2017–18 Middlesbrough F.C. season

Middlesbrough
2017–18 season
Chairman Steve Gibson
Manager Garry Monk
(until 23 December 2017)
Tony Pulis
(from 26 December 2017)
Stadium Riverside Stadium
Championship 5th
FA Cup Fourth round
EFL Cup Fourth round
Top goalscorer League: Britt Assombalonga (14)
All: Britt Assombalonga (14)

The 2017–18 season was Middlesbrough's first season back in the Championship, making an immediate return to the division following relegation from the Premier League in the previous season. In their 142nd year in existence, the club also competed in the FA Cup and the EFL Cup.

The season covers the period from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018, with all competitive games played between August 2017 and May 2018. Two transfer windows took place, the first from 1 July to 31 August 2017, the second from 1 January to 31 January 2018.

Garry Monk was appointed as manager in June 2017, however he parted company with the club in late December after an unconvincing start to the season, with the club in 9th position. Tony Pulis replaced him on 26 December, and took charge of the team after Middlesbrough's Boxing Day fixture against Bolton Wanderers.

Changes

The first and most crucial change this season is that the club will play in the EFL Championship, having been relegated from the Premier League in the previous season. Aitor Karanka, who had managed the club from November 2013, was sacked in March 2017 after a poor run of results, having not won in ten matches and having occupied a place in the relegation zone. Prior to his sacking, tensions had mounted between Karanka and both the club's board and fans surrounding Middlesbrough's January transfer activity and frustration from supporters over the poor results and perceived poor style of play. Karanka's assistant manager, Steve Agnew, served as caretaker manager until the end of the season. On 9 June 2017, it was confirmed that former Swansea City and Leeds United manager Garry Monk would become the new manager for the 2017–18 season.

Nathan Convery, Bradley Fewster, Brandon Holdsworth, Lewis Maloney, Niall McGoldrick, Junior Mondal, Josef Wheatley, Matthew Wilson, Víctor Valdés, Brad Guzan and Viktor Fischer were amongst the first players to leave the club in the summer 2017 transfer window. Further departures would include Bernardo Espinosa and Cristhian Stuani, who both completed moves to Girona, while James Husband would leave for Norwich City, defender Antonio Barragán would depart on a season-long loan to Spanish club Real Betis, midfielder Gastón Ramírez would depart for Sampdoria, and the club also terminated the contract of Carlos de Pena by mutual consent.

Monk's first major signings included Norwich City midfielder Jonny Howson, Derby County right-back Cyrus Christie, Toulouse striker Martin Braithwaite, Nottingham Forest striker Britt Assombalonga, as well as goalkeeper Darren Randolph, and striker Ashley Fletcher, both moving from West Ham United.

Squad

First team squad

As of 1 February 2018.
Squad No. Name Nationality Position(s) Date of Birth (Age) Previous Team
Goalkeepers
1 Dimitrios Konstantopoulos GK 29 November 1978 AEK Athens
13 Tomás Mejías GK 30 January 1989 Real Madrid
25 Darren Randolph GK 12 May 1987 West Ham United
Defenders
2 Fábio FB 9 July 1990 Cardiff City
3 George Friend LB 17 October 1987 Doncaster Rovers
4 Daniel Ayala CB 7 November 1990 Norwich City
5 Ryan Shotton RB / CB 30 October 1988 Birmingham City
6 Ben Gibson CB 15 January 1993 Academy
14 Martin Cranie CB / RB 26 September 1986 Huddersfield Town
20 Dael Fry CB / RB 30 August 1997 Academy
Midfielders
7 Grant Leadbitter DM / CM 7 January 1986 Ipswich Town
8 Adam Clayton DM / CM 14 January 1989 Huddersfield Town
16 Jonny Howson CM 21 May 1988 Norwich City
19 Stewart Downing AM / LM / RM 22 July 1984 West Ham United
21 Marvin Johnson LW 1 December 1990 Oxford United
23 Jack Harrison L RW 20 November 1996 Manchester City
27 Muhamed Bešić L CM 10 September 1992 Everton
30 Lewis Baker L CM 25 April 1995 Chelsea
37 Adama Traoré RW 25 January 1996 Aston Villa
Strikers
9 Britt Assombalonga ST 6 December 1992 Nottingham Forest
11 Patrick Bamford CF 5 September 1993 Chelsea
39 Rudy Gestede FW 10 October 1988 Aston Villa
  • L = Player on Loan

Pre-season

Friendlies

As of 3 July 2017, Middlesbrough have announced five pre-season friendlies, against Mansfield Town, Rochdale, Oxford United, Chesterfield and FC Augsburg.

