Both Sebastian Berhalter and Jack McGlynn earned man of the match honors as they racked up a goal and an assist each as Middlesbrough and Stoke City claimed wins respectively in Halloween Championship action.
Middlesbrough 3-0 Charlton
The Teesiders maintain their hold on first place in the standings as they came away with a comfortable win over Charlton Athletic at the Riverside Stadium.
Sebastian Berhalter played the full 90 minutes, making six key passes, winning four duels, and making four defensive contributions. Aidan Morris also went the distance to complete 86 percent passing, win six duels, and make six defensive contributions. Max Arfsten came off the bench to play 12 minutes. On the other side, Charlie Kelman played the entire game for Charlton as he took three shots.
The hosts opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Amario Cozier-Duberry set up Berhalter to strike from the edge of the 18-yard box.
The midfielder turned provider before halftime as he delivered a perfect through ball to Will Lankshear, who put his shot past the goalkeeper.
Charlton made five changes in the second half to inspire a comeback, but the league leaders sealed the game in the 82nd minute with a goal.
Middlesbrough will take a trip to Wales on Wednesday to face Wrexham.
Stoke City 2-0 Preston North End
The Potters moved up to seventh place as they secured a win over struggling Preston North End at the Bet365 Stadium.
Jack McGlynn went the distance as he took three shots, made a key pass, and made eight recoveries. Luca Bombino played 73 minutes as he won seven duels, made four clearances and 10 defensive contributions, and received a yellow card. Caleb Wiley was an unused sub for Preston.
The hosts grabbed the lead before the half-hour mark when McGlynn’s left-footed cross from the right side found Ben Wilmot to head the ball home.
Stoke kept the momentum going and doubled its lead in the 53rd minute when Ethan Galbraith did well to hold the ball in the 18-yard-box before passing it to McGlynn to fire his shot into the lower left side of the goal.
It’s off to Ewood Park where Stoke will take on Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday.
Notes
Elsewhere in the Championship, George Campbell captained West Bromwich Albion to a 3-1 win over West Ham United.
In League One, Lynden Gooch played stoppage time as first-place Huddersfield Town secured a 3-0 win over Bradford City.
Down in League Two, Julian Eyeston had much work to do between the posts as nine-man Rotherham United fell in a 2-1 defeat to Swindon Town.