Bruce backing Boro to be in promotion mix

STEVE Bruce has predicted that Middlesbrough will be there or thereabouts in this season’s Championship promotion race after watching his West Brom side come from behind to claim a point at the Riverside in the first game of the new season.

Ahead of the game the Baggies’ boss had admitted he felt travelling to Teesside was about as tough as his promotion-hopeful side could have had to start the campaign and so it proved.

Boro absolutely dominated the first half after Isaiah Jones put them 1-0 up in the tenth minute but after harsh words and tactical changes at half time West Brom’s quality showed after the break and Boro were made to rue many missed opportunities in that dominant first 45 as John Swift netted an equaliser to ultimately earn the visitors a point from the game.

Reflecting after the game, the former Newcastle United manager said: “I thought we started well enough but we didn’t really recover after they scored until half-time.

“The second half was much better and I was pleased with the reaction but the 25 minutes after they scored was difficult for us.

“We were a bit passive with and without it but in the second half, that’s the standard we have to be at.

“Arguably we could have gone on to win it but Middlesbrough will be there or thereabouts.

“First game of the season there’s a bit of a feelgood factor around and there were times in the first half when it was difficult but we came through it.

“If we keep what we showed in the second half then we havea chance.

“The addition of Swift and Jed Wallace helps because it was the one area we needed to improve on. We were in the bottom six last year for goals scored and that’s something we needed to address.”