Norwich City boss David Wagner has explained the key reason why Middlesbrough have tumbled down the table in recent weeks, though he isn’t underestimating Michael Carrick’s men.
Middlesbrough have taken just one win from their last seven Championship matches and defeat against Stoke City on Saturday saw Boro slip to just six points above the bottom three.
In a congested second-tier table, there is no reason to panic just yet, but Michael Carrick would like to see his team get back on track sooner rather than later.
Tomorrow night doesn’t look like the ideal time to get three points on the board as Norwich City are flying towards the play-off places.
The Canaries are unbeaten in nine of their last 10 Championship games and during that period, striker Josh Sargent has been on fire having plundered eight goals since returning from injury.
Whilst David Wagner’s side are free scoring at the moment and have put four goals past the likes of Watford and Cardiff City at Carrow Road, Boro have only scored six goals in their past seven games.
The Norwich boss doesn’t believe their scoring struggles can be put down to their lack of attacking threat and has instead placed an emphasis on their poor conversion rate.
David Wagner highlights Middlesbrough’s biggest problem
The Teessiders have generally caused most teams problems in attack, at least until recent weeks, having placed sixth in the Championship table for xG (1.50).
For that reason, Wagner insists that his Norwich defenders can’t be complacent as he feels they are a threat in the final third.
“They missed a lot of clear-cut chances, where they might have been able to turn the results,” Wagner told the Northern Echo. “Yes, they gave a few clear-cut chances away defensively, with unforced errors they didn’t make in the past, but that sometimes happens. We know that can happen if you are not in the best mood. But in ball possession, and offensively, they are a threat.”
“If you look at their expected goals, then you can see that one of the reasons (for their position) is that they have not been clinical. It’s not that they didn’t create enough opportunities. Offensively, they have top quality.”
Boro have to show their threat against Norwich
In the last two matches, Carrick’s men have been non-existent from an attacking sense, failing to land a shot on target against Plymouth Argyle and only three at Stoke.
With Norwich arriving at the Riverside full of confidence, the Boro attack has to turn up for this fixture and they will be pleased to know that the Canaries’ defence is prone to leaking goals.
Of the teams in the top half of the Championship, only Preston (52) have conceded more than Norwich’s total of 51.
The visitors have also conceded the fourth most xG on average per game (1.52), according to Footy Stats, so the chances will be there for the hosts, they just have to take them.
That could mean Carrick calling upon Emmanuel Latte Lath once more, who did look a threat against Stoke but needs more service firing into him for Boro to earn three points here.