12 July 2017 Oxford United 0–0 Middlesbrough Albufeira, Portugal
18:30 WEST Report Stadium: Estádio da Nora
15 July 2017 Chesterfield 0–2 Middlesbrough Santo António, Portugal
18:30 WEST Report Stuani 19'
Bamford 65' (pen.) 		Stadium: Complexo Desportivo de Vila Real de Santo António
19 July 2017 Mansfield Town 2–2 Middlesbrough Mansfield
19:30 BST Howson 13' (o.g.)
Angol 18' 		Report Soisalo 19'
Fry 28' 		Stadium: Field Mill
Attendance: 1,931
Referee: Ross Joyce
22 July 2017 Rochdale 2–0 Middlesbrough Spotland
15:00 BST Ayala 51' (o.g.)
Rathbone 87' 		Report Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 1,608
Referee: Darren Handley
29 July 2017 Middlesbrough 2–1 FC Augsburg Middlesbrough
15:00 BST Braithwaite 37'
Forshaw 90' 		Report Stafylidis 2' Stadium: Riverside Stadium

Competitions

Championship

Main article: 2017–18 EFL Championship

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
3 Fulham (O, P) 46 25 13 8 79 46 +33 88 Qualification for Championship play-offs
4 Aston Villa 46 24 11 11 72 42 +30 83
5 Middlesbrough 46 22 10 14 67 45 +22 76
6 Derby County 46 20 15 11 70 48 +22 75
7 Preston North End 46 19 16 11 57 46 +11 73
Source: English Football League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted
Notes:
  1. Four teams play for one spot and promotion to the Premier League.

Result summary

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
46 22 10 14 67 45  +22 76 14 3 6 33 17  +16 8 7 8 34 28  +6

Last updated: 6 May 2018.
Source:

Results by matchday

Matchday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46
Ground A H H A H A A H A H H A H A A H A H H A H A A H H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A
Result L W W L D W D W D L D D L W W W L W L L W L W W L W L W D L W L W D W W W D L D W L W W W D
Position 20 12 4 9 9 6 9 7 6 9 11 11 13 12 8 5 6 6 7 9 8 10 9 7 9 8 9 8 8 9 9 9 8 8 7 6 6 6 6 6 6 7 5 5 5 5
Updated to match(es) played on 22 April 2018. Source: Statto.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

