Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
If Middlesbrough manager Steve Agnew had a difficult task in keeping his club up at the start of the week then the job now in front of him has got a lot tougher after defeat to Hull on Wednesday. That loss in what was a relegation 6 pointer now leaves them 7 points from safety.
Obviously it’s not mathematically impossible but you get the feeling that defeat at The KCOM Stadium may well have been the fatal blow in their bid to beat the drop this season. But while they are still in with the chance, the players have to hold on to the belief that they can get the job done.
Today they play host to a Burnley side that have failed to win away from home all season, so there is certainly cause for optimism there and they will be somewhat boosted that they managed to score not once but twice on Wednesday night.
A Middlesbrough goal is a rare sight as of late, so to get two in a game was somewhat of a surprise. Unfortunately though they managed to ship four at the other end as there was a rare off night for Ben Gibson. He may well have been recently called into the England squad but this is a game he will want to forget in a hurry.
I’m sure Gibson will not dwell on this for too long as the visit of Burnley becomes the sole focus with the obvious objective being to earn an all important three points later this afternoon. Their opponents Burnley come into this game lying 15th in the table and Sean Dyche would have been incredibly glad as his side won in midweek.
Once again it was fortress Turf Moor on Wednesday night as George Boyd’s second half strike was enough to secure another home win. And it is arguably the most welcome of the season as had they lost they would have found themselves 16th in the table and nervously looking over their shoulder.
Like the fact I’ve stated Middlesbrough’s lack of goals on so many occasions, I’ve also repeated the point about Burnley’s aversion to winning on the road. It’s only testament to the fact that they have done so well at home that they are not worrying about a relegation battle.
They are not quite out of the woods yet but you get the feeling that two more wins would see them over the line and you would have to say then where a better place would there be to finally break your away duck but here at The Riverside Stadium.
On the flipside though Middlesbrough may well look at this game and feel that this is a game that they can get something out of due to Burnley not being the same side that they are at Turf Moor. It may be small steps but could the fact that they scored twice in midweek give them a boost.
It may be small steps but unfortunately for Middlesbrough they need to be taking giant leaps right now and I cannot see that happening this afternoon. I have a feeling that Burnley’s away jinx will continue but that said I reckon it will end up a draw, a point which will suit Sean Dyche more than it does Steve Agnew.
