Middlesbrough closed the gap to three points behind Sky Bet Championship leaders Coventry by delivering a heavy defeat to 10-man Preston at the Riverside Stadium.
Alan Browne, who played over 400 matches for North End from 2014 to 2024, returned to haunt his old team by giving Boro the lead. Tommy Conway and Morgan Whittaker capitalized on defensive errors, helping Middlesbrough to a commanding 3-0 lead by halftime.
Having received a red card shortly after the break, Jordan Storey’s departure only compounded Preston’s woes, as Conway scored again, sealing a 4-0 victory for second-placed Middlesbrough. This marked their fourth consecutive league win and put them close behind Frank Lampard’s Coventry, who are slated to play struggling Norwich next.
On the other hand, Preston’s playoff aspirations dimmed as they suffered their fourth straight loss across competitions, raising concerns about their defensive frailties after conceding seven goals in just two games.
The match started positively for Preston, who had a penalty appeal denied when Matt Targett blocked Storey’s header with his torso. However, their performance faltered once Middlesbrough took the lead in the ninth minute. A clever cross from Targett allowed Browne to skillfully control the ball and finish with his left foot.
Despite a missed opportunity to extend the lead, Middlesbrough struck again in the 28th minute when Conway took advantage of a defensive mishap, sliding the ball through Walton’s legs into the net. Just before the break, Whittaker capitalized on another error to make the score 3-0.
The second half proved disastrous for Preston as Storey was sent off for a foul on Conway, which eliminated any chance of a comeback. Conway netted again in the 54th minute, reacting quickly to a saved free-kick. Failed to even threaten Middlesbrough’s goalkeeper Sol Brynn, Preston has now gone 380 minutes without scoring.
Manager Reactions
Middlesbrough’s Kim Hellberg: “While I keep an eye on the table, my primary focus is on maintaining our performance. We are continuously striving to improve daily. [Conway’s] work ethic is extraordinary, and he’s deserving of the success he’s experiencing.”
Preston’s Paul Heckingbottom: “All the goals we conceded resulted from mistakes. You can’t expect to win matches when you gift goals away like we did today. While Boro played well, we must not succumb easily to teams like them.”