5 August 2017 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0 Middlesbrough Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Miranda Yellow card 28'
Bonatini 33' 		Report Clayton Yellow card 58'
Forshaw Yellow card 90+4' 		Stadium: Molineux Stadium
Attendance: 29,692
Referee: Darren Bond
12 August 2017 2 Middlesbrough 1–0 Sheffield United Middlesbrough
17:30 BST Gestede 20'
Friend Yellow card 75' 		Report Stevens Yellow card 63' Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 26,876
Referee: Peter Bankes
15 August 2017 3 Middlesbrough 2–0 Burton Albion Middlesbrough
19:45 BST Clayton Yellow card 12'
Assombalonga 23', 60' 		Report Lund Yellow card 26'
Naylor Yellow card 70'
Akpan Red card 78' 		Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 24,522
Referee: Tim Robinson
19 August 2017 4 Nottingham Forest 2–1 Middlesbrough Nottingham
15:00 BST Darikwa Yellow card 15'
McKay 16'
Traoré Yellow card 19'
Murphy 79' (pen.) 		Report Clayton Yellow card 39'
Fry Yellow card 63'
Assombalonga Yellow card 76'
Gibson 83' Yellow card 89' 		Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 26,265
Referee: Graham Scott
26 August 2017 5 Middlesbrough 0–0 Preston North End Middlesbrough
15:00 BST Clayton Yellow card 65' Report Pearson Yellow card 63'
Harrop Yellow card 89' 		Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 25,295
Referee: Darren England
9 September 2017 6 Bolton Wanderers 0–3 Middlesbrough Horwich
15:00 BST Karacan Yellow card 10' Report Assombalonga 13', 71'
Traoré Yellow card 45+1'
Johnson 78' 		Stadium: Macron Stadium
Attendance: 17,385
Referee: Geoff Eltringham
12 September 2017 7 Aston Villa 0–0 Middlesbrough Aston
19:30 BST Snodgrass Yellow card 31'
Lansbury Red card 64'
Kodjia Yellow card 83' 		Report Traoré Red card 4'
Christie Yellow card 80' 		Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 26,631
Referee: James Linington
16 September 2017 8 Middlesbrough 3–2 Queens Park Rangers Middlesbrough
15:00 BST Clayton Yellow card 34'
Leadbitter Yellow card 39'
Baker 36' Yellow card 66'
Fletcher 55'
Assombalonga 60'
Christie Yellow card 66' 		Report Wheeler 2'
Luongo Yellow card 32'
Wszołek Yellow card 47'
Mackie 50' Yellow card 66'
Smithies Yellow card 52' 		Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 24,790
Referee: Darren Bond
23 September 2017 9 Fulham 1–1 Middlesbrough Craven Cottage, London
15:00 BST Kamara 86' Report Christie 88' Attendance: 20,718
Referee: Oliver Langford
26 September 2017 10 Middlesbrough 0–1 Norwich City Middlesbrough
19:45 BST Howson Yellow card 71' Report Maddison 13'
Wildschut Yellow card 28'
Pinto Yellow card 54'
Tettey Yellow card 62'
Stiepermann Yellow card 82' 		Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 24,084
Referee: Jeremy Simpson
30 September 2017 11 Middlesbrough 2–2 Brentford Middlesbrough
15:00 BST Braithwaite 68'
Christie Yellow card 70'
Fábio 76'
Bamford Yellow card 90+4'
Randolph Yellow card 90+6' 		Report Barbet 29'
Dalsgaard Yellow card 67'
Watkins 72' Yellow card 90+5'
Maupay Yellow card 90+6' 		Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 24,545
Referee: Paul Tierney
14 October 2017 12 Barnsley 2–2 Middlesbrough Barnsley
15:00 BST Fletcher 3' (o.g.)
McGeehan 9'
Pearson Yellow card 73'
Williams Yellow card 74' 		Report Braithwaite 7'
Assombalonga 60' 		Stadium: Oakwell
Attendance: 17,163
Referee: Lee Mason
21 October 2017 13 Middlesbrough 0–1 Cardiff City Middlesbrough
15:00 BST Gibson Yellow card 20'
Leadbitter Yellow card 66' 		Report Bennett Yellow card 39'
Bamba Yellow card 59'
Ralls 84' (pen.) 		Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 24,806
Referee: Andrew Madley
28 October 2017 14 Reading 0–2 Middlesbrough Reading
15:00 BST McShane Yellow card 45+1' Report Leadbitter 14' (pen.)
Assombalonga Yellow card 49' 74' 		Stadium: Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 17,928
Referee: Oliver Langford
31 October 2017 15 Hull City 1–3 Middlesbrough Kingston upon Hull
19:45 GMT Grosicki 72' Yellow card 90+1'
Hector Red card 83'
Irvine Yellow card 90+1' 		Report Braithwaite 13'
Assombalonga 36'
Ayala Yellow card 56'
Howson Yellow card 81'
Leadbitter 85' (pen.) 		Stadium: KCOM Stadium
Attendance: 15,454
Referee: Tim Robinson
