Middlesbrough 0 Brighton & Hove Albion 0
Albion’s fairly dreadful season ended in a goalless draw at the Riverside Stadium.
Boro had first-half chances through Adam Clayton and Albert Adomah. Adomah’s shot was saved by Christian Walton who finally replaced the enigmatic David Stockdale in the Albion goal.
Dwight Tiendalli pulled the strings for Boro. But with the hosts already assured of the play-offs and Albion safe, the players occasionally appeared to have one eye on the end-of-season break rather than the match.
Adam Forshaw brought a good save from Walton in the second half.
Albion’s best chance fell to Chris O’Grady also after the break after a good run and cross by Greg Halford.
But O’Grady summed up Albion’s season by hitting an easy chance well over the crossbar.
Before the end there were two significant moments for Albion.
On 72 minutes Craig Mackail-Smith made his last appearance for the club since joining nearly four years ago, replacing O’Grady. The record signing couldn’t add to his 21 career goals for the Seagulls.
Then deep into injury time young scholar James Tilley made his league debut for the club at just 16 years old. He replaced Jake Forster-Caskey, still Brighton’s youngest ever debutant when he came on in the final game of the season five years ago.
Tilley emulated Jake Robinson who also made his Albion debut at 16 when he played in a League Cup tie at the Riverside in 2003.
Albion will now require a full squad overhaul to compete for a top six place next season.
