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Duncan Watmore’s double ensured that Neil Warnock could celebrate his 72nd birthday in style as his Middlesbrough team managed a 2-1 victory over Swansea in the Championship.
Warnock turned 72 on Tuesday, and his players presented him with the perfect gift a day later when Watmore’s double banished memories of Saturday’s loss to Huddersfield.
The former Sunderland striker, who only signed as a free agent three weeks ago, claimed his first two goals in a Boro jersey, and while Yan Dhanda scored a goal for Swansea, Boro held on to secure his well-deserved three points.
Duncan Watmore (right) scored twice for Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough was the best team at all times, although it was their own goalkeeper, Marcus Bettinelli, who was the first to be called into action.
The Fulham loan was lowered well to avoid Jamal Lowe’s hit after Andre Ayew had played a slide rule pass to his fellow forward in the box, and while the ball bounced kindly for Connor Roberts, his follow-up effort was blocked by Marcus. Tavernier’s extended leg.
It proved an important step as Boro took the lead in the 26th minute.
Marvin Johnson’s precise pass sent Watmore galloping down the left, and after cutting inside the forward, he fired a 20-yard shot that found the corner of the net through a deflection from Marc Guehi’s boot.
It was a memorable moment for Watmore, who joined Boro as a free agent last month after being released by Sunderland in the early summer.
In just his second start as a Boro player, the former England Under-21 international was able to celebrate his first goal since scoring in a 5-0 win over Tranmere for Sunderland in October 2019.
The home team nearly doubled their lead at the break of the break, but Swansea goalkeeper Freddie Woodman parried Sam Morsy with a good save.
Swansea manager Steve Cooper made a triple change at halftime in an attempt to turn things around, and one of the players he introduced should have made an immediate impact.
Bettinelli produced an aerial kick while trying to deal with a long ball over the top, and while Dael Fry made life difficult for Viktor Gyokeres on the edge of the area, Swansea’s substitute should have found the target instead of shooting. wildly over the crossbar.
Woodman saved from Johnson at the other end shortly after, and Boro closed in again shortly before the hour mark when Morsy’s goal-bound effort was blocked by Guehi.
The hosts went one step further in the second half and claimed a well deserved second goal in the 67th minute.
Paddy McNair’s pass sent Watmore running to the right of the box, and the 26-year-old claimed his second strike of the night while punching a crisp low shot into the bottom corner.
Swansea responded with a goal of their own with 12 minutes remaining, when substitute Dhanda beat Bettinelli with a 20-yard goal after cutting from the left.
What the managers said …
Middlesbrough’s Neil warnock: “Duncan is a gem of a boy. He came, and although we did not pay him for a few weeks, he wanted to come here. He received good cheap offers to go to all kinds of places, he could have gone to India or South Africa, but he loved it being here. It was great to give him a short term deal.
“Probably only he in our team would have scored the goal. It’s not easy to pass like this. All the credit goes to him, I thought he had taken off his socks.”
Swansea Steve Cooper: “It’s disappointing. From the beginning, I thought we were not ourselves and in the end we couldn’t improve. We gave away two really bad goals and we probably didn’t create enough either, so there aren’t many positives to take.” out of the game, that’s for sure.
“I am disappointed, the players are disappointed, they know that we have lowered our standards tonight and they know that we fell short. If you don’t play anywhere near your level, they will punish you.” Inflicted I must say, but that’s what it happened tonight. “
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