THOMAS Frank called Da-vid Raya the best keeper in the Championship after the Spaniard recovered from a first-half howler to make a string of stunning saves for Brentford.
Goals from Mathias Jensen, Valery Janelt and a brace from Championship top-scorer Ivan Toney did the damage, but it was Raya’s heroics that ensured a tight contest ended with a lopsided scoreline.
Having scored a comical own goal to give Boro the lead, the 25-year-old pulled off two point-blank stops from Britt Assombalonga at 1-1, then repulsed a thunderous George Saville strike at 3-1 in the second half.
Raya even had time to claw out an inadvertent effort from teammate Janelt as the in-form Bees extended their unbeaten run to 20 matches.
“No team goes through the season without needing a top goalkeeper,” said Frank, whose side regained the second place temporarily ceded to Swansea City.
“And our goalkeeper – from my point of view – is one of the best in the division. Maybe he is the best. He really showed that today.
“Yes, he should have done better with the first goal. But what about his mentality after that? He came and caught everything. And what about his saves?
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