It’s seven and hell for Warnock as Boro bomb again
NEIL WARNOCK saw his struggling Middlesbrough side produce another home horror show to leave them deep in trouble.
It is now months since they won at The Riverside.
And despite Britt Assombalonga scoring Boro’s first goal there in more than five hours, the threat of third-tier football for the first time since 1987 is looming large.
“You can see we’re low on confidence but we cannot afford to feel sorry for ourselves,” said Warnock.
“There are teams in worse situations than us and we have to capitalise.”
City have now won both games under caretakerboss Dean Holden and suddenly the play-offs are on their radar again.
“Who knows what will happen?” he said. “We can’t do anything about other results, just take care of our own performances.
“We’re trying to create a bit of momentum and with three top-drawer goals, this was a pleasing afternoon.”
Boro must be sick of the sight of Nahki Wells.
The former Burnley striker scored against them during his loan spell at QPR last November and he was at it again yesterday with a goal in each half.
His opener was a wonderful strike from the Bermuda international as he curled a left-foot shot beyond Dejan Stojanovic after just six minutes.
But that goal was matched by Jamie Patterson’s scorcher in the 42nd-minute, finishing off a devastating City counter-attack.
From a Boro corner
Andreas Weimann released his team-mate on the right and Patterson beat Djed Spence before lashing in a stinging drive from a tight angle.
Wells sealed a convincing victory in the 79th minute, running on to another Weimann assist before beating Stojanovic.
Assombalonga’s goal three minutes later was too little, too late.
City could have stretched their lead before Paterson’s stunner, when Jack Hunt was sent clear on goal only for Stojanovic to deny him with a fine save.
Keeper Daniel Bentley never looked sure under the high ball but he excelled in the 27th minute, pushing George Saville’s header on to the bar after one of Ryan Shotton’s trademark throw-ins.
That was not Boro’s best chance before the break, however.
Dael Fry has never scored in more than 100 appearances and will never have a better chance than the one he missed in the first half.
But from just eight yards out, Fry blasted high and wide.
“You’re never going to get an easier chance to equalise,” said Warnock.
“It would have been a different ball game had that gone in.”