Efficient or fortunate? What does it matter?
Boro were nowhere near their best at Griffin Park. They were second best all over the pitch in the first period and even in an improved second half looked a shadow of the team we’ve seen at times this season.
But that won’t matter come the start of May, three points will.
And Boro proved their promotion credentials yet again by grinding out a huge victory against an impressive Brentford outfit.
After that remarkable result last time out and the week in the spotlight that followed it was always going to be a test for Boro to switch back on to the job in hand and put in another similar display, despite the insistence of the boss that the City result was now a thing of the past.
Yet AK’s side found a way.
Make no mistake, this was Boro’s biggest result of the season so far. Bar none.
It was pivotal before Friday night but Bournemouth’s win over Watford just emphasised the need for Boro to pick up all the points.
Aitor Karanka’s reaction as the referee put the whistle to his mouth at full-time told the story. He knew the importance of the win. So did the players, so did the fans.
Here’s what we learnt from Boro’s win over Brentford:
It was a different Brentford to the side Boro battered earlier this season
From the glamour of the gold-plated Etihad to the grind at a rather grim Griffin Park.
Adam Forshaw warned his new team-mates about what was coming. A tight pitch and a raucous crowd packed in almost on top of the players.
And to top it off, Boro were up against a good side brimming with confidence.
Mark Warburton described his side’s display at the Riverside earlier this season as the worst of the campaign. He was out for revenge.
And judging by the way the Bees came flying out of the blocks, so were the players.
Boro were under the cosh in the first half against a side keen to play at a high tempo, to press high, to not give their opponents a second on the ball.
The visitors would have classed themselves lucky to go in level at half-time, as it was they were ahead thanks to Leadbitter’s penalty.
Fortunate? Yes. But Boro have dominated plenty of games this season yet failed to pick up maximum points.
Blackburn at home and away, Reading away, Leeds away. Swings and roundabouts.
Brentford will feel slightly aggrieved to have come away from yesterday’s game with nothing. But judging by their display they should have more than enough to secure a spot in the top six come the end of the season.
A change in personnel in the back-line but another clean-sheet
Another game, another shut-out.
That’s seven in the last eight now. A sublime record at any level of the game.
Aitor Karanka made three changes from the side that beat Manchester City last weekend and they were all at the back.
Dimi, as expected, replaced Mejias; Ken, as expected, replaced the suspended Ayala and Fredericks returned from injury and slipped straight back in at right-back.
While Dimi was as solid and reliable as ever in the early stages - and he needed to be - Omeruo and Fredericks looked shaky. It’s understandable, neither have played regular football recently.
Brentford just kept coming, the impressive Alex Pritchard having the run of the game.
Yet slowly but surely Boro’s frantic anywhere will do clearances were replaced by the calm, assured defending we’ve seen throughout the campaign.
As the game went on, Brentford were visibly running out of ideas in their attempts to break Boro down. And when they did create their best opening of the second half in the dying seconds, Dimi was up to the job yet again, quickly down to his right to fist away the goal-bound effort.
A change in personnel at the back but no change in result.
Clean sheet after clean sheet. It’s hard enough to score a single goal against Boro at the minute, never mind beat them.
Leadbitter’s spot on
Cometh the hour, cometh the man.
Boro’s skipper doesn’t feel pressure. Or if he does he’s mastered the art of hiding it.
Other than Patrick Bamford’s early glimpse of goal, Boro had done nothing to suggest they would lead at the break.
In fact, they’d spent the vast majority of the opening period with their backs to the wall.
But once Bamford was sent tumbling in the box and the referee immediately put the whistle to his mouth, there was an air of inevitability that the net was set to ripple.
Grant Leadbitter hasn’t missed a penalty this season. In truth, he hasn’t looked like missing a penalty this season. That’s eight from the spot now and none more important than the one he coolly dispatched at Griffin Park.
“I always fancy myself to score from the penalty spot and long may it continue,” he told the club’s website after the game.
The captain’s performance levels never drop, his enthusiasm never wanes.
Adam Forshaw was introduced in the second half yesterday, an extra man in midfield - the one thing the boss desperately wanted to add in January.
But that extra competition doesn’t mean Leadbitter might have to sit out a game or two in the run-in.
His impeccable record from the spot is just one of the many qualities that ensures the skipper is the first name on the team sheet week in, week out.
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