5 November 2017 16 Middlesbrough 1–0 Sunderland Middlesbrough
12:00 GMT Tavernier 6'
Christie Yellow card 63' 		Report Jones Yellow card 17'
Cattermole Yellow card 45'
McGeady Yellow card 60'
Wilson Yellow card 75' 		Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 29,277
Referee: Jeremy Simpson
19 November 2017 17 Leeds United 2–1 Middlesbrough Leeds
13:15 GMT Hernández 25' Yellow card 90+2'
Berardi Yellow card 33'
Jansson Yellow card 34'
Alioski 54'
Ayling Yellow card 76'
Phillips Yellow card 87' 		Report Friend Yellow card 30'
Howson Yellow card 61'
Assombalona 78' (pen.) Yellow card 86' 		Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 33,771
Referee: Keith Stroud
22 November 2017 18 Middlesbrough 2–0 Birmingham City Middlesbrough
19:45 GMT Assombalonga 10', 41'
Howson Yellow card 56' 		Report Maghoma Yellow card 81' Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 22,848
Referee: Darren England
25 November 2017 19 Middlesbrough 0–3 Derby County Middlesbrough
15:00 GMT Ayala Yellow card 15' Yellow-red card 60'
Fabio Yellow card 53' 		Report Vydra 13', 47' (pen.), 63'
Huddlestone Yellow card 53'
Ledley Yellow card 77' 		Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 24,607
Referee: Simon Hooper
2 December 2017 20 Bristol City 2–1 Middlesbrough Ashton Gate
17:30 GMT Bryan 51' Yellow card 61'
Paterson 54'
Smith Yellow card 90+4' 		Report Gibson Yellow card 56'
Magnússon 75' (o.g.)
Christie Yellow card 90+2' 		Stadium: Ashton Gate Stadium
Attendance: 18,752
Referee: Stephen Martin
9 December 2017 21 Middlesbrough 2–0 Ipswich Town Middlesbrough
15:00 GMT Leadbitter Yellow card 21'
Ayala Yellow card 32'
Braithwaite 44' Yellow card 90'
Bamford 51' 		Report Celina Yellow card 59' Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 22,989
Referee: Robert Jones
16 December 2017 22 Millwall 2–1 Middlesbrough South Bermondsey
15:00 GMT Wallace 31'
Saville 37' 		Report Downing 67' Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 12,026
Referee: Oliver Langford
23 December 2017 23 Sheffield Wednesday 1–2 Middlesbrough Sheffield
15:00 GMT Wallace 30'
Palmer Yellow card 33'
van Aken Yellow card 57' 		Report Leadbitter soccer ball with red X 71
Howson 71' Yellow card 90+5'
Shotton 83' 		Stadium: Hillsborough
Attendance: 27,471
Referee: Peter Bankes
26 December 2017 24 Middlesbrough 2–0 Bolton Wanderers Middlesbrough
15:00 GMT Howson Yellow card 33'
Braithwaite 49', Yellow card 57'
Assombalonga 67' 		Report Taylor Yellow card 12'
Beevers Yellow card 51'
Wheater Yellow card 88' 		Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 29,433
Referee: Jeremy Simpson
30 December 2017 25 Middlesbrough 0–1 Aston Villa Middlesbrough
15:00 GMT Leadbitter Yellow card 15'
Friend Yellow card 67'
Downing Yellow card 90+4' 		Report Hourihane Yellow card 24'
Onomah Yellow card 30'
Elphick Yellow card 45+4'
Chester Yellow card 62'
Snodgrass 75' 		Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 29,422
Referee: Andy Madley
1 January 2018 26 Preston North End 2–3 Middlesbrough Preston
15:00 GMT Robinson 14'
Hugill 40'
Johnson Yellow card 63'
Harrop Yellow card 67' 		Report Ayala 13', 73'
Christie Yellow card 56'
Howson 65'
Friend Yellow card 72'
Gestede Yellow card 89'
Randolph Yellow card 90+2' 		Stadium: Deepdale
Attendance: 15,101
Referee: David Coote
13 January 2018 27 Middlesbrough 0–1 Fulham Middlesbrough
15:00 GMT Report Norwood 90+5' (pen.) Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 23,850
Referee: Geoff Eltringham
20 January 2018 28 Queens Park Rangers 0–3 Middlesbrough Shepherd's Bush, London
15:00 GMT Report Ayala 24'
Friend 34'
Traoré 85' 		Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 14,182
Referee: Oliver Langford
30 January 2018 29 Middlesbrough 0–0 Sheffield Wednesday Middlesbrough
19:45 DST Report Thorniley Yellow card 11'
Reach Yellow card 87' 		Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 24,120
Referee: James Linington
3 February 2018 30 Norwich City 1–0 Middlesbrough Norwich
15:00 GMT Trybull 44' Yellow card 45+1'
Tettey Yellow card 90' 		Report Gestede Red card 28'
Leadbitter Yellow card 62' 		Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 25,960
Referee: Mike Jones
10 February 2018 31 Middlesbrough 2–1 Reading Middlesbrough
