Middlesbrough defeated Stoke City 3-1, ending a five-match losing streak and boosting their Championship play-off hopes. Goals from Forss, Azaz and Conway secured the win.
Middlesbrough ended their five-match losing streak with a 3-1 victory over Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium, reigniting their Championship play-off aspirations.
Michael Carrick’s side had been in poor form since their last win on January 21, a slump that saw them fall from fifth to 13th in the league table. This win lifts them to 11th place, narrowing the gap to the play-off positions to four points.
Marcus Forss opened the scoring for Boro, his first goal since last March. Bae Jun-Ho equalised for Stoke before halftime, but Finn Azaz restored Middlesbrough’s lead in the 52nd minute. Tommy Conway secured the victory with a third goal 17 minutes from the end of the match.
Stoke City, managed by Mark Robins, remain five points above the relegation zone and dropped to 20th place.
Match Highlights
Middlesbrough started brightly and deservedly took the lead when Forss scored with a shot from the edge of the box. Stoke responded with an equaliser just before halftime, Bae Jun-Ho finishing off a good move with a side-foot finish.
Player Ratings
Mark Travers – 7: Didn’t have many saves to make, but made a good double save in the first half and another decent stop in the second.
Anfernee Dijksteel – 7: A solid performance at right-back, keeping Bae Junho quiet for most of the game.
Dael Fry – 8: Dominant at the back, helping Middlesbrough control the game.
George Edmundson – 6: Struggled for Stoke’s goal, losing out in the air to Nathan Lowe. Was replaced early in the second half.
Neto Borges – 7: Another positive performance. Dealt well with Million Manhoef before he was substituted.
Aidan Morris – 7: Alongside Hackney, helped Middlesbrough control the midfield.
Hayden Hackney – 8: Excellent performance, driving Middlesbrough forward and starting the attack for the second goal.
Marcus Forss – 8: Scored an early goal and was bright throughout the game. Could have had an assist.
Morgan Whittaker – 7: Another encouraging performance. Purposeful with the ball.
Finn Azaz – 9: Excellent return to the starting lineup, scoring a goal and providing an assist. Roamed well from the left.
Tommy Conway – 8: Missed a sitter in the first half but scored his tenth goal of the season and assisted Azaz’s goal.
Substitutions
Luke Ayling (For Edmundson, 58’) – 6: Did what he had to with minimal fuss.
Delano Burgzorg (For Forss, 68’) – 6: Didn’t really get into the game after coming on.
Ryan Giles (For Azaz, 87’) – N/A
Samuel Iling-Junior (For Conway, 87’) – N/A
Concluding Remarks
Middlesbrough’s victory was a crucial one, easing the pressure on manager Michael Carrick and bringing them closer to the play-off places. The win was built on a strong attacking display and solid performances from key players like Finn Azaz and Hayden Hackney. While Stoke City remain above the relegation zone, they will need to improve their form to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle.
Sources: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cq5zey40p2gt
https://www.stokecityfc.com/news/2025/february/25/manhoef-wilmot-lowe-start-in-st4/
https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/middlesbrough-player-ratings-vs-stoke-31081620