David Strelec opens Middlesbrough account as bold Rob Edwards call steals the show vs West Brom

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Middlesbrough beat West Brom 2-1 at the Riverside on Friday evening in a game which Rob Edwards’ substitutions dominated the discussion points.

Middlesbrough ran out 2-1 winners against West Brom to continue Boro’s brilliant start under Rob Edwards.

Middlesbrough fans wanted David Strelec and Sverre Nypan to start against Ryan Mason’s visiting Baggies, and Edwards granted them their wish to great avail.

Strelec marked his first Middlesbrough start and his Riverside debut with a tidy finish inside the West Brom box, but was surprisingly withdrawn for Kaly Sene at half-time by Edwards.

Ironically, substitute Sene scored Middlesbrough’s second before an Aune Heggebo consolation saw the tie end in Boro’s 2-1 win.

Here, EFL Analysis runs you through five things we learned from the Championship clash.

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Rob Edwards makes big Middlesbrough selection calls

During the 2-2 draw at Preston North End last weekend, Middlesbrough fans slammed Morgan Whittaker for his performance, which led some Boro fans at Deepdale to sarcastically cheer when Edwards withdrew him in the second half.

Edwards called out the Middlesbrough fans for booing Whittaker following the stalemate, but took the former Plymouth Argyle attacker out of the limelight by dropping him to the bench against the Baggies.

Nypan forced Josh Griffiths into a stretching save in the second half, and was replaced by Whittaker with ten minutes to go, with the Boro faithful showing their unified support to him when he entered the fray.

Poor West Brom defending left David Strelec free

Long throw-ins are back in fashion in football, and a Rory Delap-esque launch from George Edmundson was flicked on by Luke Ayling to set up Strelec’s first strike in a Middlesbrough jersey.

The £6.5m Slovakian international, who shone against Germany during the international break, was afforded far too much time and space by the Baggies backline inside the box.

Baggies striker Heggebo showcased his forward’s defending by allowing his opposite number to run off him, before Strelec opened his Middlesbrough account on his weaker foot with a deft touch that Griffiths could do little to stop.

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Isaac Price fails to rediscover Northern Ireland form

Isaac Price shone against Germany for Northern Ireland during the international break, and after failing to make a point-earning impact in the Derby County defeat, the youngster struggled at Boro.

Premier League clubs may be tracking Price, but the Baggies starlet failed to get the better of Middlesbrough’s defensive unit, with Callum Brittain keeping him quiet throughout the affair.

Price notched four shots, but none of them were on target to test Sol Brynn on a disappointing evening for the Baggies prodigy.

Rob Edwards makes surprising David Strelec substitution

Strelec’s strike on 26 minutes broke the deadlock, but the Slovakian striker was shockingly withdrawn by Edwards at half-time despite causing the Baggies backline all sorts of problems.

Some eagle-eyed Middlesbrough supporters claimed on social media that Strelec pulled up as he walked off at half-time, but Edwards will need to shed light on the situation with his post-match comments.

Kaly Sene was introduced by Edwards in place of Strelec, which proved to be an inspired call from the Boro boss.

Kaly Sene scores first Middlesbrough goal after replacing David Strelec

In an ironically bizarre turn of events, Sene doubled Boro’s lead despite entering the fray in confusing circumstances.

Rest assured, Sene’s finish for his first Middlesbrough goal was anything but uncertain, with the Senegalese star’s thumping low strike leaving Griffiths rooted.

With Whittaker out of form and Strelec potentially injured, Sene will be pushing for more Middlesbrough minutes after his impressive outing.

Mason’s side continued to press for an avenue back into the game, and it came as Heggebo opened his Championship account for West Brom with a header over Boro goalkeeper Brynn moments before the 90th minute.

Unfortunately for Mason, Heggebo’s header proved to be inconsequential to the points as West Brom’s winless run at Middlesbrough continued.