15:00 GMT (UTC) Traoré 44' 49'
Friend Yellow card 73'
Clayton Yellow card 88' 		Report van den Berg Yellow card 60'
Martin 78'
Gunter Yellow card 83'
Bacuna Yellow card 87' 		Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 23,491
Referee: David Coote
17 February 2018 32 Cardiff City 1–0 Middlesbrough Cardiff
15:00 GMT Morrison 33' Report Bešić Yellow card 45' Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 18,720
Referee: Darren Bond
20 February 2018 33 Middlesbrough 3–1 Hull City Middlesbrough
19:45 GMT Gestede 16', 58', Yellow card 35'
Bamford 45' 		Report Evandro 41'
Dawson Yellow card 88' 		Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 23,111
Referee: Andrew Madley
24 February 2018 34 Sunderland 3–3 Middlesbrough Sunderland
15:00 GMT Asoro 11'
Clarke-Salter Red card 24'
Williams 58'
McManaman 90+6' 		Report Traore Red card 37'
Bamford 49', 68'
Leadbitter 53' (pen.) 		Stadium: Stadium of Light
Attendance: 29,048
Referee: Tim Robinson
2 March 2018 35 Middlesbrough 3–0 Leeds United Middlesbrough
19:45 GMT Bamford 31', 36', 68'
Leadbitter Yellow card 34' 		Report Sáiz Yellow card 34'
Anita Yellow card 41'
Cooper Yellow card 73' 		Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 27,621
Referee: Darren England
6 March 2018 36 Birmingham City 0–1 Middlesbrough Birmingham
19:45 GMT Morrison Yellow card 82' Report Bamford 39' Stadium: St Andrew's
Attendance: 18,301
Referee: Stephen Martin
10 March 2018 37 Middlesbrough 3–1 Barnsley Middlesbrough
15:00 GMT Ayala 1'
Traoré 18'
Bamford 53' 		Report Gardner Yellow card 5'
Moore 58' 		Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 24,917
Referee: Andy Davies
17 March 2018 38 Brentford 1–1 Middlesbrough Brentford
15:00 GMT Woods Yellow card 14'
MacLeod 34'
Dalsgaard Yellow card 53'
Sawyers Yellow card 87' Yellow-red card 90+1'
Mepham Yellow card 90+6' 		Report Traoré 21'
Clayton Yellow card 29'
Gibson Yellow card 51'
Bešić Yellow card 62'
Friend Yellow card 90' 		Stadium: Griffin Park
Attendance: 11,134
Referee: Simon Hooper
30 March 2018 39 Middlesbrough 1–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Middlesbrough
17:30 BST Bamford 90+4' Report Costa 32'
Cavaleiro 37' 		Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 27,658
Referee: Stuart Attwell
2 April 2018 40 Burton Albion 1-1 Middlesbrough Burton upon Trent
15:00 BST Sordell 6' Report Assombalonga 90' Stadium: Pirelli Stadium
Attendance: 4468
Referee: David Coote
7 April 2018 41 Middlesbrough 2–0 Nottingham Forest Middlesbrough
15:00 BST Ayala 7'
Downing 31'
Shotton Yellow card 57' 		Report Dowell Yellow card 13'
Pereira Figueiredo Yellow card 34' 		Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 25,812
Referee: David Webb
10 April 2018 42 Sheffield United 2–1 Middlesbrough Sheffield
L. Evans 2', 40'
Fleck Yellow card 35' 		Report Leadbitter Yellow card 19' Yellow-red card 25'
Traoré Yellow card 41'
Ayala 48'
Fábio Yellow card 71'
Friend Yellow card 87' 		Stadium: Bramall Lane
Attendance: 26,557
Referee: Darren Bond
14 April 2018 43 Middlesbrough 2–1 Bristol City Middlesbrough
15:00 BST Bešić Yellow card 9'
Friend 18', Yellow card 19'
Clayton Yellow card 56'
Ayala 68'
Randolph Yellow card 90' 		Report Djuric 13'
Reid Yellow card 45'
Pack Yellow card 77' 		Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 24,812
Referee: Andy Madley
21 April 2018 44 Derby County 1–2 Middlesbrough Derby
15:00 BST Huddlestone Yellow card 36'
Hanson Yellow card 84'
Nugent 90+2' (pen.) 		Report Clayton Yellow card 1'
Bešić 20'
Traoré Yellow card 32'
Assombalonga 70' 		Stadium: Pride Park
Attendance: 28,096
Referee: Lee Probert
28 April 2018 45 Middlesbrough 2–0 Millwall Middlesbrough
17:30 BST Assombalonga 11'
Friend Yellow card 47'
Howson 66'
Bešić Yellow card 85' 		Report Williams Yellow card 45'
Hutchinson Yellow card 87'
Tunnicliffe Yellow card 90' 		Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 28,606
Referee: Paul Tierney
6 May 2018 46 Ipswich Town 2–2 Middlesbrough Ipswich
12:30 BST Sears 8', Yellow card 45+2'
Skuse Yellow card 12'
Nydam Yellow card 45+1'
Waghorn 83' (pen.) 		Report Downing 71'
Gibson Yellow card 90+4'
Bamford 90+6' 		Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 18,829
Referee: David Coote

