Boro should still take some positives despite cruel scoreline at Crystal Palace

Jorgen Strand Larsen, who Boro pursued in the summer of 2022, showed his quality as the Premier League difference showed. But Boro competed well for large portions of the game, and ultimately just lacked the same cutting edge as their hosts.

Nevertheless, there were positives to take for Boro as players like Tommy Conway and David Strelec build their sharpness after summer injuries.

Conway, along with debutant Amario Cozier-Duberry were also really bright, particularly in the first half, as their pace and work rate caused their top-flight opponents troubles.

Palace also made eight changes for the game, but among Kim Hellberg’s were handing debuts to Sam Byram and Cozier-Duberry, while Conway and David Strelec started their first games of the campaign.

Boro took an early control of the match, with Cozier-Duberry and Conway both looking bright on the wings.

Cozier-Duberry had a couple of chances to give Boro a lead, and was desperately unlucky not to have.

At the other end, however, Palace’s top-flight quality showed in those moments when they didn’t manage to get through Boro’s aggressive press.

Sol Brynn retained his place in the cup team and made two terrific saves to deny Yeremy Pino - changing his direction to claw one out after a deflection.

There was nothing he could do eight minutes from half-time, however, when Oscar Mingueza’s cross left the ball on a plate for Strand Larsen to get in ahead of Luke Ayling and head the home side in front before the break.

There’d been a lot to like about Boro’s first-half performance though. It had just lacked that killer edge, with many of their attacking players still building their match sharpness.

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That difference in final-third quality would show again just seven minutes after the interval. Palace were ruthless in punishing Malanda’s wayward pass. Ben Chilwell this time with the cross that was just too high for Jones, giving Strand Larsen a free header and his second of the evening.

It said a lot that Boro stayed in the battle and refused to wilt despite the two-goal cushion. Cozier-Duberry continued to cause problems and had another chance to get Boro back into the game, which Walter Benitez saved well. Aidan Morris drove one from range to force a save too.

But with 18 minutes remaining, a Palace third as Boro were left too open chasing the game, killed the game off. Substitute Daichi Kamada beat the offside trap to run through and produce a stunning finish.

In the end, Boro were punished by a Premier League side who just had that touch of quality when in the final third. Boro, for all their positive play, could not match their opponents’ cutting edge.

Boro’s cup run came to an end, but with some players building important fitness and sharpness, and others pushing their case for more game-time against a Premier League opponent, there were still positives to take.

Boro team: Brynn, Brittain, Ayling, Jones, Byram [Borges 46’], Malanda, Morris [Pukstas 83’], Peart-Harris, Cozier-Duberry, Conway [Castledine 67’], Strelec [Lankshear 67’].

Subs not used: Vitek, Phillips, Arfsten, Barron, Berhalter.

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