Middlesbrough played out the first Tees-Wear derby of the season vs Sunderland on Saturday.
Boro went into the 2024/25 campaign no doubt eager to improve on their eighth-place finish from last term.
Michael Carrick and his men failed to win any of their opening five Championship fixtures in 2023/24.
That record has already been bettered this term, with Middlesbrough beating Swansea City 1-0 on the opening weekend and Cardiff City prior to the September international break.
However, it has still been a very frustrating start to the campaign for the Teessiders, who are now all the way down in 12th place in the Championship table.
The North East outfit have created plenty of chances this season but many players like Isaiah Jones have been wasteful for Boro.
Chris Rigg scored the winner for Sunderland on September 21st after Jones wasted some big opportunities, with one pundit now left baffled by Middlesbrough.
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EFL pundit baffled by Middlesbrough after Sunderland
Middlesbrough have now only scored six goals in their opening six league fixtures this term.
This comes despite the fact Carrick’s men have dominated every game they have played when it comes to possession and chances created.
We saw this again versus Sunderland with Boro’s wastefulness once again costing them.
Now, after looking at Middlesbrough’s data so far this season, EFL pundit Adrian Clarke, speaking on the What the EFL podcast, has been left baffled by the fact the Teessiders are not top of the Championship.
He said: “I think they are two good teams, both of whom will be in the play-offs. I couldn’t see either of them top two, but I do think they’re capable of reaching the play-offs.
“In terms of Middlesbrough, they’re flying as far as their data is concerned. Best xG in the division. Most shots in the division as well. Touches in the box, they’ve had 214 and the next closest is Sheffield United with 158. So over 50 more touches inside the opposition box than any other team.
“You flip it around, they’ve only conceded five goals and they’ve got the third best expected-goals-against and they’ve faced the second-fewest shots against. So you’re looking at Boro and thinking, why aren’t you top of the league!? There’s a few things have gone against them, finishing has let them down a bit and they’ve got a few injuries as well. They’ve been punished for the odd mistake as well.”
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How Middlesbrough can improve their poor attack
On paper, Middlesbrough should be up there with the highest scorers in the Championship this season.
The summer additions of Tommy Conway, Micah Hamilton, Delano Burgzorg and Ben Doak have given Carrick a plethora of attacking options to choose from.
However, the Boro bosses’ insistence on starting Jones on the right has led to a number of chances going begging as the winger’s decision-making in the final third has been poor.
Should Carrick opt to drop the 25-year-old going forward, that may be enough to see Middlesbrough finally start scoring more.
And the perfect replacement for Jones could be set to return soon, with Marcus Forss now back in training.
The forward scored seven in 21 off the right before his injury in 2023/24, a return that Boro could really do with right now.