The Tanner Report: Middlesbrough 0 Fulham 1

This was always going to be a stern test.

Middlesbrough – resurgent under new manager Chris Wilder – had won 7 consecutive home games, taking the scalps of Spurs, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth in the process.

It was also the archetypal ‘wet night in Middlesbrough’ with rainfall of biblical proportions.

The first half was evenly matched.

Tom Cairney was injured and we missed his precise passing.

Nathan Chalabah was no like-for -like replacement.

I do not recall one of his forward passes reaching a Fulham player.

In the second half Fulham took the lead with a powerful header from Alex Mitrovic from a Harry Wilson free kick.

Middlesbrough did not defend the free kick well with a full back dropping back, leaving Mitro onside.

It was his 37th goal of the season.

Boro had two chances after that they failed to convert

Fulham now need two wins for promotion and it looks like this will be achieved at Derby.

It’s ironic as 36 years ago Fulham’s promotion hopes were dashed there, the referee blowing before time after a pitch invasion.