Several Middlesbrough players are under the spotlight following their meeting with Portsmouth.
Boro returned to the Riverside Stadium on Saturday afternoon for a clash with newly-promoted Portsmouth.
Middlesbrough lost 1-0 to Derby County in their previous outing but were expected to fare better on home soil.
However, things did not go to plan at all, with Michael Carrick watching his side go 1-0 down after just two minutes.
Matt Clarke equalised for the Teessiders in the 10th minute but the home team continued to struggle defensively.
Christian Saydee found the net for a second time with 25 minutes on the clock, capitalising on a mixup between Seny Dieng, Matt Clarke and Luke Ayling.
After Portsmouth’s second of the day, one Middlesbrough player came in for heavy criticism.
Seny Dieng criticised during Middlesbrough vs Portsmouth
Even though Clarke scored, none of Boro’s defenders covered themselves in glory against Portsmouth.
Luke Engel was shaky at left-back and largely at fault for the opening goal. Ayling also struggled playing out of position at centre-back.
However, it was Middlesbrough goalkeeper Dieng who bore the brunt of the criticism over the weekend.
After Portsmouth’s second of the day, journalist Dominic Shaw took to X/Twitter to share his bemusement at what the shot-stopper was doing.
He wrote: “Another defensive howler punished. No idea what Dieng is doing coming to try and head that clear when Clarke is there under little pressure.
“Moments later Dieng makes a mess of another headed clearance. Ironic cheers from #Pompey fans when Dieng gathers a clearance.”
Should Michael Carrick drop Seny Dieng
Dieng was Boro’s number-one goalkeeper in 2023/24 and though he did not play badly, he was not great.
He was able to keep a clean sheet in the opening game of this season against Swansea City but faced little pressure in that tie.
There was not a lot Dieng could have done about the goal at Derby last week either but Saturday’s display may lead Carrick to hand another of his goalkeepers a chance.
Sol Brynn made his senior debut for the Teessiders in the League Cup against Leeds United and performed very well.
Tom Glover, currently third-choice, is also a very capable number one and could regain that spot from Dieng going forward.