, REPORT: Middlesbrough scrape past Notts County on penalties in Carabao Cup

REPORT: Middlesbrough scrape past Notts County on penalties in Carabao Cup

Middlesbrough narrowly avoided a Carabao Cup upset as they needed penalties to beat League Two side Notts County after a 3-3 draw.

Tom Crawford opened the scoring for Notts County before a quick reply from Middlesbrough striker Ashley Fletcher. John Stead scored twice sandwiched either side of a debut goal for Boro defender Enes Mahmutovic, before Fletcher again scored the equaliser to take the game to penalties after a 3-3 draw.

Middlesbrough started the game with four debutants in the starting eleven, with three more making their first appearances from the bench later in the game, including 16-year old Nathan Wood. In doing so, Wood became the youngest ever player to play for Middlesbrough, and was the first footballer born in 2002 to feature in a competitive game in the whole of England.

The opening goal came from a quick free-kick taken by Notts County, the initial shot was deflected into the middle of the six yard box for Tom Crawford to put into an empty net.

But the shock lead didn’t last long, with Boro striker Ashley Fletcher equalising seven minutes later. A Grant Leadbitter corner was flicked on twice, before it reached the back post for the striker to tap home.

John Stead’s shot from the edge of the box caused trouble for Middlesbrough ‘keeper Andy Lonergan soon after, as he scrambled across his goal. But the ball found the back of the net to put the visitors ahead once more.

Middlesbrough had to come from behind again and a long diagonal ball from Leadbitter out wide, meant winger Marvin Johnson had space to run at the full back and pick out a cross. Enes Mahmutovic got his head to it to make the score 2-2 on the stroke of half time.

But there was no let up in the game, as Notts County were up 3-2 midway into the second half through John Stead again. A shot from distance cannoned off the post with Stead there to rifle home the rebound.

Another debutant made an instant impact after coming off the bench with Boro’s Stephen Walker driving with the ball from the half way line and showing good feet to beat the defender with skill and play in Fletcher to curl in his second of the evening.

The game went to penalties, with Boro goalkeeper Andy Lonergan keeping out two from County. Middlesbrough scored all four of their spot kicks, meaning the home side are through to the second round after a 4-3 penalty shoot out win.

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