Summary:
- Matt Targett scored twice as Middlesbrough beat Birmingham 3-1.
- David Strelec sealed the win to end Boro’s three-game run without victory.
- The result moves Boro four points clear in second with 11 to play.
Middlesbrough got back on track in style, beating Birmingham 3-1 at St Andrew’s and strengthening their position in the promotion race to the Premier League.
Target Scored Twice in Under 30 Minutes
After three games without a win, Boro needed a response. They got it inside the opening half-hour, thanks to Matt Targett.
The former Aston Villa defender, who made 89 appearances for Birmingham’s fiercest rivals, struck twice in the first 26 minutes to stun the home crowd. His first came after Aidan Morris picked him out with a precise diagonal pass.
Targett timed his run perfectly, slipped in behind the defence and finished calmly past James Beadle.
He wasn’t done. When Christoph Klarer lost possession in a dangerous area, Hayden Hackney reacted quickly and nodded the ball into Targett’s path. The full-back made no mistake, burying his second of the night to put Boro firmly in control.
Brief Momentum Shift
Birmingham responded quickly after the break. Just three minutes into the second half, Jay Stansfield beat the offside trap and cut the ball back for Marvin Ducksch, who rolled it home to halve the deficit.
For a moment, it felt like the momentum had shifted. Ducksch nearly equalised soon after, but Boro goalkeeper Brynn produced a sharp save to keep his side ahead.
Middlesbrough steadied themselves and restored their two-goal cushion on the hour mark. Luke Ayling delivered a dangerous cross, and David Strelec met it with a header that went in off the post. That goal effectively settled the contest and handed Birmingham only their second home league defeat of the season.
Coach Hellberg: “It Was a Good Win”
After the game, head coach Kim Hellberg was full of praise for his players.
It was a good win, a strong win against a very good side who had only lost once in two years at this ground. It is a difficult place to come. We knew they would start well with the noise of the crowd around them. We took control of the game a bit better [after the goal], then we were very good in the first half with our pressing. We created a lot of opportunities and could have scored more. The pressure is on every day. But we always work the same way, even when we don’t get the results. That’s what I’m always proud of.
The win leaves Middlesbrough four points clear of Millwall in third with 11 games remaining.