Bonatini gives Boro boss Monk food for thought
MIDDLESBROUGH returned to the Championship with a bump as the promotion favourites slipped to a disappointing defeat in Garry Monk’s first match as manager.
It was the perfect reminder as to the big challenge Boro face over the next nine months if they are to get back up at the first time of asking.
A bad mistake at one end and costly misses at the other proved decisive, but Monk was philosophical afterwards.
“We don’t feel we deserved to lose,” he said. “But it’s only the first game. The result was disappointing but not a true reflection.
“It’s still very early days and this group will only get better. There is a lot of talent but that doesn’t give you a divine right for it to work overnight.
“There is always a build- up to the first game and everyone gets excited, but it’s a long season and there are many points to play for and I’m sure we’ll be collecting plenty over the season.
“It’s a process with our strikers. They need time and we’ve not even scratched the surface with them.”
Boro went down with a whimper from the Premier League, but they have been very proactive over the summer to make amends.
Chairman Steve Gibson promised to ‘smash it up’ and has backed Monk with big funds in the transfer market.
There were six debutants in a newlook team, including a £30 million front three of Ashley Fletcher, Martin Braithwaite and Britt Assombalonga as they try to fix a position that delivered just 27 goals in 38 games last season.
Wolves haven’t exactly been quiet either as they began with seven newcomers, as the club’s Chinese owners chase one of those lucrative promotion tickets.
They have close links with Portuguese super-agent Jorge Mendes and with his help, have gone down the foreign route as former Valencia and Porto manager Nuno Espirito Santo has been parachuted into the hotseat.
But English football’s second tier is a million miles from the Champions League as the match began at a frantic pace and time on the ball was a luxury.
Wolves broke the deadlock just past the hour mark but it was a horror moment for Boro defender Daniel Ayala.
The Spaniard’s square ball across the back gifted it to Brazilian striker Leo Bonatini and he striker coolly slotted it past Darren Randolph for a debut goal.
The visitors should have been level before the break as Cyrus Christie’s c ro s s pi c k e d ou t a n un m a rk e d Braithwaite.
It was a gilt- edged opportunity but the Dane headed wide with only the goalkeeper to beat from six yards.
There was another chance midway t h ro ug h the second half when Assombalonga was put in by Patrick Bamford, only for John Ruddy to save.
Christie took matters into his own hands late on as he embarked upon an exciting run, but the finish didn’t match and the game was up for Monk’s Boro.
It was the ideal start for Santo, as he said: “It’s about us building an idea and team, so that no matter who we face we will always be Wolves.”