Carver and Mingoia give Stanley shock Riverside success

CAPITAL ONE CUP 1ST ROUND
MIDDLESBROUGH 1 ACCRINGTON STANLEY 2
By Ricky Butler at The Riverside Stadium

GOALS at the end of each half from teenager striker Marcus Carver and Piero Mingoia gave Accrington Stanley a shock Capital One Cup victory at the Riverside last night.

But it was only the heroics of goalkeeper Ian Dunbavin that ensured the League Two side held off a late Middlesbrough rally to take their place in the 2nd Round draw.

Stanley boss James Beattie made three changes to the side that had been beaten 4-1 three days earlier at Newport in the Skybet League Two opener and they responded in magnificent style as they came from behind to knock out the Championship side.

“It's a great feeling,” said the former Blackburn, Southampton and England striker. “I said to the lads in the dressing room to enjoy all the plaudits you are going to get and then focus your minds on Saturday (against Portsmouth) which is another massive game."

As for match winner Mingoia, who just a few weeks ago was without a club and facing an uncertain future, it showed the fickle nature of the game.

He said: “That sums up football really. I didn’t even know where I would be a few weeks ago but thankfully Accrington and the gaffer gave me a chance and I just want to give everything to repay the trust they shown in me.

“The boys are over the moon. We had a feeling there could be an upset tonight and we managed to do it.”

Inevitably Stanley found themselves under pressure from the start – Dunbavin called into action to deny Marvin Emnes inside three minutes - but they almost grabbed a shock 6^th minute lead.

Peter Murphy did well down the right and when his cross found Michael Richardson at the far post, the Newcastle loanee’s first time effort was kept out by Middlesbrough goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler. The danger was not quite over as the loose ball fell to Michael Liddle but he fired over the top with his weaker right foot.

However, it was the Championship side that went in front three minutes later. The Stanley defence failed to clear a corner from the right and Jozsef Varga headed on for Lukas Jutkiewicz to round Dunbavin and slot home.

And it was nearly 2-0 moments later when only a brave last-ditch challenge from the outstanding Tom Aldred denied Jutkiewicz a second at the far post.

But Stanley were surprisingly level five minutes before the break thanks to a first senior goal from 19 year-old Carver.

A long throw from the right by Nicky Hunt found the head of the teenager at the near post, and despite the best efforts of Middlesbrough defenders Justin Hoyte and Rhys Williams, the ball was adjudged to have crossed the line.

The second half saw a succession of last ditch blocks from the heroic Stanley defence as the hosts were restricted to mainly long range efforts from Grant Leadbitter.

Beattie threw on striker James Gray – born up the road in Yarm - and winger Shay McCartan in a bid to win it in normal time and it paid dividends nine minutes from the end. Will Hatfield’s corner from the right was flicked on by Aldred and the ball fell invitingly for Mingoia to drill an unstoppable shot past Leutwiler from 12 yards with the aid of a slight deflection.

It was backs-to-the-wall stuff for Stanley after that as Boro threw everything at them. But Dunbavin performed more heroics to deny Ben Gibson, Adam Reach, Leadbitter and Varga to complete a great night for Beattie and his troops.

“It is a great place to come and play," said the Stanley boss at the whistle. "I told the lads that passion overcomes logic and if there was going to be a shock this evening, I wanted it to be here at The Riverside.

“The spirit we have created in the dressing room has built up from the run we had at the end of last season. Middlesbrough threw everything at us but we were magnificent in the second phase of play and that has got us the result.

“A few more performances like this and I can see it being a couple of years before I go grey.”

Beleaguered Boro manager Tony Mowbray was philosophical about his side’s defeat.

He said: “They defended exceptionally well and have scored from two set plays. You can have all the ball in the world but if you don’t take your chances you can get punished and that is what has happened tonight.

“We started pretty well and could have scored 2 or 3 times before we took the lead but we have to take it on the chin and move on.

“We went along way in this competition last year with no benefit, and it probably cost us with the number of games we played, so we’ll put it behind us and move on.”

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2) – Leutwiler 6, Hoyte 5, Williams(R) 6, Gibson 7, Friend 5, Leadbitter 6, Varga 6, Ledesma 5 (Main 72, 5), Carayol 5, Jutkiewicz 6 (Reach 72, 5), Emnes 5 (Williams(L) 78, 5) . Subs not used – Steele, Halliday, Whitehead, Smallwood.

ACCRINGTON STANLEY (4-2-3-1) – Dunbavin 9, Hunt 7, Aldred 9, Atkinson 8, Liddle 8, Clark 6 (McCartan 70, 6), Richardson 8, Murphy 7, Hatfield 8, Mingoia 8 (Wilson 90, n/a), Carver 8 (Gray 70, 6). Subs not sued – Joyce, Winnard, Miller, Windass.

REFEREE: Scott Duncan.

ATTENDANCE: 6,774