4:54pm
Although Boro were now comfortable, their keeper had played a part in the win.
He was again unbeatable in added time, diving to his left to push away a Lingard curler.
Many home fans had already left. And many of those who remained booed at the final whistle.
Final: Albion 0 Boro 2
4:47pm
Adomah made way for Ledesma
4:46pm
Still Albion looked for a way back. Ward's clever pass inside right-back Varga sent LuaLua into the box but he shot wide of the near post under pressure.
Then Boro cleared a corner after Bruno had galloped forward again.
But Boro killed the contest on the counter.
Greer cleared the initial pass forward but the ball broke to Leadbitter to tee up GRAHAM for a low angled finish across Kuszczak.
4:38pm
Att: 27,486 (932 away fans)
4:37pm
Albion threatened down the right straight after the switch but it was Bruno going past a man and chipping over an inviting cross into the box. But Ulloa's downward header was held by the keeper.
Kuszczak held a Boro free-kick and quickly threw the ball out to LuaLua. But Albion's afternoon was summed up when three red shirts quickly got across to force him back.
Then Lingard had a shot saved as things opened up. March went for the rebound and was tripped.
But Ulloa blazed the penalty way over the bar.
Boro sent on Chalobah for Omeruo.
4:30pm
The same Boro pair almost teamed up for a second as Adomah crossed and Graham headed wide.
Albion sent on March for Ince.
4:25pm
LuaLua skipped away from Varga down the outside and this time drilled his cross low to the near post. Andrews, charging in from midfield, got there first but poked the ball just past the near post.
But Boro went ahead when Graham battled for the ball in the corner after Greer failed to control first time. Graham fended off the home skipper, crossed low and ADOMAH got there first to net from close range.
4:20pm
Albion had a minor scare when Williams had a shot blocked after Upson gave the ball away on the edge of his own box.
4:18pm
Albion's next change saw David applauded off by most fans - and his replacement LuaLua cheered on.
The sub immediately got*to the byline but his cross was overhit as Ulloa charged to the the near post.
Boro sent on attacking midfielder Butterfield for Tomlin in a like-for-like switch.
4:17pm
There was no update on Buckley at half-time though clearly we will ask about him after the match
4:15pm
Lingard was offering hope and frustration in equal measure. He went on a run just inide the Boro half but over-ran the ball and the visitors countered.
They got the ball to Adomah on the right and his low cross was held by the diving Kuszczak.
4:12pm
Albion were clearly looking to up the tempo.
Ince played two forward-looking passes in a move down the left.
But the sting was taken out of Ward's low cross by a deflection and Oneruo cleared.
Then David's deep cross picked out Lingard who took it down - but his ball back into the goalmouth was closer to Oneruo than Ulloa.
4:09pm
Albion got fans right back behind them with a lively start to the second period attacking the North Stand.
There were some dangeroous crosses and two goal attempts.
Lingard curled just wide of the far post after moving on to Ward's back heel - but he should maybe have hit the target.
Forster-Caskey was on target with a well struck 25-yarder but the keeper held it moving to his left.
3:48pm
Some Albion fans booed the hosts off at the interval - and the response of others was to applaud.
Half: Albion 0 Boro 0
3:41pm
Bruno's cross bounced just in front of Omeruo, forcing him to slice his clearance for a corner.
This time Forster-Caskey took it. He picked out Upson, who headed back into the goalmouth, but Ulloa could not help it in and suffered a whack to the head in the scramble.
Lingard eventually had a shot charged down and appeals for handball were waved away.
Ulloa had to leave the field for running repairs. While he was off Lingard, Bruno, David and Forster-Caskey were involved in a neat combination of passes which ended when the latter fired horribly over - but he was offside anyway.
Then Ulloa returned but was just unable to reach Bruno's cross at the back post.
3:34pm
Then David caught Omeruo in possession as he looked to play out from the back. David found Ulloa who sent Buckley away down the right. But the big keeper was again decisive as he came out to catch the winger's hung-up cross.
Leadbitter fired a low shot wide for Boro on the half-hour but Kuszczak had it covered.
Albion were forced ito a change as Buckley limped off and headed straight for the changing room. Forster-Caskey replaced him.
3:30pm
Whitehead was booked for his foul on Lingard as Albion counter-attacked.
David whipped an inviting high ball towards the path of both Ulloa and Upson but 6ft 4in Konstantopoulos came out with conviction to catch above them.
