Stoke 2 Middlesbrough 0: Marko Arnautovic stars for the Potters as first-half brace sinks Boro

MARKO ARNAUTOVIC'S first-half double was enough for Stoke to see off Middlesbrough who have now dropped into the relegation zone.

The hosts took the lead on the half-hour mark after an incredible piece of skill saw he Austrian skip past two defenders and round the keeper before smashing home his fifth of the season.

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Moments before the interval, Arnautovic reacted first when Peter Crouch knocked down a header as the man in form scored on the turn to double Stoke's advantage.

Boro nearly sparked a comeback through Ben Gibson, but his goal was ruled out for offside after he netted from Grant Leadbitter's set piece.

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FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS

• Gordon Banks, George Eastham and Denis Smith were among Stoke’s guests to celebrate the 45^th anniversary of their 1972 League Cup final victory against Chelsea, the only major trophy in the club’s 154-year history.
• Rudy Gestede was handed his first Premier League start for Boro despite not featuring in a top-flight victory in his last 36 games.
• The Britannia Stadium is generally considered to be the coldest football ground in the country, but for the visiting Middlesbrough supporters the lack of smog and perma-drizzle must have felt like a warm-weather break.

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• Someone must have been having a laugh when they arranged for the smallest of Stoke’s 11 mascots to walk out with Peter Crouch. The little chap barely reached Crouchie’s knees.

• There was still no room for £12million Saido Berahino in Stoke’s starting line-up despite last week’s 4-0 hammering at Spurs.  Just say ‘no’ Saido.
• It is hard to believe that this is the first time that goal-shy Boro have dropped into the relegation zone despite winning only four League games all season. But they are only heading in one direction and it’s not upwards.

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• The quality of this match was summed up by Gaston Ramirez’s dreadful clearance straight to Joe Allen, who then tripped himself up without an opponent within yards as he raced in on goal. Pathetic.
• Marko Arnautovic clearly fancies himself as Ibrahmovic-Lite and there was a real touch of Zlatan about the way Stoke’s Austrian striker fired them into a 29^th minute lead.

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• It was difficult to work out which of the two managers looked more miserable as they stood glowering on the touchline.  Then again, there wasn’t much to laugh about for anyone watching this.
• Boro were convinced they had finally grabbed a rare away goal when Ben Gibson forced the ball past Lee Grant. But sub Bernardo was ruled to be offside when he challenged for the 57^th minute free-kick.

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BIG PICTURE

DREAM TEAM RATINGS

Stoke:  Grant 7; Johnson 7, Shawcross 7, M. Indi 7 (Afellay 87), Pieters 6; Whelan 8, Cameron 7; Arnautovic 8 (Diouf 65, 6), Allen 6, Sobhi 8; Crouch 7 (Berahino 79, 6).

Unused subs:  Given; Bardsley, Adam, Diouf, Walters.

Middlesbrough: Valdes 6, Fabio 6, Ayala 6 (Bernardo 8), Gibson 6, Friend 6, De Roon 6, Clayton 6, Leadbitter 6 (Guedioura 75, 6), Traore 6, Ramirez 5 (Stuani 45, 6), Gestede 6.

Unused subs: Guzan, Barragan, Forshaw, Negredo.

SOCIAL SAYS

WHAT THEY SAID

Stoke boss Mark Hughes: “It was important to bounce back. We didn’t do ourselves any favours at Tottenham last week. We had something to prove.

“It was a deserved lead in the first half, two good goals from Marko Arnautovic. We could have won more comprehensively.

“When he times those runs in behind he is very difficult to knock off his stride, he’s a big guy with lots of power. He’s got that potential.”

Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka: “In this kind of moment we need to be positive. We have to know we have done good things so far.

“We have to keep believing in this group of players. Until the last day we will keep fighting."