SHEFFIELD, England (Interstat) — Middlesbrough opened its Championship season with a 2-1 victory at Sheffield United on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at Bramall Lane.

Substitutes fueled the win. Tommy Conway put Middlesbrough ahead in the 19th minute. Sheffield United’s Riley McGree, also a substitute, equalized just before halftime in the 45th. Middlesbrough’s Patrick Bamford netted the decisive goal in the 73rd minute.

The match turned in the 80th minute when Sheffield United’s Joe Rothwell received a red card, forcing the home side to finish with 10 men. Five yellow cards were also issued in a physical second half. The result aligned with a pregame statistical projection of a 2-1 Middlesbrough victory.