Lack of goals the pressing problem for Boro boss Pulis
TONY Pulis is coming under increasing pressure as he approaches the end of his first year in charge of the Boro.
The shock Carabao Cup defeat at the hands of League One side Burton Albion, allied to the club slipping away from the battle for automatic promotion, has left many fans fuming.
The main problems have emerged at the Riverside Stadium where Boro have rarely looked capable of winning during the last two months.
It means the outcome of the consecutive home games against Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich between Christmas and the New Year are crucial for manager and team alike.
Pulis will point to the fact Boro were unable to sign the attacking players which he wanted last summer.
That is perfectly true - but at the same time Boro have lacked both fire and inspiration in recent games at the Riverside.
As a result the quality of the football on offer has been desperately poor, which is another cause of annoyance for the fans.
Pulis has done a brilliant job in organising the defensive side of the team but the Teessiders have lacked attacking ideas and guile up front.
The lack of goals is frustrating and it is the major reason why Boro have slipped away from the ongoing battle for the automatic promotion places.
Since beating Bolton Wanderers at the Riverside on September 19, they have won just one other Championship game on home soil.
This was against Wigan Athletic on November 10. It was a bright performance and raised hopes Boro might get back on track again.
In particular on-loan striker Jordan Hugill, who scored both goals, indicated he might be the answer to Boro’s problems up front. Yet it turned out to be a false dawn.
Boro were taken apart by Aston Villa and then held out for a 1-1 draw against Blackburn after enjoying only 34 per cent possession.
Even the most dubious of fans expected theri side to beat Burton, but despite a bright opening Boro hardly looked any better than their opponents. They should still have managed at least a draw after 90 minutes, because Aden Flint headed wide when unmarked just two yards in front of goal.
However, Burton arguably deserved the win for their resilience - leaving Boro fans wondering where their team goes from here.
Pulis took over from Garry Monk when the former Leeds and current Birmingham boss was sacked before Christmas last year.
He watched his first game from the directors’ box against Bolton on Boxing Day before taking control of training the following day.
Boro failed to score a goal in Pulis’s first three home games, but gradually he turned things around at the Riverside.
However the problems have returned this season and have been getting worse. So the pressure rests with Pulis and his staff to come up with suitable answers.
The Teessiders looked nailed-on automatic promotion challengers at the start of the season, scoring at least one goal in each of their first seven games - including cupties.
However, the doubts began to creep in after Boro produced a lacklustre performance at Norwich in mid-september.
While the Canaries have since stormed up the table to establish a strong position near the top, Boro have gone backwards.
Pulis now needs to draw on his many years of experience and also hope the club are able to sign his attacking targets in January.
However, at the same time the fans will argue the style of football must also change. Even with an influx of top-quality forwards, Boro will not score goals unless the front men receive the service they require.
The beauty of football is things can change so quickly. Boro cannot ask for two better games than against Wednesday on Boxing Day and Ipswich three days later with which to try to get the ship upright again.
A more forthright approach is vital, not just in these two games but throughout the rest of the season. just