Swansea 1-3 Middlesbrough: Boro narrow gap on top two
- Published
Chuba Akpom completed Middlesbrough's first league double over Swansea since 1965
Middlesbrough came from behind at Swansea City to narrow the gap on the Championship's promotion leaders.
Joel Piroe gave the home side a surprise lead early in the first half of an entertaining contest.
But Aaron Ramsey and Cameron Archer scored in the space of three minutes of the second half to turn the game on its head, just moments after Swansea had a goal narrowly ruled out.
Top-scorer Chuba Akpom then netted from the penalty spot to seal a rousing win.
Michael Carrick's side are now just four points behind second-placed Sheffield United who were beaten by Luton Town.
And Boro are hitting form at just the right time with seven wins in their last eight games.
They were boosted before kick-off by the return of key defender Paddy McNair from a head injury but they found themselves behind after 14 minutes.
Matt Grimes started for the injured Joe Allen and provided the launchpad for the opener.
The midfielder held three defenders at bay before Ryan Manning's deflected cross was gently nudged past Zack Steffen by Piroe for his 14th goal of the season.
For all their possession, Boro struggled to contain Grimes or Ollie Cooper, whose departure at half-time to injury severely blunted Swansea's attack.
Joel Piroe's 14th goal of the season was not enough for a Swansea win
However the hosts' lack of confidence told as they allowed Middlesbrough to take a hold.
Riley McGree was at the heart of most of Boro's attacks while Ramsey provided thrust through the middle and Ryan Giles width on left.
But Boro were guilty of too often playing the extra pass without a cutting edge and Swansea's defence, well marshalled by Nathan Wood, crowded them out.
Leading at half-time, Swansea thought they had doubled their lead seven minutes into the second half but Jay Fulton's effort following Piroe's acrobatic overhead kick was narrowly ruled out for offside.
The home side were buoyant, only for the game to dramatically swing just moments later with two goals in quick succession.
Boro hit Swansea on the counter-attack and Ramsey looked to have blown the chance when he cut back inside, but kept his cool to shoot left-footed inside the far post - his third in five games.
Three minutes later, fellow Aston Villa loanee Archer was unmarked inside the six-yard box to nod home past Andrew Fisher to put the visitors ahead.
The air went out of Swansea like a flat tyre and when Joel Latibeaudiere needlessly brought down McGree inside the box, top-scorer Akpom netted his 22nd of the season from the spot.
As news of Sheffield United's home defeat by Luton filtered through, chants of "Sheffield United we're coming for you" rang out from the visitors' end as Boro cruised to victory.
Swansea City head coach Russell Martin:
"It's really frustrating but I'm pleased with so much of what I saw against a top side.
"We scored a goal with really high quality and got a second which I'm still not convinced is offside, it's such a tight call.
"At 2-0 it would have been a completely different game, but we don't manage the game well enough after that, which sums up where we're at."
Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick:
"I'm really pleased. We showed different sides to our game, showed control and were dangerous throughout.
"The boys showed their togetherness, their belief and spirit to turn the game around.
I can't hide from the league table but it doesn't affect how we approach each game.
"Of course as you go along, the games grow in importance but it's important we don't start chasing games. It's all about performance."