Middlesbrough 2-1 Ipswich Town: Morgan Whittaker breaks scoring duck to beat Tractor Boys

By Mark Staniforth

MORGAN Whittaker finally ended his long drought for Middlesbrough, scoring the decisive goal against Ipswich which earned him praise from boss Rob Edwards.

The 24-year-old had gone 25 games without scoring since his big-money move from Plymouth in January, but his 55th-minute strike ultimately sent Boro back to the top of the table on Friday night.

He added to Cedric Kipre’s own goal in first-half added-time, while Dara O’Shea’s late response for Albion – who had missed a penalty via George Hirst – proved a mere consolation.

Match action

Victory snapped a three-game winless run for the hosts, who had made their intent plain by pummelling the visitors’ goal after a forgettable first half hour.

Ipswich, stewing over a penalty appeal that was turned down after Hirst’s rising shot struck the arm of Alfie Jones, were saved three times in quick succession by goalkeeper Alex Palmer.

He first stopped a low drive from Tommy Conway, then flipped Hayden Hackney’s deflected effort over the bar before tipping away Alan Browne’s drive.

The visitors almost snatched the lead at the other end when Dael Fry hooked an effort from Sammie Szmodics from near the goalline.

Boro swiftly broke with Delano Burgzorg’s low effort parried by Palmer into the path of David Strelec, who spooned it wide.

Boro looked set to pay the price when Callum Brittain’s shirt-tug on Leif Davis won the visitors a 42nd-minute penalty, but Sol Brynn dived to his right to tip Hirst’s spot-kick around the post.

And a breathless end to the first period was complete in added time when Burgzorg wriggled around the left edge of the Town defence and delivered a cross that took a slight deflection and the ball dribbled into the net off Kipre.

Second half

Boro wrested the momentum at the start of the second half, and after Burgzorg fired a speculative effort over the bar, they doubled their lead.

Strelec’s low cross was palmed away by Palmer under pressure e from Conway and fell to Whittaker, who lashed home to put Edwards’ men in control.

Whittaker drove another effort wide on the end of Burgzorg’s counter.

But instead it was Ipswich who reduced the deficit when O’Shea glanced home a 76th-minute header. 

Despite this Boro saw out the remaining minutes to take home all three points. 

Proud

Edwards believes Whittaker’s confidence will grow after shaking this monkey off his back.

“I’m really pleased for Whittaker,” he said. “There’s high expectations on him because he’s a really good player and he understands that.

“What I like about him is he’s a human being, he’s been open and honest and he’s been working through a really challenging period in his life.

“What I’d really like to celebrate is that he’s working very hard to get through it.”

Edwards went on: “I thought it was a great tear-up, two teams going right at it. They are very good and that’s why I’m really proud of the boys, because they showed the best of themselves.”