Middlesbrough 1 Shrewsbury 0

Jan 8 2012 Sunday Sun

JITTERY Middlesbrough squeezed past Shrewsbury in a third-round tie that was far from an FA Cup classic.

The Teessiders rode their luck against an enterprising League Two outfit that carved out some good chances. They were shaky at the back and survived a string of scares in the box before Marvin Emnes put them ahead just before the break.

Boro were left anxiously hanging on at the end as the far from over-awed visitors piled forward looking for a leveller, and it took a superb one-handed save from substitute shot-stopper Danny Coyne to deny the Shrews a stoppage-time equaliser.

However, having dominated but lost at lower league Burton Albion last year, Boro will be relieved to just be in today’s fourth-round draw.

The home side showed first with a flowing move in the third minute. Bart Ogbeche raced down the left and squared for Marvin Emnes to sweep it on to Scott McDonald, who slotted it into the box for the over-lapping Justin Hoyte, but his shot was turned behind by Ian Sharps. Ogbeche headed Malaury Martin’s corner just wide.

But Shrewsbury showed the potential danger of the under-dogs on the fifth minute as a quick break took Wright through the middle to thump a low 25-yard effort just wide.

Boro were back on the attack quickly winning another corner; from Martin’s delivery Matthew Bates stooped to glance a near post header just over.

There was another scare on nine minutes, Shrewsbury’s Wright picked out Gornall just outside the box and his low shot sent Steele full length, nefore Morgan rushed his angled shot and it flew across the face of goal.

Boro almost grabbed first blood on 14 minutes, Richie Smallwood’s low shot saved by keeper Neal but Shrewsbury responded, Gornall chesting down and lashing a 15-yard half-volley over.

On 19 minutes a well-worked short free-kick routine took Gornall into the box again, but his attempted square ball was blocked by Ogbeche.

With Boro looking shaky at the back, Shrewsbury went close again on 24 minutes. Ainsworth crossed, Morgan knocked down in the box and barged past Williams but a poor touch from the striker found the unmarked Wright to fire into the side netting, although the whistle had gone for a foul.

Boro went close themselves on 27 minutes as Smallwood laid off a Kevin Thomson pass to the edge of the box and Emnes sent a sizzling 22-yard shot just inches outside the post.

After 29 minutes, Morgan tricked past Hoyte on the flank then crossed for Ainsworth 10 yards out, but with time and space he screwed wide.