Middlesbrough defender Dael Fry explained the pride that his family will have felt as he lead out the side as captain against Bradford City in their 2-0 victory in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
Addressing the media in a post-match interview on the club’s website, Fry explained what it meant to pull on the armband. “My family and all that will be absolutely so proud of me I think.” Beamed the Boro centre-back.
“It was a privilege to lead the team out tonight, hopefully I’ve got many more to come.”
Fry-who has been with the club for nearly ten years-was good value during his interview after the game, as he comically recreated the reaction he gave to a teammate when he heard of Boro’s strong following for the trip to Valley Parade.
He added, “One of the lads said this morning, there’s four-thousand Boro fans coming, ‘I was like four-thousand! Oh my god!’ but you know, they were fantastic, they were loud and they were the twelfth man at times, they were fantastic.”
The win-their second in four days-was made all the sweeter by the clean sheet, something that a Boro defence has failed to manage all season.
It was not lost on the 26-year-old, who acknowledged the lack of solidity this season. “It has been a difficult start to the season, you know, it has been fine margins at times, we have been in games and give away sloppy goals.
“Tonight I think; especially the last ten minutes, they were throwing everything forward, long thow-ins, free-kicks and I thought we dealt with them really well.”
Winning mentality
Fry has formed a regular centre-back partnership with Darragh Lenihan at the heart of Boro’s defence. A partnership that has not been without it’s critics so far. But with his Irish international colleague missing and Boro’s regular captain, Jonny Howson rested, the responsibility to lead the team was bestowed upon the towering defender, who is affectionately referred to as ‘the Lighthouse’ by the Boro faithful.
With two morale-boosting victories, Fry was also able to offer an insight into the hopes of Boro boss Michael Carrick and what the side are aiming for. “The manager keeps repeating, you know, he wants to go on a cup run, and he wants to keep winning games and getting into the winning mentality.”
Carrick tried to keep some continuity after the huge 2-1 win at home to Southampton at the weekend, but did introduce a number of players with a point to prove.
Fry intimated that the decision to bring in a selection of fringe players; the likes of Dan Barlaser and Morgan Rogers to accompany the regulars like Hayden Hackney and himself, will help the team in terms of competition for places.
“We were solid, a few lads who needed minutes done really well and gave the manager a bit of a headache.”
Middlesbrough head into the final 16 of a cup they have a very fond affinity with, and will hope that they enjoy a favourable draw which takes place after the rest of the ties are played on Wednesday 27th. Boro are ball number 6.