Traore keeping Boro in fast lane

ADAMA TRAORE is finally hitting his stride in England. The Middlesbrough winger, a product of Barcelona’s La Masia academy, has excelled this season at the Riverside and is thriving under the guidance of Tony Pulis after a difficult first campaign in the North East. It had been an inauspicious start for Traore (left) following his summer 2016 move from Aston Villa, but heading into the business end of their Championship season, the 22-year-old has been a catalyst for their play-off push. Defender Ben Gibson agrees. ‘He’s massive,’ he said following this draw which stretched Boro’s unbeaten run to six as they cling to sixth place. ‘He’s doing great at the moment but I don’t want to put too much pressure on his shoulders.’ Traore celebrated his first call-up for Spain Under 21s by netting the opener at Griffin Park, and he tortured Brentford with his raw pace — substitute Romaine Sawyers got one of his two bookings for hauling him down in full flight. ‘People target Adama and they’re scared of his pace, as I would be,’ added Gibson. ‘If he put a ball in behind me, I would foul him to be honest.’ Brentford have their own success story. Centre back Chris Mepham is a product of the club’s B side and flew to China with the Wales squad yesterday after receiving his first call-up. Boro coach Jonathan Woodgate praised the 20-year-old for his performance. As it was, Middlesbrough’s rearguard was given the sterner examination after Lewis Macleod’s equaliser. Left back Daniel Ayala had been wheelchair-bound on Tuesday with a groin injury, but was heralded as ‘Lazarus’ by teammates after recovering to start. Gibson believes the resolve of Ayala, rather than the class of Traore, will have a bigger bearing on Boro’s top-six hopes. ‘If we are going to get out of this league, it’s not just about him — it’s about 11 or 16,’ he said. ‘It’s subs coming on and nicking goals, putting their bodies on the line and seeing the game out. That’s an effort.’