Josh Coburn scored twice against his former club Middlesbrough as Millwall secured a 2-1 victory to move into second place in the Championship. Coburn’s goals saw Millwall come from behind to win the encounter.
Fry’s Header Gives Boro the Lead
Middlesbrough dominated the first half and deservedly took the lead through captain Dael Fry, who headed home from four yards from Alan Browne’s inviting cross. Fry had earlier missed a glorious chance, volleying over from six yards. Anthony Patterson, on-loan Sunderland goalkeeper, saved well from Callum Brittain’s drive. Femi Azeez cleared Fry’s goalbound attempt as Boro failed to capitalise fully on their dominance, with Morgan Whittaker and Hayden Hackney still absent through injury.
Coburn’s Second-Half Heroics Turn the Tide
Millwall regrouped at half-time and responded when Coburn’s close-range volley squirmed through goalkeeper Sol Brynn’s grasp and crept over the line. Brynn had previously saved superbly from Tristan Crama’s deflected effort. Coburn, a £5m signing from Boro last summer, then delivered the decisive blow in the 86th minute, steering a shot into the bottom corner. Josh Coburn has now scored five goals in his past five games for Millwall.
Millwall Leapfrog Boro in Promotion Race
The three points allowed Millwall to jump from fourth to second, leapfrogging Boro, who sink to third. Millwall have consistently been in the top six since early January, with strong form of 29 points from 14 games in that time. That, allied with Boro’s wobble, had allowed the automatic spots to loom into view, and they showed that with a strong 1-1 draw at Ipswich last time out confirming their credentials. Alex Neil’s side had been relieved to only go in one down.
Middlesbrough’s Wobble Continues
Defeat compounded Middlesbrough’s jitters as it is now four games without a win for them after this painful loss. Having gone top of the table in February on the back of six successive victories, Boro have only won two of the subsequent eight games. The home side lost possession in the lead-up to Coburn’s winner. Boro’s form at home has been a particular concern, with the previous four matches producing only three points and just two goals, all against sides 16th or lower.
To their credit, Millwall did not settle for a point and Azeez and Zak Sturge had chances to put them ahead. Ipswich Town are three points behind Millwall with two games in hand.