Darren Randolph was the hero for Middlesbrough on Saturday as they beat Reading 1-0 to claim just their second win of the season.
Randolph pulled off a series of saves which kept them in the game and later ensured that Marvin Johnson's 60th minute goal would be enough to secure the three points.
"Everybody was kissing Darren on the head in the changing room after the final whistle because we know how important he is," Boro defender Ryan Shotton told the Teeside Gazette.
That one he clawed around the post right at the end from Joao: I don’t even think he knows how he saved that one.
He just stuck his hand out, but he had a strong enough hand to turn the ball around for a corner.
It was just ridiculous and everyone got around him straight away to congratulate him because we all knew how good a save it was and we all know just how important he is.
You can talk about us as defenders digging in and doing our job or talk about the attackers working hard to help out as the first line of defence but your goalkeeper is going to be needed eventually, and whenever he’s called upon, Darren comes up with the goods.
"He’s the best I’ve ever played with, simple as that," added Shotton.
"No disrespect to the others I’ve played with - and I’ve had some good goalkeepers in my time - but for me, he’s the No1. Easily.
"Some of the amazing saves he pulls off, I’m just left thinking, ‘How have you done that?’ Darren is so, so good, the number of points he has won for us over the last couple of years is incredible."
Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
