Middlesbrough Secure 2-1 Come-From-Behind Win Over Lincoln City

Middlesbrough opened their Championship campaign with a 2-1 victory against Lincoln City after trailing to an early goal from Adam Reach. Defensive lapses in the first half gave Lincoln the edge, but a second-half surge, highlighted by striker Will Lankshear’s brace, turned the game in Boro’s favour and secured three points.

Middlesbrough player ratings vs Lincoln City as Lankshear is the hero again but two struggle

The club’s local press rated each starter out of ten.

Middlesbrough player ratings vs Lincoln City as Lankshear is the hero again but two struggle

• Will Lankshear – 7 – Scored both goals and sparked the comeback.

Middlesbrough player ratings vs Lincoln City as Lankshear is the hero again but two struggle

• Kyle Joseph – 7 – Created the equaliser and added width on debut.

Middlesbrough player ratings vs Lincoln City as Lankshear is the hero again but two struggle

• Riley McGree (substituted for Leo Castledine, 62’) – 7 – Delivered the cross for Lankshear’s winner.

Middlesbrough player ratings vs Lincoln City as Lankshear is the hero again but two struggle

• Myles Peart-Harris (substituted for Abdoulaye Kante, 62’) – 6 – Showed confidence in possession, missed a clear chance.

Middlesbrough player ratings vs Lincoln City as Lankshear is the hero again but two struggle

• Max Arfsten (substituted for Neto Borges, 62’) – 6 – Helped maintain the lead after coming on.

Middlesbrough player ratings vs Lincoln City as Lankshear is the hero again but two struggle

• Radek Vitek – 6 – Limited involvement beyond a solitary goal.

Middlesbrough player ratings vs Lincoln City as Lankshear is the hero again but two struggle

• Callum Brittain – 6 – Improved after halftime, contributing to the attack.

Middlesbrough player ratings vs Lincoln City as Lankshear is the hero again but two struggle

• Luke Ayling – 6 – Solid defensively despite early lapses.

Middlesbrough player ratings vs Lincoln City as Lankshear is the hero again but two struggle

• Adilson Malanda – 6 – Steady defensive work, kept the team on the front foot.

Middlesbrough player ratings vs Lincoln City as Lankshear is the hero again but two struggle

• Abdoulaye Kante – 6 – Overcame a nervous start to settle in midfield.

Middlesbrough player ratings vs Lincoln City as Lankshear is the hero again but two struggle

• Neto Borges – 5 – Sloppy pass led to Lincoln’s opening goal.

Middlesbrough player ratings vs Lincoln City as Lankshear is the hero again but two struggle

• Morgan Whittaker – 5 – Limited impact, occasional ball loss.

Middlesbrough player ratings vs Lincoln City as Lankshear is the hero again but two struggle

• Sebastian Berhalter – 6 – Solid but unremarkable performance.

Middlesbrough player ratings vs Lincoln City as Lankshear is the hero again but two struggle

• Leo Castledine – 6 – Started before being replaced by McGree.

Middlesbrough player ratings vs Lincoln City as Lankshear is the hero again but two struggle

Lankshear’s brace reversed the deficit, while McGree’s assist provided the decisive moment. Substitutes introduced after the 62-minute mark added creativity and defensive stability, allowing Boro to protect the lead.

Middlesbrough player ratings vs Lincoln City as Lankshear is the hero again but two struggle

The initial formation struggled against Lincoln’s press, resulting in a “poor first half.” Halftime adjustments saw Boro adopt a more direct approach, using Joseph’s width and McGree’s crossing. Fresh legs helped sustain pressure and limit Lincoln’s counter-attacks.

Middlesbrough player ratings vs Lincoln City as Lankshear is the hero again but two struggle

The win gives Middlesbrough a positive start, showing the squad can recover from early setbacks. Performances from new signings Lankshear and Joseph, plus the impact of the substitutes, suggest useful depth for the campaign.

Middlesbrough player ratings vs Lincoln City as Lankshear is the hero again but two struggle

The rating article does not disclose possession percentages, total shots, or individual distance covered, limiting a full quantitative assessment of the match dynamics.

Middlesbrough player ratings vs Lincoln City as Lankshear is the hero again but two struggle