Even by the scandalously poor standards Boro have set this season, the home side’s winning goal in the last minute was pathetic.
And on a day rivals Bristol City and Coventry both lost, Boro again fluffed their lines. They’ve done it far too often this season and it’s extremely difficult – perhaps impossible – to make the case that Michael Carrick’s side deserve to finish in the top six.
If, as may well turn out to be the case, they miss out on the play-offs by just a few points, then the two games against Sheffield Wednesday will be right at the top of the list of missed opportunities. And that’s saying something because there are plenty of other contenders.
Boro should have taken six points off the Owls this season. Instead, they ended up with one.
After inexplicably throwing away a three-goal lead against Wednesday on Boxing Day, Boro’s advantage against the same opponents again should have been comfortable in the reverse fixture on Easter Monday.
After Finn Azaz’s early opener, Tommy Conway had the chance to double Boro’s lead from the penalty spot. But after his season saver against Plymouth just 72 hours earlier, this time Conway was denied. And as was the case at Norwich City back in October, a missed Conway penalty stirred the opponents. Josh Windass equalised for Wednesday 10 minutes into the second half before Anthony Musaba, a half-time substitute, scored the 89th minute winner when Rav van den Berg made a mess of an attempted sliding clearance.
Yet again, Carrick’s opposite number made a game-changing substitution while Boro’s head coach watched the game slide away. Conway had the chance to make amends for his missed penalty in the 98th minute but somehow hit the crossbar from just six yards out.
Wednesday, it’s worth pointing out, had lost three of four coming into the game, hadn’t won at home since New Year’s Day and were blasted by their own boss Danny Rohl after Friday’s defeat at Stoke City. That’s why this felt like such an opportunity for Boro and that’s why this was another big opportunity missed.
Wednesday were play-off contenders not long ago but have quickly disappeared out of the picture and Rohl hammered his players after Friday’s defeat, suggesting some members of his squad aren’t good enough to cope with his demands and claiming a relegation scrap could be on the cards next season.
That he spent the first 10 minutes applauding enthusiastically told you that he’d got the response he was hoping for. He’d have been applauding a goal had it not been for the brilliance of Mark Travers. How fine a signing the Bournemouth keeper has turned out to be, and he again played a starring role early on, first turning Barry Bannan’s effort from distance around the post before making a brilliant pointblank stop to keep out Gabriel Otegbayo’s header.
And within a minute, Boro were ahead, a swift and incisive attack: Morgan Whittaker to Conway to Hayden Hackney to Azaz, one and two touches before a fine finish, the forward’s 12th goal of the season. The enthusiasm immediately drained out of Hillsborough, fury instead aimed at wantaway owner Dejphon Chansiri.
After Conway’s winner on Friday, then came the opportunity to give Boro breathing space. Not that racing into an early and comfortable lead against Sheffield Wednesday means three points are guaranteed…
But after his composed penalty against Plymouth, this one was poor, tame and saved by Pierce Charles down to his right.
Wednesday – particularly Barry Bannan who conceded possession – again had their keeper to thank on the stroke of half-time when he kept out a fierce Marcus Forss strike.
But Travers hadn’t been a spectator at the other end. After his early saves, he was again called into action to deny Josh Windass before the forward tried again and drilled a shot narrowly wide.
It was Travers who was first called into action in the second half, an instinctive stop with his feet to again deny Windass. Wednesday were the better team at the start of the second half, as they were the first, and the leveller came 10 minutes after the break. Travers was helpless as Michael Smith’s header came back off the post. Ingelsson was first to react and crossed for Windass to tap home.
Carrick took off his coat. Boro had to take off the handbreak. A reaction was needed. But it didn’t come.
On 66 minutes – as is so often the case – Carrick turned to his bench for the first time, Delano Burgzorg introduced for Forss.
But Boro didn’t look like a side that felt they needed to win.
Indeed, it was Wednesday pushing for the winner. Otegbayo missed a sitter but Musaba made no mistake from close range after another defensive mishap. A goal that summed up the season.