Football League play-offs

12 May 2018 Semi final (1st leg) Middlesbrough 0–1 Aston Villa Middlesbrough
19:45 BST Friend Yellow card 45'
Gibson Yellow card 49' 		Report Hourihane Yellow card 13'
Jedinak 15'
Snodgrass Yellow card 75' 		Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 29,233
Referee: Robert Madley
15 May 2018 Semi-final second leg Aston Villa 0–0
(1–0 agg.) 		Middlesbrough Birmingham
19:45 BST Snodgrass Yellow card 34'
Hutton Yellow card 45'
Grealish Yellow card 60'
Johnstone Yellow card 87' 		Report Friend Yellow card 13'
Bešić Yellow card 80' 		Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 40,505
Referee: Mike Dean

FA Cup

In the FA Cup, Middlesbrough entered the competition in the third round and were drawn at home versus Sunderland. Boro beat the Black Cats 2–0 at the Riverside.

The Monday after Boro were drawn with who ever won that night's game between Brighton and Crystal Palace. The Seagulls (Brighton) won the game 2–1, meaning that Boro will play them in the 4th round, on the Weekend of the 27th of January.

6 January 2018 Third round Middlesbrough 2–0 Sunderland Middlesbrough
13:00 GMT Gestede 10'
Braithwaite 42' 		Report Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 26,399
Referee: Christopher Kavanagh
27 January 2018 Fourth round Middlesbrough 0–1 Brighton & Hove Albion Middlesbrough
15:00 GMT Clayton Yellow card 44' Report Baldock Yellow card 61'
Pröpper Yellow card 68'
Izquierdo Yellow card 70'
Murray 90'
Kayal Yellow card 90+5' 		Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 20,475
Referee: Anthony Taylor

EFL Cup

Middlesbrough entered the 2017–18 EFL Cup in the second round, and were drawn at home to Scunthorpe United. An away trip against Aston Villa was confirmed for the third round. A fourth round trip to AFC Bournemouth was announced.

22 August 2017 Second round Middlesbrough 3–0 Scunthorpe United Middlesbrough
19:45 BST Fábio 17'
Baker 30'
Fletcher 55' 		Report Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 12,679
Referee: Andy Madley
19 September 2017 Third round Aston Villa 0–2 Middlesbrough Aston
19:45 BST Elphick Yellow card 17' Yellow-red card 57' Report Bamford 58' (pen.), 67'
Howson Yellow card 72' 		Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 11,197
Referee: Stephen Martin
24 October 2017 Fourth round AFC Bournemouth 3–1 Middlesbrough Boscombe
19:45 BST Simpson 49'
Wilson 75' (pen.)
Afobe 82' 		Report Fry Yellow card 39'
Tavernier 56' 		Stadium: Dean Court
Referee: Simon Hooper

