Middlesbrough exited the Carabao Cup in the first round last night after a penalty shoot-out defeat against League Two opponents Crewe at the Riverside Stadium.
Jonathan Woodgate’s men were 2-0 down at half-time after Chris Porter and Charlie Kirk scored two quickfire goals for the visitors in the closing minutes of the first half. [via BBC]
However, ‘Boro managed to claw back the deficit with a 75th-minute Ashley Fletcher goal and a last-gasp equaliser from Mark Bola on his club debut. [via BBC]
The introduction of Fletcher as a 61st-minute substitute [via BBC] proved a turning point, with Rudy Gestede being withdrawn to ironic cheers, as noted by Gazette Live reporter Dominic Shaw.
Boro still struggling. Haven't created anything of note. The loudest cheer of the night so far came when Rudy Gestede was replaced.
— Dominic Shaw (@DomShawEcho) August 13, 2019
The 30-year-old Benin striker has struggled for goals at Middlesbrough, with just six in 51 appearances for the club, the last of those coming against Hull in February 2018.
Gestede came to the Riverside Stadium in a £6m move from Aston Villa in January 2017 but scored as many league goals in the first half of that season at Villa Park (four) as he has managed in two and a half years on Teesside.
These Middlesbrough fans have lost patience with the striker and vented their frustrations on Twitter:
Rudy is now a very poor footballer and has burnt his bridges with the fans.
He needs to go in January— Alan (@huntyhouse) August 13, 2019
https://twitter.com/JohnHolmesUTFB/status/1161374897211412480
https://twitter.com/joshhollis/status/1161370885368045568
https://twitter.com/tez19p/status/1161370880989106178
1 shot on target !!!
— John Darbyshire (@JohnnyDarbo) August 13, 2019
Golden thread
— Jim (@jimmboro) August 13, 2019
