Following the celebratory Stoke City victory Gareth Southgate's Middlesbrough brought Man City back to reality with a 2-0 loss. The story of the match could easily be said to be the 'Boro back-line of Chris Riggott, Andrew Taylor, David Wheater and skipper Emanuel Pogatetz holding the City attack and skewing sight-lines. Whilst City were able to generate a number of attempts, they weren't high percentage attempts and largely due in part to the classic work on Boro's back-line and stellar goalkeeping by Ross Turnbull. Scoreless to the break, Afonso Alves scored from the spot at the fifty-third minute after Daniel Sturridge was adjudged to fouling David Wheater in the area. Man City seemed to lack urgency and attempts to level were few and far between. Deep into added-time Gary O'Neil doubled the final score with Middlesbrough defeating Man City 2-0.
Mark Hughes has his forces back on the pitch this Sunday against Bolton.