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
1 July 2017 CF Luke Armstrong Blyth Spartans Free
1 July 2017 CB Tom Brewitt Liverpool Free
1 July 2017 CB Enes Mahmutovic Fola Esch Undisclosed
1 July 2017 AM Lewis Wing Shildon Free
7 July 2017 RB Cyrus Christie Derby County Undisclosed
7 July 2017 CM Jonny Howson Norwich City Undisclosed
13 July 2017 CF Martin Braithwaite Toulouse undisclosed
14 July 2017 ST George Miller Bury Undisclosed
17 July 2017 CF Britt Assombalonga Nottingham Forest £15,000,000
22 July 2017 GK Darren Randolph West Ham United £5,000,000
28 July 2017 CF Ashley Fletcher West Ham United £6,500,000
29 August 2017 CB Jakub Sinior Legia Warsaw Undisclosed
29 August 2017 AM Amadou Sylla Stade Reims Free
30 August 2017 CB Ryan Shotton Birmingham City Undisclosed
31 August 2017 LM Marvin Johnson Oxford United Undisclosed
31 January 2018 RB Martin Cranie Huddersfield Town Undisclosed

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
1 July 2017 FW Jordan Rhodes Sheffield Wednesday Undisclosed
1 July 2017 RB Nathan Convery Free agent Released
1 July 2017 CF Bradley Fewster Free agent Released
1 July 2017 LW Viktor Fischer Mainz 05 Undisclosed
1 July 2017 GK Brad Guzan Atlanta United Undisclosed
1 July 2017 CM Brandon Holdsworth Free agent Released
1 July 2017 CM Lewis Maloney Free agent Released
1 July 2017 CB Niall McGoldrick Whitby Town Released
1 July 2017 LW Junior Mondal Free agent Released
1 July 2017 GK Víctor Valdés Retired Released
1 July 2017 CM Josef Wheatley Free agent Released
1 July 2017 MF Matthew Wilson Free agent Released
7 July 2017 CB Bernardo Espinosa Girona Undisclosed
11 July 2017 LB James Husband Norwich City Undisclosed
19 July 2017 LW Carlos de Pena Free agent Released
21 July 2017 RW Cristhian Stuani Girona Undisclosed
4 August 2017 AM Gastón Ramírez Sampdoria Undisclosed
7 August 2017 CB Alex Baptiste Queen's Park Rangers Released
10 August 2017 CM Marten de Roon Atalanta Undisclosed
18 January 2018 CM Adam Forshaw Leeds United £4,500,000
31 January 2018 RB Cyrus Christie Fulham Undisclosed
31 January 2018 CM Adlène Guedioura Nottingham Forest Free
  1. Niall McGoldrick joined Whitby Town following his release.

Loans in

Start date Position Nationality Name From End date Ref.
14 July 2017 RB Connor Roberts Swansea City 30 June 2018
11 August 2017 CM Lewis Baker Chelsea 30 June 2018
30 January 2018 RW Jack Harrison Manchester City 30 June 2018
31 January 2018 DM Muhamed Bešić Everton 30 June 2018

Loans out

Start date Position Nationality Name To End date Ref.
1 July 2017 GK Joe Fryer Stevenage 30 June 2018
1 July 2017 DM Julien De Sart Zulte Waregem 30 June 2018
3 July 2017 DM Robbie Tinkler Gateshead January 2018
6 July 2017 RB Antonio Barragán Real Betis 30 June 2018
7 July 2017 CB Matthew Elsdon Inverness Caledonian Thistle 30 June 2018
18 July 2017 AM Callum Cooke Blackpool 30 June 2018
4 August 2017 RW Harry Chapman Blackburn Rovers 30 June 2018
7 August 2017 GK Connor Ripley Burton Albion 4 January 2018
31 August 2017 RB Callum Johnson Accrington Stanley January 2018
5 December 2017 CF George Miller Wrexham 5 January 2018
12 December 2017 CM Alexander Pattison York City 12 January 2018
4 January 2018 GK Connor Ripley Bury 30 June 2018
17 January 2018 LW Marcus Tavernier Milton Keynes Dons 30 June 2018
19 January 2018 CF George Miller Bury 30 June 2018
31 January 2018 CF Martin Braithwaite Girondins de Bordeaux 30 June 2018
31 January 2018 CF Ashley Fletcher Sunderland 30 June 2018

