Birmingham City 1-3 Middlesbrough: Boro boost promotion hopes by returning to winning ways

Matt Targett’s first-half double helped Middlesbrough return to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Birmingham City and further boost their hopes of promotion to the Premier League.

Third-placed Millwall’s triumph at the weekend cut the gap to just the one point coming into the match, but Kim Hellberg’s side responded to restore their four-point advantage in second place.

Blues lost just their second league game at St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead since May 2024, which saw their chances of finishing in the play-offs slip further away and remain eight points behind the top six.

The visitors were on a three-game winless run ahead of their trip to the Midlands, but quickly extinguished any doubt their season was beginning to stutter when Targett hit a first-half brace to double his season tally.

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Deserved

Marvin Ducksch brought Birmingham back into the game with his ninth goal of the season, but David Strelec restored Boro’s two-goal advantage with his first goal of the calendar year.

Hellberg admitted after the game that Targett’s brace “was not in the plans”.

He switched his formation from a back four to three centre-halves, which allowed the left back to start higher up the pitch, but the Swedish boss did not expect the defender to get on the scoresheet.

Hellberg said: “The big difference was the defensive shape. Sometimes you get those things right, sometimes wrong.

“To guess Matt was going to score two goals from that position was not in the plans.

“But he did brilliantly, he deserved it. I’m very happy for him (Targett), he’s such a good guy.

“He’s been playing through pain, all sorts of things in different periods. He’s always got a smile on his face and been absolutely brilliant.

“Of course, it was connected with how we wanted to press them, and that showed how good they are in adapting to different game plans.”

Match action

The night did not begin too comfortably for Boro, who were almost punished in the third minute when Tommy Doyle took advantage of a misplaced pass and rifled an effort towards goal but Sol Brynn managed to palm behind.

However, the promotion chasers flexed their quality with the first proper opportunity of the match to open the scoring in the 13th minute.

Aidan Morris hit a diagonal ball into the path of Targett, who timed his run perfectly to get behind the defence and tuck home a composed finish beyond James Beadle.

Targett made 89 appearances for Birmingham’s arch rivals Aston Villa, and he was quick to silence the home supporters with his celebration.

The goal completely shifted the momentum and Middlesbrough capitalised once again by doubling their advantage 13 minutes later.

Christoph Klarer lost possession in a dangerous area to Hayden Hackney and the midfielder nodded to Targett, who was on hand to expertly bury his second goal of the night.

The home fans were not happy with what they were seeing as boos and jeers started to ring around St. Andrew’s, mainly aimed at goalkeeper Beadle, who had made a couple of sloppy passes.

Second half

Just like the first half, the Blues came out of the traps in the second period, with Kai Wagner taking aim straight at Brynn.

It took just three minutes of the second period for the hosts to halve the deficit after Jay Stansfield broke the offside trap and cut the ball back for Ducksch to roll home.

All of a sudden, the away side looked nervous and Brynn produced a fine save to deny Ducksch from equalising.

Middlesbrough settled those nerves as they re-established their two-goal lead on the hour.

Luke Ayling provided a dangerous cross for Strelec to guide his header in off the post to earn a much-needed three points for Boro.

Good day

The result increased their cushion to third-placed Millwall to four points, which boosts their hopes of automatic promotion while also snapping a three-game winless run.

Hellberg added: “It was a good day. There will be pressure all the time.

“Now the form has changed because we have seven wins, two draws and a loss, strongest in the league, so that’s how quick it can change. We win, we lose, we work the same way.

“One loss in two years at this place for Birmingham and a Premier League team (drew) here two weeks ago (Leeds in the FA Cup).

“They are a very good side and how we handled this game apart from the first 10 minutes feels brilliant.”

Need something special

Birmingham lost at home for the first time since a 3-2 defeat to Hull City in October, which leaves them eight points adrift of the play-off places.

Blues boss Chris Davies admitted it will take “something special” for his side to earn a top-six finish.

He said: “It was a really disappointing evening for us, we haven’t had too many like that since I’ve been here, but that was one of them.

“To go and say we [are] going to get into the play-offs, we need something special now, in terms of a run of form and a points return.

“We are capable, but it’s game by game. We can see where we are at the international break.

“Tonight felt like an opportunity against one of the top teams to make a statement and get a win, but unfortunately, it wasn’t to be.”

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