Boro vs Blackpool - Live match updates from the Riverside
Middlesbrough are looking for back-to-back home wins today as they host Blackpool at the Riverside.
Fresh from an impressive home victory over Watford last weekend, Michael Carrick's side are hoping for another win to maintain their spot in third place in the Championship league table.
They face a Blackpool side today battling at the other side of the table but hoping for a new-manager bounce following the recent arrival of Mick McCarthy. This is his first league game in charge having led them in a narrow defeat to Premier League Southampton last weekend.
Can Boro maintain Carrick's unbeaten record at the Riverside and stay third in the league table? Join us for live updates throughout the day below.
Full-time: Boro win 3-0!16:54
Kick-off15:00
FT 3-0KEY EVENT
Five straight home league wins, three consecutive home clean sheets. Boro going so well right now!
90 mins 3-0Craig Johns
Added time
83 mins 3-0Craig Johns
Bola and Mowatt on for Giles and Howson
75 mins 3-0Craig Johns
Great to hear Boro fans singing Isaiah Jones' song. First time on the pitch for Boro since being dropped for the Millwall game. Back on the bench at Sunderland and against Watford, but didn't make it on for either.
75 mins 3-0Craig Johns
Jones on for Forss.
70 mins 3-0KEY EVENT
A third for Boro! Lenihan flicks a Giles corner on and McNair is in at the back post to apply a close-range finish. Job done surely now.
63 mins 2-0Craig Johns
Barlser on for his debut. Hackney makes way.
He's one of our of own, sing the Boro fans as Hackney goes off.
62 mins 2-0Craig Johns
Coming on for Boro debut
61 mins 2-0Craig Johns
Blackpool not dead and burried yet. Another attack up the right, another good delivery from CJ Hamilton, this time with a low cross that Bowler swipes over the bar. Good chance.
59 mins 2-0KEY EVENT
Warning heeded! Boro 2-0! McGree gets it in a congested penalty area and slips a reverse pass in behind for Akpom who runs onto it and applies the finish. Breathing space.
57 mins 1-0Craig Johns
Having had one ruled out for offside just after the restart, Yates has now just hit the bar. Free-header for the striker is inches from being the right side of the bar and levelling the scoreline.
Couple of early warnings for Boro
53 mins 1-0Craig Johns
What a hit. Comes out to him and sits up well from the right edge of the box. He connects so sweet with the volley back across goal. That's a solid save from Maxwell to deny him a superb goal.
46 mins 1-0Craig Johns
We are back under way. No changes either side. Boro lead 1-0
HT 1-0Craig Johns
No changes coming at the interval.
HT 1-0Craig Johns
Mick McCarthy has sent his side out a lot earlier than Boro here. No Boro or officials but even McCarthy is back out on the bench.
HT 1-0Craig Johns
Only the one goal, but a solid half from Boro dominant side with plenty of attacking intent. Blackpool here to contain and frustrate and looking to pinch something, so, of course, have to guard against and be wary of that
HT 1-0Craig Johns
Boro lead at the break. Just the one goal but a very good first half that is appreciated by the home fans as they go off.
44 mins 0-0Craig Johns
Nice intricate play up to the edge of the penalty area. Akpom then gets the ball and runs across goal just inside the penalty area and Nelson barges in a bit clumsily. But the ref has let a few 50-50s go, so never likely to give that one.
Three minutes added time.
32 mins 1-0KEY EVENT
My word, what a goal! Gets inside the box on the left, buys a half-yard with a feint and then shows brilliant composure to curl a chip into the far top corner. What a finish!
28 mins 0-0Craig Johns
He's been able to get up and trot off the pitch. Looks like a slight cut and good bump on the cheekbone, but he's okay to carry on.
Game just slowed down a little last five minutes, which suits the visitors.
26 mins 0-0Craig Johns
Arm across the face of McNair during an aerial challenge. McNair still down receiving treatment and looks uncomfortable.
17 mins 0-0Craig Johns
Excellent work from Archer showing his strength going shoulder-to-shoulder with Goode. He wins that battle and tees up McGree but his effort is saved by Maxwell and pushed well away from a waiting Akpom.
Boro well on top so far and the crowd show their appreciation. Superb from Archer against Goode who looks twice as big as him!
12 mins 0-0Craig Johns
Still the usual attempts to control possession and work it up, but there's also the forward players breaking the final line and looking for the longer balls down the channels which Boro have looked to exploit a couple of times too.
10 mins 0-0Craig Johns
Giles swings a FK in from near enough the corner flag on the right. Lenihan flicks it goalwards at the near post but it's off the bar and rebounds out off McNair's chest so quickly he couldn't react and then into Maxwell's hands.
7 mins 0-0Craig Johns
Early booking for the Boro midfielder. Lunged in hard, though when you watch a replay he actually gets the ball.
Steffen deals really well with the resulting set-piece as an initial header is won by Connolly at the back post.
6 mins 0-0Craig Johns
Frantic start. Boro straight onto the front foot and trying to hit the visitors hard from the off. Playing maybe a little too quick at time. But in control right now.
One or two signs of Blackpool counter threat though.
1 min 0-0KEY EVENT
We are under way!
14:58Craig Johns
Almost time... C'mon Boro!
14:38Craig Johns
They've taken two points off Sheffield United.
So, before Boro kick-off, they're currently level on games with the Blades, 13 points adrift. Just for those still dreaming of automatic promotion... Still have to go to Bramall Lane too.
14:26Craig Johns
