Socceroos star Riley McGree scored and provided an assist to send Middlesbrough to the top of the EFL Championship on Tuesday morning AEDT.
Boro sit at the summit for the first time since mid-October after a 2-1 win away at Sheffield United, with McGree playing the final pass for Tommy Conway’s opening goal before finishing with composure from close range on the cusp of half-time. He was named Man of the Match.
Patrick Bamford pulled one back in the second half for the Blades, before Joe Rothwell was sent off for the home side in the 80th minute.
The result sets up a top of the table meeting between Boro and Coventry City next Tuesday morning AEDT. Frank Lampard’s side are now three matches without a win, having been leapfrogged after their 0-0 draw at home to Oxford United.
Middlesbrough are now two points clear at the top and have recorded six straight wins.
“Brilliant football, crazy football. You find yourself 2-0 up, one team hurting and then one team on the brink of being top of the league,” former Middlesbrough midfielder Neil Maddison told the BBC.
“It’s a good goal from Sheffield United and you are thinking this is going to be a tough ride. The sending off changed the game but what a result for Boro.
“To come here and do that, make no mistake this is an unbelievable win.”
After six matches out with injury, McGree has rocketed back into form in recent weeks.
He made his return with 16 minutes off the bench against Preston and has now made back-to-back starts, marked with a goal and two assists.
Teesside Live rated the Socceroo a 9/10 on the night, adding: “Another superb performance, highlighting how important he is to Boro.
“Involved in so many positive attacks, including an assist for the first goal, he picked up clever pockets of space throughout.
“He then doubled Boro’s lead with a more difficult finish than it looked with his head on the rebound.”
It is clear how highly Boro boss Kim Hellberg rates McGree, who has now taken his tally to three goals and three assists in 13 matches this Championship season.
“It’s credit to players, staff and fans, six in a row is not easy to do in any league, but in this league especially,” McGree told Middlesbrough’s official channels.
“Probably positions I don’t find myself in as much as I’d like to, following in shots and getting easier goals. It was really good to get one today.”
Unfortunately, fellow Socceroo Sammy Silvera appears to have fallen down the pecking order after the January transfer window, missing the squad altogether just weeks after hitting top form at the turn of the year.
With 31 matches played and 15 left to play, Boro will have their sights firmly fixed on promotion to the Premier League for the first time since 2016-17.
Judging by how McGree is playing, you wouldn’t bet against him becoming Australia’s next player in the top league on the planet.
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