UNBEATEN STREAK SLIPS AWAY
PLUS MUCH MORE IN 22 PAGES OF SPORT
MIDDLESBROUGH’S 10-match unbeaten run came to an end at the hands of Norwich City at the Riverside, as a bizarre Marcus Tavernier penalty and a Hayden Coulson foul proved costly.
While Tavernier’s penalty was unfortunate as he slipped and illegally made contact with the ball twice, Coulson’s foul to give Norwich a penalty not long after coming on was needless, with the youngster caught cold.
Here’s the game at a glance.
THE GOALS
Norwich 1-0: Pukki (pen)
While Tavernier spurned his chance, there were no such issues for the Norwich striker.
The Finn coolly slotted home his spot-kick into the bottom corner after Coulson had needlessly stuck a leg out and tripped full-back Max Aarons.
THE TACTICS
Warnock set Middlesbrough up to match Norwich’s 4-2-3-1 with Chuba Akpom starting up front instead of Britt Assombalonga, and key centreback Paddy Mcnair passed fit after his busy fortnight on international duty with Northern Ireland.
It was an attacking bench too, with Patrick Roberts, Duncan Watmore, Assombalonga and Sam Folarin all options as Warnock named a nineman bench for the first time this season amid the recent rule change.
As well as matching the visitors in formation, the Boro boss set his side out with his full-backs tasked with man-marking Norwich’s wide men Przemyslow Placheta and Emiliano Buendia.
THE GAME-CHANGING MOMENT
Were it not for Tavernier missing his penalty, who knows whether that unbeaten streak would still be alive and well.
As unfortunate as it was, it proved costly for Middlesbrough as the players failed to gain composure after it.
Norwich, meanwhile, seemed to gain plenty of heart from it and it gave them the impetus to push forward more themselves.
Less than 20 minutes later they had their own penalty and Pukki made no mistakes with his.
THE KEY PLAYER
Usually this would be reserved for a Boro player but it’s hard to look past ex-teessiders skipper Ben Gibson here.
Although he conceded a penalty by fouling the tricky Tavernier, he was otherwise an absolute rock throughout on his return to the Riverside.
As for the home side’s best player, Dael Fry deserved an honourable mention, as he was so unfortunate to end on the losing side.
Commanding in the first half, he dominated another ex-boro man in Jordan Hugill before he was withdrawn at the break.
Pukki replaced him and it made Norwich far more dangerous in the final third, but Fry was regularly on hand with last-ditch tackles and brilliant interceptions.
THE POSITIVE
It only took one costly error to bring Boro’s good run of form to an end but against one of the Championship’s promotion favourites, Middlesbrough once again proved themselves worthy of the battle.
Given that the Teessiders were fighting just to stay up last season, it shows how much progress has been made.
Norwich were most certainly causing Boro more problems after the interval, but were still struggling to craft many clear-cut chances against Boro’s rock-solid defence.
THE NEGATIVE
Veteran manager Neil Warnock has got almost everything right so far this season, but there will be one or two question marks over his first two subs in this one.
Coulson and Folarin were brought on ahead of Roberts and Watmore. While Folarin’s inclusion raised more eyebrows, it was Coulson who made the error that led to the penalty.
Roberts eventually came on with 10 minutes left and looked lively but could not find a way through a stubborn Norwich defence. It was enough to suggest he could have made more of his chance if given more time.
THE VERDICT
In the week that Warnock admitted he previously had offers to appear on I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here, his Boro side did at least put enough of a fight to make the Riverside a ground teams will want to get away from.
Middlesbrough, who struggled desperately on home soil last season, were looking to go undefeated in their first six home league games of the season for the first time since 2011.
Instead, Norwich spoiled the party and ended Boro’s 10-game unbeaten run, leaving the Teessiders stuck in eighth.
It was rather unfortunate circumstances in a game that could have gone either way.
The important thing now is the response on Wednesday against Derby County at the Riverside. No doubt Warnock will look to make visits to Teesside feel like Bushtucker Trials for his Championship rivals.