Frantic late flailings just can’t disguise the failings

IT WAS a shapeless, chaotic, erratic and deeply disappointing display from a team that so often this season has shrivelled when the heat is on.

Boro were already second best but imploded after the opener and the late frantic flailings can’t disguise how poor a performance it was.

But despite the collective horror show there were a few bright individual efforts that deserve some recognition. While, the defence faced a torrid time Fabio kept battling away at the back and was also one of Boro’s best going forward.

With Traore in front of him he was left exposed down his flank repeatedly but was full of energy and spirit in plugging the gap and at one point was single-handedly chasing down three opponents.

And he kept looking for an opportunity to get forward on the over-lap and put crosses in, although there was little reward.

Evergreen Stewart Downing has been rejuvenated on the right, cutting inside on his preferred foot and finding space and time to play some neat balls and knit together Boro’s attacking play.

In a lively first half he repeatedly skinned his opposing full-back to put in crosses or cut the ball back to the edge of the box and for a spell it seem Boro’s only serious avenue for attacking threat.

And midfield man Adam Forshaw stood out with an industrious shift in the first half, dropping into pockets of space to collect the ball and spark forward movement with neat short balls.

He also did the dirty work, chasing, closing and tackling. Fabio starred in the defeat