Middlesbrough overcame the challenge of Sheffield Wednesday by beating the Owls 1-0 at the Riverside to top the table going into the new year.
Midfielder Cristian Stuani scored 44 seconds into the match, after a tremendous cross from England international, Stewart Downing.
Wednesday pushed for an equaliser in the remaining 89 minutes the match, but left the North East with nothing to take back home. Boro are now two points ahead of their closest challengers Derby, but the Rams face Leeds United tonight and a win would see them overtake the Reds’ position.
Aitor Karanka took to the Middlesbrough dugout for the 100th time yesterday, and was “very proud” with his side’s performance.
Boro fans were chuffed to bits with the result, many happy with the recent defensive displays with the Reds not conceding in over 600 minutes:
Back from the pub after a lot of celebratory vodkas! If #Boro keep this up I'll be an alcoholic by end of the season @untypicalboro @nmaddo
— Lynne Pogue (@lynpogue) December 28, 2015
641 minutes without conceding #brickwall #utb #boro
— Taku (@TakusRanting) December 28, 2015
https://twitter.com/LewisKirtley1/status/681608943894921216
https://twitter.com/petermac84/status/681601289680220161
https://twitter.com/jordielee8/status/681600337619324929
50 clean sheets in 100 games under AK is some goin aswel, when he arrived we used to let 1 in every game between 80-90 min! #boro
— Craig Mendum (@mendi14) December 28, 2015
#boro impressive again, if only in the way they defend as a team. Whatever the doubters say, the players are solid in AK's style and system.
— Paul Fraser (@PaulFraserMedia) December 28, 2015
Wednesday supporters weren’t so happy with the side’s first half performance, although they seemed content with the second:
Poor 1st half,better 2nd half, starting 11 cost us game. Forrestieri is on fire play him, changed game. #WAWAW #swfc
— Daniel Gardiner (@gardiner1985) December 29, 2015
https://twitter.com/jwillo2801/status/681627845416882176
Been tonight, not impressed with carvahals excuses and then that team, played well 2nd half, Manager needs to sort out away form #swfc
— bingowley (@Sam_Haynes) December 28, 2015
https://twitter.com/kevwednesday/status/681604176837763073
https://twitter.com/BROADY_SWFC/status/681596576867946497
https://twitter.com/hddh_x/status/681595147671465984
A few tired bodies out there and we need to protect Forestieri, as we have no replacement for him right now. On to Fulham. #SWFC #UTO #WAWAW
— David Garrido (@SkySportsDavid) December 28, 2015