Hackney has turned down the opportunity to move to Ipswich Town, and the Redcar-born midfielder was cheered onto the field as he replaced Law McCabe midway through the second half in his side’s 2-2 draw with Deportivo La Coruna.
He was at the heart of a much-improved Boro showing in the second half, with Silvera impressing at left wing-back as Edwards continued with the 3-4-3 formation that has been a feature of his side’s pre-season play.
Silvera was solid defensively, and offered a considerable threat on the overlap, culminating in the excellent dribble and cross that enabled Tommy Conway to level the scores with his second goal of the game.
Conway opened the scoring in the fourth minute, before goals from Yeremay Hernandez and Lucas Noubi saw Deportivo briefly claim the lead. Ultimately, though, Edwards will have been pleased with the way in which his side successfully turned the game back around in the final half-hour.
The pre-match confirmation of Hackney’s decision to turn down a proposed move to Ipswich ensured that Boro fans arrived at a sun-kissed Riverside with a spring in their step.
Both of their club’s summer signings were named in Rob Edwards’ matchday squad, with Alfie Jones making his first start since joining from Hull City on the right of the back three and Abdoulaye Kante coming on in the 75th minute as a replacement for Aidan Morris.
Boro could not have wished for a better start as they were ahead after just four minutes. Morgan Whittaker sent Luke Ayling into the right-hand side of the 18-yard box, the wing-back pulled the ball back to Conway, and the Boro striker swept home a clinical first-time finish.
The Teessiders were looking to move the ball quickly and get on the front foot, but while that meant they were able to ask regular questions of the Deportivo defence, it also meant they occasionally left themselves short at the back.
Sol Brynn, who was starting ahead of Tom Glover, had to get down smartly to keep out a low shot from Luismi Cruz, but the Boro goalkeeper was unable to prevent Deportivo equalising in the tenth minute.
Hernandez was afforded far too much space on the left of the box, and after stepping inside Ayling, the Spanish winger curled a brilliant finish into the far top corner.
Boro spent the remainder of the first half constructing some neat passing moves, although the lack of a natural wing-back on either flank remained an obvious issue with very few crosses coming into the box. Admittedly, that changed when Silvera set up his side’s second goal after the break.
Deportivo were neat and tidy in possession, patiently stringing together lengthy passing moves, but the Spanish side relied on their threat from a set-piece to claim the lead four minutes into the second half.
A corner was swung in from the right-hand side, and Noubi outjumped those around him to loop home a header at the front post.
Boro should have levelled within seven minutes of falling behind, but while McCabe picked out Delano Burgzorg with a chipped cross from the right, the Dutchman could only direct a diving header wide of the target.
The hosts wasted another excellent opportunity midway through the second half with Dael Fry stabbing the rebound over from eight yards out after Deportivo goalkeeper German Parreno could only parry Morris’ low drive into his path.
Boro kept on creating chances though and claimed a deserved equaliser in the 67th minute. Silvera was the architect of the goal, embarking on a mazy dribble that took him into the left-hand side of the area. The Australian slid a low cross across the face of goal, leaving Conway with the simplest of tap-ins.
MIDDLESBROUGH (3-4-3): Brynn; Jones (McCormick 75), Fry, Borges; Ayling, Morris (Kante 75), McCabe (Hackney 58), Silvera; Whittaker, Conway (Finch 84), Burgzorg (Forss 79).
Subs: Glover (gk), Barlaser, Gilbert, Woolston, Hamilton.
