Middlesbrough 0-1 Charlton: Boro lost first home game since January as gap at top shrinks

Kim Hellberg’s side lost vital points in the Sky Bet Championship promotion race at the Riverside last night.

Conor Coady’s goal was enough for the visitors to take the points back to London.

Boro went into the game unbeaten in four, and still in the automatic promotion places.

Boro almost took an early lead, when Callum Brittain’s cross found Tommy Conway at the back post, whose cut-back found Hayden Hackney, but his turn-and-shot was scrambled clear by Charlton.

Despite Boro’s dominance, Charlton almost took a shock lead.

A lung-busting run from Miles Leaburn down the right hand-side into space saw Charlton in behind the Boro defence, and his low cross found Charlie Kelman on the back post, but Sol Brynn managed to scramble across his line to push the ball past the post.

Hellberg’s side again came close to to going ahead.

Brittain’s cross wasn’t dealt with by Charlton and it fell straight to Targett on the edge of the box, with the ball eventually dropping to Aiden Morris, whose shot beat Will Mannion, but struck the bar.

With just over 30 minutes still to play, Charlton took a shock lead.

A long throw-in from Harry Clark found Coady in the six-yard box, and his outstretched foot beat Targett to the ball and it found the bottom corner of the net.

Despite the set back, Boro’s pressure again almost saw them get a goal, as Morris’ cross found Leo Castledine free in the six-yard box, but the header was well over the bar.

Boro’s next game is at the Riverside against Bristol City on Saturday 14th March at 12:30.