Pulis urges Boro players to turn up or get ‘turned over’
TONY PULIS hopes Britt Assombalonga can now push on after ending his goal drought and salvaging a “vital” point for promotion-chasing Middlesbrough with a last-gasp equaliser.
The striker, a £15m signing from Nottingham Forest last summer, headed home from close range in the 90th minute after Jack Harrison’s effort had come back off the crossbar.
That goal cancelled out Marvin Sordell’s early opener for relegation-threatened Burton and earned Boro a valuable draw.
It was also Assombalonga’s first goal of 2018 and Boro boss Pulis hopes it will reignite the forward’s season.
Pulis said: “He’s got a goal now and that should spur him on. He missed a good chance earlier which he should have rolled in and you think it’s not going to be your day, but I’m pleased.”
Pulis had words of praise for his counterpart Nigel Clough, though, after seeing the struggling Brewers make things very difficult for the Teessiders.
“Nigel should get great credit for what he has done here with Burton in the Championship. It is fantastic with the budget and facilities he has got,” he said.
“I have watched a lot of Burton’s games this season and in every game they all turn up. We never got going today and they fully deserved to be winning.
“The players have got to understand that you have to turn up every week if you want to be successful in this league. It’s a great, competitive league and if you don’t turn up and give 100 per cent you will get turned over.” ROTHERHAM UNITED’S stuttering form continued with a fourth defeat in their last six games.
Paul Warne’s fourth-placed side struggled again at play-off rivals Charlton Athletic, coached by former Leeds United star Lee Bowyer.
A disappointed Warne said: “The first goal was a shambles in all honesty. The defending for the second wasn’t much better and that’s something we need to improve on.
“I don’t feel like we’re in a crisis, but we need to improve quickly.”
The Millers fell behind after 28 minutes when Josh Emmanuel’s poor attempt at a clearing header fell straight to Polish striker Michal Zyro, who volleyed his third goal of the season past a stunned Marek Rodak.
Earlier, the Millers’ were denied by the woodwork in the opening minute, after Joe Newell set up Will Vaulks, whose thunderous strike cannoned back off the crossbar.
Soon after, Vaulks went close again as he drove narrowly over.
Shortly before the break, Ryan Williams lashed in a shot which Ben Amos saved superbly.
The Addicks began the second period on top, and Zyro almost doubled his and his team’s tally in the 52nd minute when he flashed a shot inches past the far post.
Two minutes later it was 2-0, as Joe Aribo rose to head home Jake Forster-Caskey’s free-kick.
Aribo made it 3-0 when he comprehensively beat Rodak.
Richard Wood fired in a rebound as a late consolation.