Middlesbrough 0-3 Aston Villa: Chelsea loanee Tammy Abraham makes it seven goals in four games

Middlesbrough 0-3 Aston Villa: Chelsea loanee Tammy Abraham makes it seven goals in four games
Tammy Abraham scored his seventh goal in four games to help Aston Villa bring an end to Middlesbrough’s eight match unbeaten run with a 3-0 win at the Riverside Stadium.Dean Smith’s impressive start as Villa boss continued as his new team go within three points of the Championship’s play-off zone.2

Abraham was among the goals yet again

Middlesbrough, who now trail second-placed Leeds by four points, could not find a way back after James Chester had put Aston Villa ahead in the 20th minute.Abraham, on loan from Chelsea, hit his 11th goal of a productive season to seal the points in the north east just after the hour, before substitute Glenn Whelan added the third seven minutes from the end.After the victories for Leeds and Norwich earlier in the day, Middlesbrough and Aston Villa both had victory in mind to close the gap on the top two.Middlesbrough were wary of the attacking threat of the visitors following their midweek 5-5 draw with Nottingham Forest.And after Jordan Hugill had an early run at the visiting defence blocked, when he got the ball stuck under his feet, that paved the way for some pressure in the Middlesbrough half.2

Smith has turned things around at Villa

The danger signs had been there and how Villa did not go ahead in the 11th minute was only down to the excellence of Darren Randolph, whose afternoon soon took a turn for the worse.The Middlesbrough goalkeeper somehow got down to his left on his line to palm away a low Abraham strike after he met Yannick Bolasie’s low delivery first time.That was a sign of things to come. Villa looked dangerous every time they broke and the home side could not get hold of the play and Abraham had a strong penalty shout dismissed when he was tripped by George Friend.It was no surprise when Chester forced in the opener soon after. Jack Grealish’s corner was misjudged by Randolph. Defenders Danny Batth and Dael Fry both lost Chester, who was able to force the ball over the line from six yards. As half-time approached Middlesbrough went close to levelling. Mo Besic had an effort saved and Stewart Downing went close twice, once when he was unmarked at the back post and secondly his volley was blocked by team-mate Hugill.Middlesbrough pressed after the restart but struggled to test goalkeeper Orjan Nyland. All they could muster before the hour was a Downing effort that flew high into the North Stand.And soon after Middlesbrough manager Tony Pulis tinkered with his forward line, the Villans made it two.Bolasie, wanted by the Teessiders in the summer, was left with space to drill a low cross into the area for Abraham to slide in and apply the finish.And then Whelan, moments after coming on, wrapped it up when Randolph helped his long distance drive in off the left hand post.

---

For some, Tottenham Hotspur and Ajax are the two unlikely semi-finalists of this season's Champions League. It has been excellent for the tournament — and for soccer, in general — to have two young, exciting teams going head to head for a place in the final against either Barcelona or Liverpool.
Spurs' dramatic comeback at Ajax fitting amid season of

---

Emiliano Sala: Cardiff City 'shocked' and 'praying for

---

Man Utd fans at Old Trafford treat TWO players BRUTALLY before Barcelona showdown MANCHESTER UNITED fans treated two players brutally ahead of the Red Devils' Champions League clash with Barcelona.

---

The Hammers crumbled to a 3-0 defeat at Wolves on Tuesday as Marko Arnautovic made a disastrous return. West Ham rejected a £35m bid for the forward from Chinese side Shanghai SIPG this month and
West Ham reject £35m Marko Arnautovic bid from Chinese Super

---

Chelsea are reportedly said to be plotting a surprise deadline-day move for Watford midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure. The Blues have already signed Gonzalo Higuain this month but remain in the market
Report: Chelsea have Watford midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure in

---

Manchester United will face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League round of 16, while Liverpool have been drawn against Bayern Munich. Atletico Madrid take on Juventus, Tottenham Hotspur are
Champions League last 16 draw: Man United to face PSG

---

Blues' shocking record in second-half of recent matches after Burnley stalemate As the minutes ticked down at Stamford Bridge on Monday, fans desperately held their breath, hoping Chelsea would find that all-important winning goal, the one that would see them take advantage of their rivals Easter weekend slip-ups.
Chelsea midfielder currently has more Premier League goals
fussboll.com/2019/04/23/chelsea-midfielder-currently-has-more-premier-league-goals-and-assists-than-mesut-ozil-and-dele-alli/
But Monday night saw some slight vindication for Sarri's questionable tactics as Kante scored during Chelsea's Premier League match at home to Burnley. And with that, the Frenchman moved above Mesut Ozil and Dele Alli in the combined goals and assists charts in the league this season.

---

There were ugly scenes at Anfield following Chelsea's 2-0 win over Liverpool on Sunday afternoon as fans clashed outside the stadium. Steven Gerrard taunts lead to Liverpool and Chelsea fans

---

Michael O'Neill will be looking for more of the same, but perhaps with a bit more of a cutting edge, when Northern Ireland take on Belarus in Belfast tonight. The boys in green and white got their Euro 2020 qualification campaign off to a solid start with a 2-0 win against Estonia at the National
How did Arsenal and Tottenham players fare on international

---

Tottenham team news and likely line-up vs Liverpool with Pochettino facing huge Kane dilemma for Champions League final requiring Mauricio Pochettino to keep an alternative plan up his sleeve
Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino spared touchline

---

Preview: Liverpool vs. Chelsea - prediction, team news, lineups Sports Mole provides predicted lineups, team news and a full match preview of the EFL Cup tie between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield. By Darren Plant , Reporter | 1mo
Preview: Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Chelsea - prediction

---