Statistics

Appearances

No. Pos. Name Championship FA Cup EFL Cup Total Discipline
Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists
1 GK Dimitrios Konstantopoulos 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 0 0
2 DF Fábio 18 (3) 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 19 (3) 2 1 2 0
3 DF George Friend 27 (4) 2 1 2 0 0 2 0 0 31 (4) 2 1 9 0
4 DF Daniel Ayala 31 7 1 2 0 0 3 0 0 36 7 1 2 1
5 DF Ryan Shotton 21 (1) 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 23 (1) 1 2 2 0
6 DF Ben Gibson 43 1 3 2 0 0 1 0 0 46 1 2 5 0
7 MF Grant Leadbitter 29 (3) 3 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 27 (3) 3 2 11 1
8 MF Adam Clayton 20 (10) 0 0 1 (1) 0 0 1 0 0 22 (11) 0 0 11 0
9 FW Britt Assombalonga 30 (12) 14 0 0 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 30 (13) 14 0 3 0
11 FW Patrick Bamford 23 (14) 10 0 1 0 0 2 2 0 26 (14) 12 0 1 0
13 GK Tomás Mejías 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 DF Martin Cranie 1 (8) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 (8) 0 0 1 0
16 MF Jonny Howson 35 (6) 2 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 38 (6) 2 2 7 0
19 MF Stewart Downing 36 (2) 2 7 1 (1) 0 0 0 (3) 0 0 37 (6) 2 7 1 0
20 DF Dael Fry 11 (2) 0 1 0 (1) 0 0 2 (1) 0 0 13 (4) 0 1 2 0
21 MF Marvin Johnson 6 (11) 1 2 0 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 6 (12) 1 2 0 0
23 DF Jack Harrison 0 (3) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (3) 0 0 0 0
25 GK Darren Randolph 44 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 46 0 0 3 0
27 MF Muhamed Bešić 13 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 1 1 3 0
30 MF Lewis Baker 6 (6) 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 8 (6) 2 0 1 0
37 FW Adama Traoré 24 (8) 5 10 2 0 1 2 0 2 28 (8) 5 12 3 2
39 FW Rudy Gestede 10 (9) 3 2 1 1 0 0 (1) 0 0 11 (10) 2 1 3 1
45 FW George Miller 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 0 0 (1) 0 0 0 0
Players who left the club in August/January transfer window or on loan
10 FW Martin Braithwaite 17 (2) 5 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 19 (2) 6 2 3 0
12 GK Connor Ripley 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 MF Marten de Roon 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
15 DF Alex Baptiste 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
17 DF Antonio Barragán 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
17 MF Adlène Guedioura 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
18 FW Ashley Fletcher 3 (13) 1 1 1 0 0 2 (1) 1 0 6 (14) 2 1 0 0
22 DF Cyrus Christie 24 (1) 1 4 0 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 24 (2) 1 4 7 0
23 MF Julien De Sart 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
23 DF Connor Roberts 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 3 0 0 0 0
34 MF Adam Forshaw 5 (6) 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 8 (6) 0 0 1 0
51 MF Lewis Wing 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 (1) 0 0 1 (1) 0 0 0 0
62 MF Marcus Tavernier 4 (1) 1 0 0 0 0 3 1 2 7 (1) 2 2 0 0

Top scorers

The list is sorted by shirt number when total goals are equal.

RK Pos No. Player Championship FA Cup League Cup Total
1 FW 9 Britt Assombalonga 14 0 0 14
2 FW 11 Patrick Bamford 10 0 2 12
3 DF 4 Daniel Ayala 7 0 0 7
4 FW 10 Martin Braithwaite 5 1 0 6
5 FW 37 Adama Traoré 5 0 0 5
6 FW 39 Rudy Gestede 3 1 0 4
7 MF 7 Grant Leadbitter 3 0 0 3
8 DF 3 George Friend 2 0 0 2
MF 16 Jonny Howson 2 0 0 2
MF 19 Stewart Downing 2 0 0 2
DF 2 Fábio 1 0 1 2
FW 18 Ashley Fletcher 1 0 1 2
MF 30 Lewis Baker 1 0 1 2
MF 62 Marcus Tavernier 1 0 1 2
15 DF 5 Ryan Shotton 1 0 0 1
DF 6 Ben Gibson 1 0 0 1
MF 21 Marvin Johnson 1 0 0 1
DF 22 Cyrus Christie 1 0 0 1
MF 27 Muhamed Bešić 1 0 0 1
Own Goal 1 0 0 1
Total 63 2 6 71