Middlesbrough have impressed in several areas this season but one major problem still remains.
It has been a mixed 2024/25 Championship campaign for Boro so far, with much to unpack heading into the international break.
Things could not have got off to a better start for Michael Carrick this season, with Middlesbrough beating Swansea City 1-0 on the opening day.
It was not the best display over 90 minutes and Luke Williams’ side did nearly recuse a point, but the Teessiders will just have been glad to finally start a campaign with a victory.
In their following Championship fixtures this term, Middlesbrough have looked very impressive going forward.
Ahead of the 2-2 draw with Portsmouth, Middlesbrough had the most shots of any Championship team this season.
And after they saw off Cardiff City on August 31st, Finn Azaz leads the Championship in three impressive statistics.
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Middlesbrough lead Premier League and Championship in one key statistic
As well as performing well in the final third, one interesting statistic suggests Boro have been defensively sound in 2024/25.
After four games of the campaign, Middlesbrough have conceded just 6.8 shots per 90.
That is the fewest of any team in the Premier League or Championship so far this season.
However, despite dominating the top two tiers of English football in that area, Boro continue to concede plenty of goals.
The Teessiders have so far shipped five in their opening four league games, as well as five in one match versus Stoke City in the League Cup.
While that stat does not really suggest Middlesbrough should have defensive frailties, it does offer a possible explanation for why Carrick’s men have conceded so many goals despite facing so few shots.
Middlesbrough paying for individual errors
Boro fans who have watched the majority of games so far this season will be well aware it is individual errors that are costing their side goals.
Dominic Shaw was left baffled by Seny Dieng after the goalkeeper’s questionable display against Portsmouth last month.
Elsewhere, Isaiah Jones cost Middlesbrough vs Derby when his sloppy backpass allowed Kayden Jackson to run through on goal and secure the Rams a 1-0 victory.
Lukas Engel has been poor at left-back as well, while the injury crisis at centre-back has led to some miscommunications in defence between inexperienced pairings.
Carrick must now find a way to cut out, or at least reduce, the constant individual errors at Middlesbrough this season.
The above stat suggests that the Boro boss has his team set up well to keep out goals, but there is not a lot a manager can do to fix so many individual mistakes, other than perhaps dropping players like he did with Engel.