Warnock will
NORWICH’S Cuban strike star Onel Hernandez was looking on ahead of his loan move to Middlesbrough.
And Riverside chief Neil Warnock reckons he will like what he has seen.
This was not pretty to watch – both sides had players sent off in the last 10 minutes as referee Michael Salisbury dismissed Blackburn right-back Hayden Carter and Boro midfielder Sam Morsy in the space of two minutes.
But Boro boss Warnock believes Hernandez, 28, will feel he can thrive in a competitive side.
He said: “He’s the type of lad we need. I bet he’s enjoyed that.
“He’ll be thinking, ‘Wow, roll your sleeves up there, I’d better come here.’” But
Warnock insisted the club will appeal against Morsy’s red card.
He added: “It was a very poor decision and we’ll be appealing, definitely.
“The ref said it was a straight red for deliberately injuring. I don’t even think it was a booking.
“We played some good stuff, probably as good as since I’ve been here. but we just didn’t have that clinical finishing.”
Rovers struck on 17
minutes when playmaker Ian Poveda, making his debut after joining on loan from Leeds, slipped the ball to Sam Gallagher who unleashed a ferocious rightfoot shot that crashed in off a post.
But Boro levelled 19 minutes later with a goal that was pure route one.
Keeper Joe
Lumley rolled the ball out to right wing-back Anfernee Dijksteel who hit a long ball for skipper Jonny Howson to chase.
And, with the defence wide open, the midfielder chipped over onrushing keeper Thomas Kaminski – and again, in off an upright.
Warnock brought on Toyosi Olusanya for a debut after his arrival from non-league Billericay.
But after Marcus Tavernier’s shot cannoned off Kaminski on 72 minutes, Olusanya was denied a dream start by a challenge in front of goal. The game then erupted on 79 minutes when Carter received a second yellow for a high foot on Paddy Mcnair, before Morsy saw red for a challenge on sub Tyler Magloire.
Blackburn boss and Boro legend Tony Mowbray said: “It wasn’t a very nice game. It takes two teams to play a football match and Middlesbrough deny you playing football and are very combative.
“It was a real eye-opener for young Leighton Clarkson and Poveda to play against that.
“But I don’t know whether it was a game for two sendings-off.
“I think the referee might have used a bit more common sense.”