Hale End product Akpom becomes first Boro player to score 20-plus league goals since 1990

Arsenal's Hale End Academy product Chuba Akpom has become the first Middlesbrough player to score 20-plus league goals for the club since 1990. 

Since the 1989-1990 season, no Middlesbrough player had managed 20 goals in a single campaign until Saturday evening when the Super Eagles hopeful bagged a brace in a 5-0 rout of Reading at the Riverside Stadium. 

And in doing so, Akpom emulated Middlesbrough legend Bernie Slaven, who found the back of the net 21 times over the course of the 1989-1990 campaign. 

The former England youth international reached the landmark 24 minutes into the contest when he sent Dean Bouzanis the wrong way from the spot for his twentieth league goal this term. 

Six minutes before halftime, Akpom came very close to doubling Boro's advantage but saw his header come back off the upright with the goalkeeper beaten. 

The 27-year-old powered a shot into the back of the net to make it 3-0 two minutes into the second half, taking his tally to 21 league goals for the season. 

Boro's other scorers in their big win were Aaron Ramsey, who also grabbed a brace, and Marcus Forss.

In the race for the Championship Golden Boot, top scorer Akpom is four goals ahead of Coventry City's Viktor Gyökeres.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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