Kike and Albert Adomah both netted braces as Middlesbrough cruised to a 4-0 victory over Barnsley in a pre-season friendly at Oakwell this evening.
Diego Fabbrini and Yanic Wildschut both got forward early on for the visitors as they pushed for a quick opening goal, but neither could force a save from Christian Dibble.
Aitor Karanka's side had the ball in the back of the net inside the opening quarter of an hour after a Kike effort was parried into the path of Adomah, but the winger was ruled offside as he slotted the rebound in.
It did not take Boro long to break the deadlock after the break though as Adomah and Kike linked up again, resulting in the latter firing the ball into the bottom right.
Kike quickly repaid the favour, setting Adomah up for Middlebrough's second just two minutes later when his effort was parried for the midfielder, who remained onside this time.
The home side tried to reduce the deficit, with Josh Scowen and Conor Wilkinson both unleashing efforts from the edge of the box, but Tomas Mejias saved them both.
Middlesbrough extended their lead soon after the hour mark though, with Adam Reach finding Adomah around 25 yards out, leaving the winger to smash the ball past the keeper on the half-volley.
Reach picked up his second assist soon after as he provided a through-ball for Kike, leaving the striker with a simple finish from the edge of the six-yard box to add his second of the evening.
Barnsley did not give up hope of getting a goal back as Joe Rothwell rounded a couple of defenders before attempting to tap the ball in from close range, but it was a comfortable save for the Boro keeper.
Adomah looked to complete his hat-trick inside the final 10 minutes, curling the ball towards the Barnsley goal from outside the box, just missing the target, while Lewis Maloney also missed from range for the visitors.
Sian Cowper
