We take a closer look at Boro’s entertaining meeting with the Robins, including the key tactical battles, who impressed (and struggled) and what both managers, Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Johnson, made of it all. Scroll down and flick through our gallery to find out:
5. Tactical battle
Lee Johnson's side started the game in a 4-2-2-2 formation with the instrumental Niclas Eliasson and Kasey Palmer playing just behind Benik Afobe and Andreas Weimann. Eliasson and Palmer regularly drifted inside to give the Robins a numerical midfield advantage in the first half, with the hosts regularly causing problems on the break. Woodgate tweaked things at half-time, telling full-back Marc Bola to move inside to stop the threat. | 2019 Getty Images Photo: Alex Davidson
6. How the opposition looked: Bristol City
The Robins have plenty of attacking firepower with the likes of Weimann, Afobe, Palmer and Eliasson, who was the best player on the pitch in the first half. They looked vulnerable at the back, though, which was probably to be expected given they have several first-choice defenders out injured. | 2019 Getty Images Photo: Alex Davidson
7. What the managers made of it: Jonathan Woodgate
“I thought we played really well, I thought we deserved to win the game. That's been our best performance this season, the way we played, how aggressive we were passing the ball, to close the ball down. We showed great character at half-time to come back from 1-0 against the run of play. For my team to come back I thought they were top class." | 2019 Getty Images Photo: Alex Davidson
8. Lee Johnson (Bristol City)
“First half the attacking play was fantastic, some great attacking play,” said the City boss after the game. We should have come in 3-1 maybe 3-2 because they had a couple of chances. I felt the game was there to win today. I think first half we should have come in a couple of goals to the good, I think second half they deserved to win the half. That’s how it feels to me.” | 2019 Getty Images Photo: Alex Davidson