Carayol’s goal not enough as Boro’s losing run extended

Mustapha Carayol

Gambian Mustapha Carayol scored on his comeback but it wasn’t enough as Middlesbrough crashed to a fifth straight Championship loss as Barnsley helped themselves to a 3-2 victory at the Riverside.

Carayol was back in first team action for the first time since September 21, one of three changes from the side that lost at Ipswich.

The visitors went in front through Jim O’Brien on six minutes but Muzzy Carayol and substitute Curtis Main appeared to put Boro back in charge following the break.

Carayol was the subject of two hefty challenges early in the second half, both very similar but only one bringing a booking. None the worse, he levelled the score with just over 49 minutes played as for the first time in the game, Boro found a way to make the Barnsley defence turn.

A delightful ball from Ledesma split defenders, Rory Delap slid in but played an impossible ball back to his goalkeeper, who could do nothing more than divert it into the path of Muzzy Carayol, who tucked it home from close range.

However, Scott Golbourne equalised in the 70th minute to leave the game in the balance before Jason Scotland came off the bench to seal the result six minutes later at the Riverside Stadium, as Barnsley continued to inch their way out of the relegation zone.

This was Boro’s fifth successive defeat and they have conceded seven goals on their last two matches against the lowest scorers in the division. They host 11th place, Leeds United next on Tuesday.