Hall gone wrong, Neil

NEIL WARNOCK blasted his Boro forwards by claiming he could put in more effort at the age of 72 after a dismal showing at Millwall.

A third straight win would have put Boro within three points of sixth spot.

Sadly for Warnock, Grant Hall’s decisive 31st-minute touch was at the wrong end as he turned Jed Wallace’s cross into his own net.

The furious Boro boss (right) hauled off Chuba Akpom, Yannick Bolasie and Djed Spencer at halftime.

And he was not finished with them after the final whistle as he fumed: “The first-half was unacceptable, the forwards were very poor, hence the changes.

“I thought there was a reaction in the second half without making clear chances.”

Asked why there was a lack of effort, Warnock added: “Some of the lads may not want to compete against a tough competitive Millwall side.

“We have known all along what we need for next season and today just magnified what we have got to look for.

“It was like playing with eight men at times today.

Unused subs:

Next season we should have 11. I look forward to it.

“We won’t chuck the towel in now. The first half today was unacceptable.

“Crickey, I’m 72 and I could have put more effort in.”

Opposite number Gary Rowett was overjoyed with the shift he got out of his front two – Wallace and Mason Bennett.

After a tight opening 20 minutes, spaces started to open up and Wallace was the one exploiting them.

He was sent clear by Bennett’s superb through ball on 25 minutes but had his shot brilliantly tipped past the post by Marcus Bettinelli.

Moments later he was flying past Jonny Howson and firing in a cross which hit Hall and went in for what proved the winner.

Danny Mcnamara fired wide after being sent clear by Wallace’s pass of the match.

Then just before halftime Bolasie scuffed Boro’s top chance to level wide.

Warnock sent on forwards Duncan Watmore, Ashley Fletcher and Nathaniel Mendez-laing as Boro came out for the second half fired up.

But their only clear chances saw George Saville’s drive well blocked by Bartosz Bialkowski who also palmed out Paddy Mcnair’s 77th-minute snap-shot.

Boss Rowett said: “We had to weather the storm after half-time but I felt we did that really well.”

BITTER END Hall (right) is down after his own goal sank Boro MILLWALL: Bialkowski 7; Hutchinson 7, M Wallace 7, Cooper 7; Mcnamara 7 (Romeo 87), Evans 7, Woods 7 (Williams 81), Mitchell 7, Malone 7 (Pearce 87) ; Bennett 7 (Bodvarsson 64, 6), J Wallace 8 (Bradshaw 81). Fielding, Ferguson, Mahoney, Burey. MIDDLESBROUGH: Bettinelli 6; Spence 5 (Mendez-laing 46, 6), Hall 6, Fry 6, Bola 6; Howson 6, Mcnair 6 (Kebano 81); Johnson 6, Tavernier 6 (Saville 45, 6), Bolasie 5 (Watmore 46, 6); Akpom 5 (Fletcher 46, 6). Unused subs: Archer, Fisher, Morsy, Coburn. MAN OF THE MATCH: Jed Wallace. First-half purple patch won the game. REFEREE: James Linington 6.