Wilder thanks Boro’s amazing 12th man – the supporters

CHRIS Wilder thanked Middlesbrough supporters after his side’s victory over Swansea City.

The supporters got behind the side throughout and Wilder was particularly delighted that they understood the tactics as he tweaked things slightly from the usual dominant, positive, front-foot approach, instead asking his side to let the possession-based Swansea have the ball but then stay tight, turnover possession and counter quick.

While those tactics ultimately worked as Boro were 2-0 ahead by the interval, the fans were then the 12th man again as Swansea pulled one back with 12 minutes to play through a controversial penalty decision from referee Bobby Madley.

But with the fans behind them, Boro held on and Wilder was quick to acknowledge the help of the fans after.

“I was delighted with the punters because I thought they stayed with us right the way through,” Wilder said.

“They understood the game. It was incredibly intelligent of them and it showed what a good knowledgeable crowd they are because I think off the back of the five games we’ve not won, and Swansea are dominating possession like they do, they could have got really edgy but they didn’t.

“The goal has settled them down and we had three or four unbelievable chances to put them to bed so that was a little disappointing.

“At the end, they are going to do what they do with the system that they play. They are going to risk. We could be a little bit better but I decided myself to see the game out in terms of the substitutions that we made. That was my decision.

“It was one made on experience and how the game was going. Whatever we needed to do to get that first win, we needed to do it so it wasn’t pretty towards the end. It wasn’t maybe how we want to go about it and see games out but when we put ourselves in that position in terms of what we have done over the previous five games, I make no excuses for that.

“I thought the fans were magnificent again today. They made it a really light shirt, and they didn’t have to. But I think they recognise what has gone off this season and how much the players are giving.”