Half-Time Report: Lee Tomlin extends Middlesbrough advantage

Lee Tomlin has given Middlesbrough a 1-0 half-time lead over Brentford in the second leg of their Championship playoff tie at the Riverside this evening, putting them 3-1 up on aggregate.

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The home side saw the majority of the ball in the opening 10 minutes, with George Friend and Albert Adomah among those looking to get forward early on, but Boro were unable to get an early goal on the board.

Andre Gray tried to create something for the visitors, but found himself flagged offside, while a 20-yard strike from Jota a few minutes later lacked the pace to beat Dimitrios Konstantopoulos.

Aitor Karanka's side added to their aggregate lead midway through the first half when Tomlin was left in space just outside the box, leaving him to curl the ball towards goal from 20 yards out, beating the diving David Button between the posts.

Brentford tried to press forward to set something up, but Gray was unable to break into the box, allowing the home side to continue to dominate possession.

The visitors' best chance of the opening 45 minutes came just a couple of minutes before the interval as Alan Judge teed the ball up for Gray, but the striker failed to capitalise after losing Daniel Ayala in the box, leaving the Bees needing to find two goals in the second half.