Warnock’s tactical nous keeps free-scoring Brentford at bay
Neil Warnock says he doesn't like stats – yet the numbers certainly make good reading for his improving Middlesbrough side.
Between them, the three top scoring sides in the Championship, Blackburn, Reading and Brentford, have netted 55 league goals between them so far this season, yet all have failed to score against Boro.
In fact, each side could only register a single shot on target against the Teessiders’ resilient backline, a defence which has conceded just once in seven games.
There was another eyecatching statistic after Saturday’s goal less draw at Brentford, a result which saw Boro extend their unbeaten run to ten games.
The Teessiders haven’t gone that many matches undefeated since the 2015/16 campaign, when Aitor Karanka’s team finished strongly to win promotion to the Premier League.
Cynics will claim Warnock’s sides play boring football, and there were plenty of times when striker Chuba Akpom was isolated up front.
Yet you only have to look at where the Teessiders were last season, fighting to avoid relegation, to appreciate the job Warnock is doing.
Brentford boss Thomas Frank was complimentary about Boro during his postmatch press conference but was quick to point out their defensive style.
“The way they played is completely different to 22 other teams in this division,” said Frank.
“Huddersfield also do man marking but press a bit higher.”
Warnock makes sure everyone knows their defensive responsibilities and that his side has a platform to build on.
That is why Warnock elected not to bring Patrick Roberts off the bench, against a Brentford side which play with offens ive full-backs Henrik Dalsgaard and Rico Henry.
Instead, Warnock deployed Djed Spence and Hayden Coulson on the flanks, players who can still threaten on the counter attack but are also attuned to track back.
Yet despite Brentford’s strength in midfield and high possession percentage (61 per cent), the best chance fell to Boro.
It came in the second half when Paddy McNair split open Brentford’s defence to release Jonny Howson, who quickly squared the ball to Akpom inside the penalty area.
The Boro forward spun away from defender Ethan Pinnock but fired his effort over the bar.
Warnock does encourage his side to play in the right areas of the pitch, as we saw at Blackburn, where the Teessiders just weren’t able to take their chances.
Yet there was a different feel about the trip to West London.
A point against last season’s play-off finalists felt like a good result, and Warnock didn’t want to throw that away.
It’s also noticeable how Boro’s new approach has seen more players take responsibility.
Full-backs Marc Bola and Anfernee Dijksteel are almost unrecognisable to the players who looked out of their depth when they joined the club last season.
Next up is a tricky meeting with Norwich after the international break, yet Boro have shown they are a match for anyone at this level.