3:28pm
Then Leadbitter shot from a similar position but did not really get hold of it and Kuszczak held as he dived low to his right.
Boro were proving hard to pay through.
When Friend won the ball back, he threaded a pass through the middle to Graham who helped it forward seemingly into the path of top scorer Adomah. But Greer got across to reach it first and slide a pass back to Kuszczak.
Too many passing moves were breaking down for home fans' liking.
Boro nicked the ball back and fed Tomlin on the left of the area but he was closed down by Bruno, who blocked his low cross behind for a corner.
Albion never fully cleared the flag kick and, when it was played back across, Bruno was on his own against two attackers. Leadbitter controlled but Bruno did not commit and eventually blocked the shot.
Then Friend let fly but his effort, going wide, hit team mate Graham and bounced around the box.
3:20pm
Bruno, then Buckley, won two quickfire corners down the Albion right.
Both were overhit by David as he looked for Upson.
But the ball was eventually worked back to David, whose cross won another flag kick.
David again aimed deep - and this time it was cleared away from Lingard.
Boro countered. Albion got men back to deal with the immediate danger.
But Tomlin eventually tried a 20-yard curler through a crowd of players and Kuszczak, possibly unsighted, reacted well to dive to his left and punch clear.
3:16pm
It was a very lively start - and young Williams was a threat.
He cut in from the left and tried to curl beyond Kuszczak, who dived low to his left to parry.
3:09pm
Neat footwork by David in a congested area*set up the first bit of excitement but Lingard could not quite thread him back in with a return pass.
Then Bruno's clever pass got Buckley to the byline for a cross which was cleared.
Buckley got on the ball again and his low cutback was met by David. The Spaniard miscued his shot slightly, hitting it into the ground, but it was bouncing just inside the post until giant Boro keeper Konstantopoulos stuck out a hand and brilliantly fingertipped it wide.
Boro were also lively and Williams sent a low drive into the arms of Kuszczak.
Then Friend played a low cross which just beat Graham in the middle.
Albion replied and David sent Ulloa away for a 20-yard shot whch the keeper held.*
3:03pm
Game just under way
Albion attacking the South Stand in this first half.
Original article
Although Boro were now comfortable, their keeper had played a part in the win.
He was again unbeatable in added time, diving to his left to push away a Lingard curler.
Many home fans had already left. And many of those who remained booed at the final whistle.
Final: Albion 0 Boro 2
4:47pm
Adomah made way for Ledesma
4:46pm
Still Albion looked for a way back. Ward's clever pass inside right-back Varga sent LuaLua into the box but he shot wide of the near post under pressure.
Then Boro cleared a corner after Bruno had galloped forward again.
But Boro killed the contest on the counter.
Greer cleared the initial pass forward but the ball broke to Leadbitter to tee up GRAHAM for a low angled finish across Kuszczak.
4:38pm
Att: 27,486 (932 away fans)
4:37pm
Albion threatened down the right straight after the switch but it was Bruno going past a man and chipping over an inviting cross into the box. But Ulloa's downward header was held by the keeper.
Kuszczak held a Boro free-kick and quickly threw the ball out to LuaLua. But Albion's afternoon was summed up when three red shirts quickly got across to force him back.
Then Lingard had a shot saved as things opened up. March went for the rebound and was tripped.
But Ulloa blazed the penalty way over the bar.
Boro sent on Chalobah for Omeruo.
4:30pm
The same Boro pair almost teamed up for a second as Adomah crossed and Graham headed wide.
Albion sent on March for Ince.
4:25pm
LuaLua skipped away from Varga down the outside and this time drilled his cross low to the near post. Andrews, charging in from midfield, got there first but poked the ball just past the near post.
But Boro went ahead when Graham battled for the ball in the corner after Greer failed to control first time. Graham fended off the home skipper, crossed low and ADOMAH got there first to net from close range.
4:20pm
Albion had a minor scare when Williams had a shot blocked after Upson gave the ball away on the edge of his own box.
4:18pm
Albion's next change saw David applauded off by most fans - and his replacement LuaLua cheered on.
The sub immediately got*to the byline but his cross was overhit as Ulloa charged to the the near post.
Boro sent on attacking midfielder Butterfield for Tomlin in a like-for-like switch.
