3 things we learned from Middlesbrough’s 2-1 playoff win over Brentford

For the third time this season, Middlesbrough have beaten Brentford, and now have a huge leg up in their League Championship promotion playoff semifinal. The Bees had all of the possession at home, but couldn’t finish their chances. Boro finished the only ones they did have, including one in stoppage time, to steal a 2-1 win.

Brentford’s Alan Judge had a huge chance denied in the 19th minute by Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, who tipped his stinging shot onto the post. Seven minutes later, Boro took the lead, with Jelle Vossen heading in a cross by Adam Clayton. Alex Pritchard failed to close down Clayton on the play, while the entire Brentford back line lost Vossen.

Boro nearly doubled the lead in the 32nd minute when Vossen redirected a header from Lee Tomlin on goal, but David Button barely palmed the ball off the line.

A.J. Gray should have equalized in the 50th minute when he smacked a wide-open half-volley over the crossbar, but he redeemed himself just four minutes later. Dimi came off his line and tried an awkward clearance, which hit off Gray. He took one touch past the Boro keeper, then scored with his second, an impressive shot from the edge of the box at a narrow angle.

Both goalkeepers came up huge around the hour mark, with Button tipping an Albert Adomah bullet aside and Dimi making an excellent stop on a header by Jonathan Douglas.

There wasn’t much action for the next 30 minutes until stoppage time, when Boro got their winner. George Friend knocked down a corner for the unmarked Fernando Amorebieta, who looked more like a center forward than a center back on his gorgeous finish from 12 yards.

Brentford nearly got one back in the 95th minute, but Gray just barely whiffed on a dangerous ball by Pritchard that eventually skidded harmlessly across the six-yard box and out for a goal kick to end the match.

Brentford: Button, Bidwell, Dean, Odubajo, Tarkowski, Douglas, Diagouraga, Pritchard, Judge (Smith 88’), Jota (Dallas 77’), Gray

Goals: Gray (54’)

Goals: Vossen (26’), Amorebieta (90’)

1. Boro’s tactic was perfect - Middlesbrough were never going to win a possession battle with Brentford away from home, so they didn’t even try. They sat back and countered, and it made perfect sense. Patrick Bamford and Jelle Vossen are two of the best finishers in the division, and Vossen finished off Boro’s first chance of the first half. He almost scored their second too, but it was pushed off the line.

2. And they have Brentford’s number - This game wasn’t a lot different than the last one between the two, in January. Brentford were the much better side on that day, but Boro muscled their way to a 1-0 win. Brentford won’t love their chances of coming back in the next match -- they got throttled the last time they went to the Riverside, 4-0.

3. Seriously, Fernando Amorebieta? - Boro put Amorebieta on as a defensive sub, as they were perfectly content with a 1-1 draw away from home. But he scored the winner, and in stunning fashion, with a perfect half-volley. The Championship playoffs deliver again.