Boro concede advantage

Middlesbrough conceded a two-goal lead before eventually going down to a 3-2 defeat at Scunthorpe United in their final pre-season game.

Boro's combination of youth and experience took under five minutes to claim an early advantage when Cameron Park beat a couple of challengers and thumped high into the net from the edge of the area.

Curtis Main then added another from the penalty spot after being dragged down by Niall Canavan before Luke Williams crashed a header off the crossbar from Andy Halliday's cross.

Striker Mike Grella pulled one back just before the break with a cross which dropped over Jason Steele and into the far corner, while former Boro midfielder Josh Walker displayed good footwork to in turn equalise past substitute goalkeeper Connor Ripley.

Scunthorpe completed their recovery with eleven minutes remaining as Bobby Grant's free-kick earned them the lead before substitute Matt Godden also struck the inside of Ripley's post late on.

Scunthorpe United: Slocombe, Ribiero, Kennedy, Walker, Ryan (Howe 80), Grant (Keegan 80), Grella (Jennings 71), Barcham (Duffy 61), Gibbons (Hughes 71), Canavan (Godden 80), Newie

subs (unused): Severn

Goals: Grella, Walker, Grant

Middlesbrough: Steele (Ripley 46), Hoyte (Pilatos 67), McManus (Friend 80), R. Williams (Jackson 67), Halliday, Park, Bailey (Edwards 67), Smallwood, L. Williams, McDonald (Reach 80), Main

Goals: Park, Main (pen)

Ref: A. Haines

Att: 922 (149 Boro)

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