Middlesbrough secured a third consecutive home victory with a 3-1 win over West Bromwich Albion at the Riverside on Saturday, 29 August 2026. Will Lankshear struck twice to lead the Teessiders to victory, with Alfie Jones adding a late third goal to seal the points.
First Half: Few Clear Chances
Manager Kim Hellberg made six changes from the midweek Carabao Cup win over Doncaster Rovers, introducing Radek Vitek, Callum Brittain, Lankshear, Riley McGree, Aidan Morris and Adilson Malanda into the starting XI.
McGree made an immediate impression in the opening stages, picking up possession in pockets of space behind the West Brom midfield. In the sixth minute, a misplaced pass by Baggies goalkeeper Max O'Leary fell to McGree 25 yards from goal, but his dinked effort drifted wide.
Chances remained limited for both sides throughout the first half. West Brom's Jayson Mulumby slipped a ball through to Felix Myhre, who slid it past the opposite post. At the other end, McGree was played in by Jeremy Sarmiento but his shot on the stretch went wide, while Lankshear had a strong strike blocked on the stroke of half-time.
Second-Half Surge
Sebastian Berhalter was introduced at the break and Middlesbrough came out with renewed energy. Within three minutes of the restart, they took the lead. Morgan Whittaker brought the ball onto his left foot and cracked a shot against the post. The ball bounced off O'Leary's head and fell invitingly to Lankshear, who nodded in from close range for his fifth goal of the season.
Middlesbrough pressed for a second goal and came close on several occasions. A strong penalty appeal for handball was waved away, O'Leary was forced into a flying save from his own player Ousmane Diakite after Boro won the ball high up the pitch, and Brittain saw a bullet header stopped before it reached the net.
West Brom equalised on 65 minutes when Isaac Price's cross from the left found the head of Jimmy-Jay Morgan, whose deft header found the net via the underside of the crossbar.
Middlesbrough's response was emphatic. Lankshear struck again soon after to restore the lead and take his season tally to six goals. Substitute Alfie Jones sealed the victory three minutes before the end, securing Middlesbrough's third competitive Riverside win from three matches.
