West Brom vs Boro - Live match updates from the Hawthorns
Middlesbrough continue their promotion push this afternoon as they take on fellow top-six hopefuls West Brom at the Hawthorns.
Boro are looking for a sixth straight victory to keep the pressure on second-placed Sheffield United, who today host Watford at Bramall Lane.
Michael Carrick is under no illusion that his side faces a tough challenge in the Black Country though. Carlos Corberan's side have not won in three games but are unbeaten on home turf since they lost the head coach's first game in charge on October 29.
Can Boro keep their promotion push going with another huge three points on the road? We'll have live updates from the Hawthorns throughout the afternoon.
Kick-off15:03
Boro team news is in!14:00
FT 2-0Craig Johns
First defeat in six for Boro. Bad day, with Sheff Utd beating Watford to restore the 7-point gap.
Two early goals killed Boro. West Brom were well-organised and Boro couldn't break them down.
90+ mins 2-0Craig Johns
Good work by Crooks, across the goal to Jones at the back post but Griffiths makes an excellent save to deny him.
90 mins 2-0Craig Johns
That's after the McNair stoppage. Not looking likely we'll see a Boro breakthrough. but football is a funny game...
78 mins 2-0Craig Johns
Jones and Crooks on for McGree and Archer
77 mins 2-0Craig Johns
Thomas Asante on for Dike.
76 mins 2-0Craig Johns
They've just gone 1-0 up against Watford
71 mins 2-0Craig Johns
It is still goalless at Bramall Lane. Somewhat lessens the impact as things stand, but still dropping a further point behind.
68 mins 2-0Craig Johns
Ramsey on for Forss
66 mins 2-0Craig Johns
Boro concede a corner after they work themselves into trouble from a poor Steffen ball out. O'Shea rises above everyone from the corner but heads just wide.
58 mins 2-0Craig Johns
Drives to the edge of the box and with West Brom backing off he has a go but he slices it wide.
58 mins 2-0Craig Johns
Fry on McNair, who is stretchered off receiving oxygen.
Thoughts with Paddy and hopefully he is fine after that.
54 mins 2-0Craig Johns
It looks to be a head injury. Looks like blood from the nose. It's worrying though. McNair was sat up but then laid back down with the Dr and physio seeing to him and then calling for a stretcher.
Fry is coming on.
51 mins 2-0Craig Johns
Albrighton plays it inside the box to Dike who holds McNair off with ease and turns him. Skips past the Lenihan challenge but has hit shot from five yards blocked by the outrushing Steffen. Far too easy.
McNair has ended up hurt and looks in some discomfort as he receives treatment after the incident.
49 mins 2-0Craig Johns
A couple of good early breaks from the home side. One there saw Smith make a crucial header on the stretch to take it away from Dike who was unmarked behind him.
Early Baggies sub as Albrighton replaces Diangana
46 mins 2-0Craig Johns
No changes for either side at the break. Big 45 for Boro. Can they rescue something here?
16:03Craig Johns
Boro out first, with the same XI emerging for the second half.
HT 2-0Craig Johns
All seven of them are out at the break doing warm-up drills, so not expecting any half-time changes. No real surprise there as Carrick tends not to press the panic button.
15:53Craig Johns
It's goalless at the break at Sheffield United.
As things stand, the Blades moving five points clear with a game in hand. Big second half to come for Boro.
HT 2-0Craig Johns
Three dreadful minutes for Boro the difference here. Didn't handle the press and then movement on the transition of West Brom twice
Recovered well in terms of control of the ball but struggled to create. West Brom have conceded 1 in the last 7 here (that being a direct FK) and it's showing. They're solid and compact defensively.
HT 2-0Craig Johns
Boro behind by two at the break.
44 mins 2-0Craig Johns
Diangana had the ball by the corner flag with Smith tight and Hackney in support, but he managed to turn and knock it between them both before Smith drags him down.
40 mins 2-0Craig Johns
Giles cross from the left, Akpom into a good position but can't get any power of placement behind his header as it's straight into Griffiths' hands
35 mins 2-0Craig Johns
Good save by Griffiths. A low cross from the right is blocked by a Baggies defender on the stretch meaning it falls kindly to Forss. His volley has then power and direction but Griffiths gets good hands to tip it over.
33 mins 2-0Craig Johns
More decent build-up play by Boro as they work it out to Forss on the right. His cross is behind Akpom who can't quite make connection with the acrobatic volley. It does fall to McGree but his attempt is charged down and deflected wide.
31 mins 2-0Craig Johns
It's still 0-0 at Bramall Lane between Sheff Utd and Watford. Boro losing is the bigger concern, however.
West Brom a tight defensive unit until recently under Corberan and Boro are struggling to create any chances.
27 mins 2-0Craig Johns
Pieters this time gets down the left wing. He cuts back to Swift who is unmarked but he slices his effort. It falls kindly at the back post though to Wallace who hits it at goal but it's blocked by Giles closing it down.
Tentative home appeals for a handball penalty but would have been harsh on Giles and the ref gives the corner.
22 mins 2-0Craig Johns
Away fans trying to buoy their side after that dreadful five minutes.
Boro have recovered well and regained composure in the game. Knocking it around well and looking for openings as they go side to side in the final third but West Brom staying compact so far.
17 mins 2-0Craig Johns
Scruffy from Boro as McGree's attempt to flick back into Hackney's pass sells him short. West Brom break and Wallace gets in behind. He fires over from the angle on the edge of the box.
15 mins 2-0Craig Johns
Good break from Boro as Howson goes down the left to Giles. He slides across the edge of the box and it comes to Forss after a level dummy from Archer. Forss hits first time but it's too high.
