Sky Bet Championship: Review of Tuesday 7th August's action

Middlesbrough 3-0 Sheffield United

Middlesbrough proved they possess plenty of cut and thrust without Adama Traore as Sheffield United were carved up 3-0 at the Riverside.

Incisive winger Traore, absent from the squad, is reportedly poised to join Premier League newcomers Wolves - bad news for Boro fans who have seen key men Ben Gibson and Patrick Bamford sold in recent days.

Tony Pulis has been trying to bolster his ranks before Thursday's transfer deadline but the tools already at his disposal showed that Boro can be a force in the Sky Bet Championship regardless.

North-east talent Lewis Wing provided assists for Martin Braithwaite and then imposing new defensive recruit Aden Flint, with Stewart Downing chipping in with a third goal to complete the rout inside 25 minutes.

Boro would strike very early but they could have done so inside a minute had Jonny Howson not shot straight at Dean Henderson after Britt Assombalonga dummied Ryan Shotton's low cross.

Another surge forward saw Downing win a corner in the seventh minute and Newton Aycliffe-born Wing's lofted delivery skimmed Shotton's head and fell to Braithwaite, who tucked home.

Ten minutes later, the Teessiders went 2-0 up as Flint - a summer signing from Bristol City - marked his home debut with a goal by rising at the far post to head in another Wing corner.

Boro exploited width for their third goal too, Shotton whipping the ball in from the right for veteran midfielder Downing to bounce over beleaguered Blades goalkeeper Henderson.

A tactical switch helped United, who lost at home to Swansea on Saturday, avoid more punishment before the break, although captain Leon Clarke was booked for a needless challenge to sustain the visitors' misery.

Frustration persisted on the pitch for Chris Wilder's Blades, who like Boro are striving to get new players on board before the window shuts; Ipswich's Martyn Waghorn is a target for both clubs.

Chris Basham was lucky to avoid dismissal for a heavy foul on Braithwaite before Clarke headed wide from a promising position, with substitute Ben Woodburn feeding him the cross.

A poor night for Clarke continued when, set up tidily by sprightly Mark Duffy, he pinged an effort straight at Boro stopper Darren Randolph.

Wing, signed quietly from non-league Shildon last year, left the pitch to great applause from the Riverside faithful as the game entered its final 10 minutes, which Boro navigated sensibly under a barrage of speculative balls forward from the blunted Blades.

Boro may still have their shortcomings but, on this evidence, it is United - now riding back-to-back defeats - who have a more pressing need to strengthen if they are to build on last season's top-half finish and consider a play-off push.

Nottingham Forest 1-1 West Brom

Matt Phillips grabbed a late equaliser as West Brom snatched a point against Nottingham Forest in a thrilling 1-1 draw at the City Ground.

Adlene Guedioura's 25-yard strike looked to have won the game for Aitor Karanka's men, only for Phillips to crash home a leveller in the 87th minute as Forest were left to rue a series of missed chances.

West Brom handed a debut to Manchester City loanee Tosin Adarabioyo and it was in-demand Jay Rodriguez who had the game's first chance, but Tobias Figueiredo did enough to put him off his stride and he could only hook his shot well over.

At the other end, a sweeping move resulted in Forest's record signing Joao Carvalho having an effort deflected just wide.

Carvalho fired another shot narrowly over and Lewis Grabban cracked an effort just wide as Forest began to take control.

Gil Dias, though, then did brilliantly to clear as a diving Rodriguez launched himself at the ball as West Brom threatened from a corner.

Baggies keeper Sam Johnstone was called into action for the first time as he beat away a Grabban shot, before Forest should have taken the lead seven minutes before the break.

Grabban took advantage of a defensive error, but with only Johnstone to beat he dawdled and the visiting goalkeeper thwarted him. The ball ran loose, with Joe Lolley eventually sending his looping effort over the bar.

Lolley was in the thick of it again a minute later when he forced Johnstone into another save.

Figueiredo got in a superb block to deny Phillips, before Carvalho then slipped in Lolley, whose deflected shot went out for a corner.

Forest were almost to regret not taking advantage of their first-half dominance when Rodriguez contrived to shank Phillips' superb cross high and wide on the stroke of half-time when less than two yards from goal.

Guedioura was renowned for scoring spectacular goals during his first spell at Forest, and the Algerian produced a piece of magic just before the hour mark, cracking a low 25-yard drive past the despairing dive of Johnstone to give Forest the lead.

West Brom boss Darren Moore responded by introducing new signing Dwight Gayle, signed in a swap season-long loan deal a few days ago, with Salomon Rondon heading to Newcastle.

A wayward pass from Tendayi Darikwa handed Phillips a sight of goal, but his shot was deflected over.

Guedioura almost scored a remarkable goal when an Albion attack broke down. As he raced through his own half, he let fly from what must have been 70 yards and the back-pedalling Johnstone just managed to tip the ball over.

But the home side were nearly caught out a minute later as the visitors sensed an opportunity to gain an undeserved equaliser, and Forest were relieved to see Gayle's shot hit a post and rebound to safety.

The danger, though, was not over as the Baggies pushed forward again and Phillips was given too much space on the right and he smashed a shot past Costel Pantilimon.

Phillips then hit a post, only for Harvey Barnes to strike the rebound against the woodwork, before Grabban's header was cleared off the line at the other end in a pulsating finish.

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