Coulson's cross with a back-post header that was saved by Phillips.

Marcus Tavernier wasted an excellent opportunity as he volleyed Spence's cross over the bar from the edge of the six-yard box before Charlton finally recorded their first shot with 20 minutes left, Conor Gallagher curling just past the far post after cutting in from the left.

With the Addicks finally coming to life, Boro were hanging on in the closing stages and Aynsley Pears made a crucial save with one minute left, flinging himself to his right to keep out Albie Morgan's low drive.

ID:382080:
Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Charlton Athletic manager Lee Bowyer pictured on October 19, 2019
Read Next:
Bowyer reveals vomit and diarrhoea hit Charlton squad before Wednesday defeat
>
Latest Sports Video
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.

rhs 2.0
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeeds UnitedLeeds46289977354293
4Cardiff CityCardiff4619161168581073
5Swansea CitySwansea461816126253970
6Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest461816125850870
7Millwall461717125751668
8Preston North EndPreston461812165954566
9Derby CountyDerby461713166264-264
10Blackburn RoversBlackburn461712176663363
11Bristol City461712176065-563
RWigan AthleticWigan461514175756159
13Queens Park RangersQPR461610206776-958
14Reading461511205958156
15Stoke CityStoke46168226268-656
16Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds461511205866-856
17Middlesbrough461314194861-1353
18Huddersfield TownHuddersfield461312215270-1851
19Luton TownLuton46149235482-2851
20Birmingham CityBirmingham461214205475-2150
21Barnsley461213214969-2049
RCharlton AthleticCharlton461212225065-1548
RHull City46129255787-3045

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!