Middlesbrough 3-0 Sheffield Wednesday: Grant Leadbitter, Alvaro Negredo and Marten de Roon send Boro through despite Daniel Ayala red card
- Grant Leadbitter curls in 58th minute free-kick for Middlesbrough against Sheffield Wednesday
- Daniel Ayala is sent off less than a minute later after barging down Fernando Forestieri as last man
- Alvaro Negredo bundles Boro two in front on 67 minutes after charging down keeper Joe Wildsmith
- Marten de Roon made it three in 90th minute with sweet left footed strike from 16 yards
- Poor first half of game was low on quality as Premier League side hosted Championship opposition
- Boro earn place in Monday's fourth round draw after much improved display in the second half
It says a lot that Middlesbrough only started to play once they were down to 10 men, Daniel Ayala’s dismissal having finally snapped them from the slumber of another tie which was doing little to restore the magic of the FA Cup.
Manager Aitor Karanka had torn into his players at half-time and accused them of treating the contest as ‘a friendly match’.
But 60 seconds worth of incident on the hour mark served to inspire the previously lethargic hosts.
Grant Leadbitter (left) curls a free kick around the Sheffield Wednesday wall to put Middlesbrough 1-0 up
Alvaro Negredo then made it 2-0 for 10-man Boro after charging down Wednesday goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith
Marten de Roon (right) celebrates after making it 3-0 late on with a sweet left footed finish from 16 yards out
Boro had just taken the lead courtesy of Grant Leadbitter’s free-kick when Ayala was shown a straight red card following a brutal shoulder charge on goal-bound Fernando Forestieri.
And with that the game changed. Only it was those with the numerical disadvantage who sought to capitalise and they saw home victory when Alvaro Negredo made a fool of goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith and Martin de Roon smashed into the top corner in stoppage-time.
Karanka said: ‘I told the team at half-time that we were playing a friendly game. I was angry, we were not showing the right image.
‘But the second half was completely different. When we lost Danny we were consistent and committed and fighting for everything.’
The Owls have now lost 13 straight FA Cup ties against Premier League opposition and they never really looked like reversing that record here.
The first half might as well have been 11 supporters from each club plucked from the stands, such was the dearth in quality.
At least the fan face-off would have offered more excitement. This was tedious, two disinterested sides going through the motions of a football match. To summarise without wasting anymore time than it deserves; Ayala sliced over the crossbar when the visitors failed to clear from a free-kick and Negredo got a poke in the eye. Yes, it was high-octane stuff.
Negredo’s vision was obviously still not right when what should have been a simple pass failed to find De Roon - unmarked inside the area - early in the second half.
But there was nothing wrong with Leadbitter’s range when he took aim for the opening goal on 58 minutes, curling a 25-yard free-kick into the bottom corner.
Less than a minute after taking the lead, Middlesbrough were down to 10 men after Daniel Ayala was sent off
Ayala was adjudged to be the last man when he barged down Fernando Forestieri and was sent off after 59 minutes
Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka (centre) complains to the fourth official as Ayala walks off the pitch
Boro captain Leadbitter (centre) celebrates with his team-mates after opening the scoring in a tight game
Within 60 seconds, however, Boro were down to 10 after Ayala wiped out Forestieri as the Wednesday striker burst clear on goal having swapped passes with Steven Fletcher.
The Championship promotion contenders could not take advantage and Negredo had his goal on 67 minutes. Wildsmith played a risky goal-kick to left-back Daniel Pudil and he quickly returned it with some interest - two can play at that game.
The England Under-21 squad member took a touch to control but could not get his clearance away and Negredo charged down with the ball flying into the unguarded net, although Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal refused to blame his young keeper.
The scoring was complete when Dutch midfielder De Roon directed a high left-footed shot beyond the forlorn Wildsmith and, come the end, it was a convincing victory. Perhaps Boro will start with 10 men in the next round.
Negredo celebrates his sixth goal of the season as Boro eventually asserted their Premier League authority
Negredo had cut a frustrated and lonely figure in the first half before Boro improved and he got his goal
De Roon finishes with aplomb to round off a comfortable win and send Middlesbrough into the fourth round
Ayala slams the ball over the bar in the first half on the half volley to waste Middlesbrough's best early opening
Former Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher (right) tugs Middlesbrough left back George Friend's shirt as they compete
Adama Traore is unable to use his trademark pace as he is blocked off by Sheffield Wednesday right back Liam Palmer
Negredo (right) and David Jones compete for the ball in a first half very low on clear cut chances or quality
Fans make their way into the Riverside for the FA Cup clash between Premier League Boro and Championship Wednesday
Boro fans young and old turned out to watch their club manage to avoid an upset at the hands of lower league opposition
A committed Wednesday fan shows off his tattoos as the visitors eventually succumbed to the higher division team
The players shake hands pre-match before the Sunday afternoon Yorkshire derby in cold January sunshine
Sheffield Wednesday manager Carlos Carvahal (front) issues instructions while Boro boss Karanka watches on
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by DannyJCarter 16