Woody’s an easy slider

Our voice of the North

JONATHAN WOODGATE is a human shield for Middlesbrough and the club’s recent failings.

Boro were Carling Cup winners in 2004 and UEFA Cup finalists in 2006 but in the last couple of years they appear to have lost ambition.

Costs have been cut and the financial consolidation has meant decline on the pitch. They are now a million miles away from competing at the top of the Championship, as proven by Leeds United’s demolition job in the first half at the Riverside in midweek.

In fact they are now so deep in the relegation mire they’ll crash into League One if current form continues. Getting anything from promotion contenders Nottingham Forest tomorrow night will be a tall order given Boro haven’t scored for three games.

Yet there is no anger on the terraces. No protests. No calling for manager Woodgate’s head. Just resignation among the fans..

And you wonder if that was behind the move to promote Woodgate from the backroom staff last summer.

Putting a local boy in charge buys extra loyalty. It quells revolt. As does the very open, transparent pain Woodgate (above) exudes when things have gone wrong at the club he followed as a kid with his dad.

It’s hard to turn on a bloke who was handed a bum deal in the summer transfer market, who has suffered injuries to key squad members, yet who refuses to turn on his players. Woodgate’s strongest words have hinted at “complacency” setting in after it looked like they could mount a play-off challenge before Christmas.

Owner Steve Gibson is famously loyal to his managers – and

Woodgate is the latest to get the benefit of the doubt.

Everyone wants him to succeed, but Boro are sleepwalking towards Sunderland’s fate, and no one seems to be fuming about it.