Rudy Gestede grabs Middlesbrough winner against Sheffield United

Middlesbrough have beaten Sheffield United 1-0 to secure their first win of the Championship season.

Rudy Gestede’s first-half goal proved crucial as Sheffield United had a goal controversially disallowed in the final minute.

Middlesbrough dominated possession early on but did not threaten. Patrick Bamford’s free kick over the bar was the only shot of note in the first 15 minutes.

Poor defending from United let Gestede in to open the scoring in the 21st minute. Bamford played the ball into the area for Gestede. He cannot get the first header on target but gets to the second ball to score past Jamal Blackman.

That goal brought the game to life with both sides looking to get on the front foot. Middlesbrough’s Premier League experience eventually shone through though and Gestede should have scored his second before half time. Cyrus Christie’s cross fell to Gestede but his header bounced off the outside of the post.

United came close to levelling in the 65th minute when Leon Clarke laid the ball off to Paul Coutts but Darren Randolph pulled a brilliant save out of the bag to deny the Scotsman.

They kept pushing for an equaliser, and Jack O’Connell thought he had scored in stoppage time. He bundled the ball into the net from a free kick but, despite replays showing the player onside, the assistant’s flag went up and Middlesbrough survived.

Cover Photo: Riverside Stadium by John Lord used under license by CC BY 2.0.

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