4:17pm
There was no update on Buckley at half-time though clearly we will ask about him after the match
4:15pm
Lingard was offering hope and frustration in equal measure. He went on a run just inide the Boro half but over-ran the ball and the visitors countered.
They got the ball to Adomah on the right and his low cross was held by the diving Kuszczak.
4:12pm
Albion were clearly looking to up the tempo.
Ince played two forward-looking passes in a move down the left.
But the sting was taken out of Ward's low cross by a deflection and Oneruo cleared.
Then David's deep cross picked out Lingard who took it down - but his ball back into the goalmouth was closer to Oneruo than Ulloa.
4:09pm
Albion got fans right back behind them with a lively start to the second period attacking the North Stand.
There were some dangeroous crosses and two goal attempts.
Lingard curled just wide of the far post after moving on to Ward's back heel - but he should maybe have hit the target.
Forster-Caskey was on target with a well struck 25-yarder but the keeper held it moving to his left.
3:48pm
Some Albion fans booed the hosts off at the interval - and the response of others was to applaud.
Half: Albion 0 Boro 0
3:41pm
Bruno's cross bounced just in front of Omeruo, forcing him to slice his clearance for a corner.
This time Forster-Caskey took it. He picked out Upson, who headed back into the goalmouth, but Ulloa could not help it in and suffered a whack to the head in the scramble.
Lingard eventually had a shot charged down and appeals for handball were waved away.
Ulloa had to leave the field for running repairs. While he was off Lingard, Bruno, David and Forster-Caskey were involved in a neat combination of passes which ended when the latter fired horribly over - but he was offside anyway.
Then Ulloa returned but was just unable to reach Bruno's cross at the back post.
3:34pm
Then David caught Omeruo in possession as he looked to play out from the back. David found Ulloa who sent Buckley away down the right. But the big keeper was again decisive as he came out to catch the winger's hung-up cross.
Leadbitter fired a low shot wide for Boro on the half-hour but Kuszczak had it covered.
Albion were forced ito a change as Buckley limped off and headed straight for the changing room. Forster-Caskey replaced him.
3:30pm
Whitehead was booked for his foul on Lingard as Albion counter-attacked.
David whipped an inviting high ball towards the path of both Ulloa and Upson but 6ft 4in Konstantopoulos came out with conviction to catch above them.
3:28pm
Then Leadbitter shot from a similar position but did not really get hold of it and Kuszczak held as he dived low to his right.
Boro were proving hard to pay through.
When Friend won the ball back, he threaded a pass through the middle to Graham who helped it forward seemingly into the path of top scorer Adomah. But Greer got across to reach it first and slide a pass back to Kuszczak.
Too many passing moves were breaking down for home fans' liking.
Boro nicked the ball back and fed Tomlin on the left of the area but he was closed down by Bruno, who blocked his low cross behind for a corner.
Albion never fully cleared the flag kick and, when it was played back across, Bruno was on his own against two attackers. Leadbitter controlled but Bruno did not commit and eventually blocked the shot.
Then Friend let fly but his effort, going wide, hit team mate Graham and bounced around the box.
3:20pm
Bruno, then Buckley, won two quickfire corners down the Albion right.
Both were overhit by David as he looked for Upson.
But the ball was eventually worked back to David, whose cross won another flag kick.
David again aimed deep - and this time it was cleared away from Lingard.
Boro countered. Albion got men back to deal with the immediate danger.
But Tomlin eventually tried a 20-yard curler through a crowd of players and Kuszczak, possibly unsighted, reacted well to dive to his left and punch clear.
3:16pm
It was a very lively start - and young Williams was a threat.
He cut in from the left and tried to curl beyond Kuszczak, who dived low to his left to parry.
3:09pm
Neat footwork by David in a congested area*set up the first bit of excitement but Lingard could not quite thread him back in with a return pass.
Then Bruno's clever pass got Buckley to the byline for a cross which was cleared.
Buckley got on the ball again and his low cutback was met by David. The Spaniard miscued his shot slightly, hitting it into the ground, but it was bouncing just inside the post until giant Boro keeper Konstantopoulos stuck out a hand and brilliantly fingertipped it wide.
Boro were also lively and Williams sent a low drive into the arms of Kuszczak.
Then Friend played a low cross which just beat Graham in the middle.
Albion replied and David sent Ulloa away for a 20-yard shot whch the keeper held.*
3:03pm
Game just under way
Albion attacking the South Stand in this first half.
Original article