MONK TEARS INTO SCHOOLBOY BORO
GARRY Monk labelled his side “extremely naive” as Middlesbrough succumbed to defeat at Millwall.
The Boro boss bemoaned “schoolboy” errors that allowed Jed Wallace and George Saville to score first-half goals and stretch Millwall’s unbeaten run to three Championship games.
Middlesbrough pulled a goal back when Jordan Archer allowed Stewart Downing’s powerful drive from 25 yards to slip through his hands, but Monk’s side were unable to find an equaliser.
“At the risk of repeating myself, it’s just naive, it’s extremely naive,” said Monk. “We know coming here the direct play it’s going to be. We’ve prepared the players all week. That battle, that physical element to it in terms of competing for those second balls, very direct stuff.
“It’s never through a lack of effort within the group. It just comes back to naivety.
“I feel like a broken record at the moment. Schoolboy errors, so avoidable and basic stuff. You don’t expect that from the level of players we’ve got, but unfortunately it’s happening too many times this season.”
Middlesbrough started the game well, with Patrick Bamford forcing a good save from Archer at his near post after 15 minutes.
Shaun Hutchinson was a constant threat from corners, but the home side took the lead through Wallace, who latched onto Ryan Tunnicliffe’s well-judged through ball and slotted past Darren Randolph.
Five minutes later it was 2-0, as Saville finished off a Millwall counter attack. Steve Morison’s pullback found Saville unmarked just inside the area and he profited from Middlesbrough’s failure to clear the danger, and wriggled past two defenders to prod the ball home.
Millwall manager Neil Harris was pleased with the mix between aggression and quality displayed by his side.
“We are what we are as a football club. We have to make it hostile, intimidating,” said Harris.
“We have to play aggressive football with and without the ball. Top teams don’t particularly like coming here this season.
“But we play very good football as well, you see that with the first goal in particular.
“We haven’t got players that are worth millions of pounds, but I’ve got a lot of players growing in reputation at this level because they are very good footballers.
“The biggest credit I can give them is they are a very good team, as in together. We made a top Middlesbrough side look really ordinary today at times.”
The away side improved after half-time, increasing the tempo and searching for a way back into the game. Martin Braithwaite should have done better when left unmarked in the penalty area but failed to connect well with a header from ten yards.
A few minutes later, Downing’s strike found the back of the net via Archer’s gloves and set up a nervy finale for the home side.
Millwall could have wrapped up the three points with 10 minutes to go, but Tunnicliffe scuffed Morison’s chipped cross to the back post.
Morison then wasted a golden opportunity when Ben Gibson’s poor, headed back pass left him oneon-one with Randolph who saved well.
Monk threw on Rudy Gestede and Adama Traore as Boro pushed for an equaliser, but Millwall were resilient in defence and held on for a well-deserved victory.