Middlesbrough celebrated the 150th anniversary of the club with a narrow 1‑0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Riverside Stadium, a win that also lifted the Teessiders into second place in the Sky Bet Championship. The match, played before a sold‑out crowd, was chosen as the official anniversary fixture and followed a Legacy Game that saw former players return to the ground six days earlier.
The only goal came in the second half when Will Lankshear, who has already netted nine times this season, headed home a cross from Tommy Conway. Lankshear’s header was the club’s seventh league goal of the campaign and the decisive moment of a match that saw Boro dominate possession and create several chances. Wolves were denied a clear opening when Marshall Munetsi’s header from Rodrigo Gomes’ cross missed wide, and the home side’s goalkeeper, Radek Vitek, made an early save to keep the score level.
Middlesbrough’s attack was punctuated by Lankshear’s early free‑kick, which curled over the Wolves’ goalkeeper, and a second‑half free‑kick from Conway that set up the winning header. Wolves’ attempts to equalise were limited; a cross by Sebastian Berhalter was headed straight at Vitek, and a late header from substitute Kyle Joseph struck the underside of the crossbar. The match ended with Boro’s defense holding firm, with Vitek making a crucial parry to deny a 25‑yard shot from Munetsi.
Manager Kim Hellberg praised his side’s performance, saying the team had been “brilliant” before the goal and that they had defended well after taking the lead. Hellberg noted that the team had played through the game, maintaining high pressure and winning balls, and that they had managed to keep the opposition from creating clear chances. He also acknowledged that the team could have produced more opportunities from the quality they had.
Wolves’ manager Cesar Peixoto admitted the defeat was disappointing but highlighted the team’s resilience. He said the players had improved their ball‑holding and defensive organisation in the first half, and that they had reacted strongly after conceding. Peixoto believed that if the team continues to compete until the final whistle, they will win more games than they lose.
With the win, Middlesbrough move two points behind league leaders Swansea City and climb above West Ham United. The victory not only marks a historic milestone for the club but also strengthens their push for automatic promotion, while Wolves face a second league defeat since their relegation last season. The match will be remembered as a fitting celebration of Middlesbrough’s 150‑year history and a testament to the team’s ambition in the current campaign.