Michael Carrick watched his side miss another opportunity to gain on their rivals as Middlesbrough went down 1-0 to a struggling Rotherham United outfit.
Boro made all the running and controlled the game for large parts, but failed to make their dominance count as players missed a number of presentable chances. It seems to be the general pattern of how games are played out this season.
Sam Greenwood-who hit the woodwork and drew a couple of saves from United’s keeper-was guilty of spurning some clear opportunities, as was Sami Silvera who was played through one on one by a wonderful Jonny Howson through ball.
Clear penalty
The game against Rotherham, albeit away from home, was the perfect fixture to follow up their massive win against a competent and well-managed West Brom team. But it didn’t work out that way and just as they did earlier in the season after their impressive 1-0 win against Leicester, they faltered in their subsequent match and lost momentum.
It may be a little harsh to criticise Boro too much, they were undone by a freak goal that was clearly a cross that caught keeper Tom Glover unaware, and they were denied a penalty that was as clear as they come, but nevertheless, the game should already have been out of sight.
Although the chances that were missed were the undoing of Carrick’s side, the blame can not be placed firmly at their door. Sam Greenwood has five Championship goals this season, Isaiah Jones has four, Crooks and McGree have three, and Rogers, Silvera and Forss have all registered twice. Not earth shattering stats, but that is a reputable contribution from midfield.
Whole team is contributing goals
In fact, fourteen different scorers have hit the net for the Teessider’s in the Championship this season, and we are only half way. So, it is clear that the team as a whole is doing its bit to get goals from all areas. That is the positive, but when the cavalier football is not in full flow, and you need to take a couple of chances to kill a game that is closer than you would like, the strikers have to earn their money.
Boro’s striker against bottom of the table Rotherham, was Sami Silvera, a makeshift false nine, whose inclusion hinged on his ability to move the defence around and create spaces for the other creative forces to exploit. It is clearly not his natural game but he persevered, and if one or two of the chances went in, it would be deemed a tactical success.
Carrick’s hand forced
In fairness to Carrick, his hand was forced to an extent. With Latte Lath out, and Josh Coburn feeling his way back after time out, he had to be sensible with his selection. Especially with the absentee list and the intense fixture pile up. But Boro have scored just two goals against the Championship’s current bottom six this season. That is not good enough. Latte Lath and Coburn have managed eight goals between them in thirty three league appearances, which would suggest reinforcements are required.
The truth is, however successful Boro’s transfer business was in the summer, and overall it looks to be very solid, they missed out on a proven goal scorer. It has to be assumed that they missed out, because Coburn was being readied for a loan elsewhere. Tom Cannon seemed to be the one that was talked about a lot, and ironically, the club he joined (Leicester) have had him sat on the sidelines, partly through injury, but also because they have a embarrassment of riches in that area.
A poacher up front can turn so many close games into wins at this level. As Cameron Archer and Chuba Akpom proved last season.
It is also worth mentioning that Boro are clearly a team in transition, and there is no blame culture when it comes to the forwards already at the club. Emannuel Latte Lath and Josh Coburn are clearly giving everything when they play. They are both a work in progress and there is no doubt Carrick and his coaching team will be working hard to improve them. But the centre-forward spot is such a specialist position, and finding goal scorers is probably the hardest commodity to attain at this level.
January will determine season’s success
What is clear, is that even though sixth spot is only a win away, the places above that are starting to stretch and become difficult to catch, even in this league. Southampton and Leeds are now on 48 and 45 points respectively. Twelve points is a lot to claw back, so if the form of those two ex-Premier League clubs continues, there could be only two places to fight for should Boro hope to reach the play-offs.
January could be a pivotal month in deducing whether this 2023/24 team is capable of mounting a challenge for a play-off place, or whether the campaign is treated as a chance to prepare and harness a young group to go again next season. Surely if the club have serious ambitions of the top six, a striker must be the priority. A loan with a view to it becoming permanent would be the ideal scenario given the recruitment model in place.