When Middlesbrough were first relegated from the Premier League last season, they became one of the favourites to win promotion straight back to the Premier League. They spent around £50 million over the summer, signing some, what looked like, top quality players. Such as well know Championship goal scorer Britt Assombalonga.
They also looked to have found a decent new manager as they appointed Garry Monk, who the season before had guided Leeds United to their highest finish for some years. He also had some success in the Premier League with Swansea City. Boro even managed to keep hold of some of their key players from the season before. Including Ben Gibson who had attracted much interest from Premier League clubs over the summer.
However, Middlesbrough’s season did not start off according to plan. And by December Boro were not even in the playoffs. This came as a shock to many Boro fans given the players they had and the money they had spent. It also clearly came as a shock to Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson who would sack Garry Monk on the 23rd of December.
Tony Pulis was the man brought in to try and save the Teessider’s season and he certainly has so far. Granted it was not all plain sailing when Pulis took over as Boro did continue to look poor at the back and not great going forward. However, Pulis has certainly turned Middlesbrough’s season around. They are undefeated in their last five league games, winning four and drawing one. Pulis has also helped Boro sure up their defence and has put some life into Boro’s attacking threat which was pretty none existent under Monk. This recent run of good form had propelled Boro to 6th in the Championship. With just nine games to go, automatic promotion does not look impossible. However, Middlesbrough are now in a really good position to secure a playoff spot, come the end of the season.
Here are three players who can influence their push for the Premier League.
Adama Traore
Under former manager Aitor Karanka, Traore managed one assist in a season and then under Garry Monk, he managed two assists against a poor Bolton side and that was it. His end product remained very questionable and he struggled to hold down a first-team place as a result.
Under Pulis though, Traore is one of the best attackers in the league. He has managed to combine his frightening pace and skill with an end product and he has become lethal for Boro. This shows in his stats as in his short time under Pulis he has now scored four goals for Middlesbrough. As well as providing three assists. Traore finding an end product under Pulis is something no Boro fan would have excepted. But now he has done so Traore is the most exciting player to watch at Middlesbrough every week. And now he is in this superb form, he needs to keep it up against the likes of Wolves and Bristol if Boro want to keep their promotion charge going.
Patrick Bamford
Same as the case of Traore, Pulis showed great trust in Bamford and started playing him as a striker, which is his preferred position. This has resulted in Bamford scoring eight goals in his last five league games. Including a hattrick vs Leeds at The Riverside, which was the first hattrick there since 2008. This surge of confidence has turned Bamford into the clinic finisher Boro fans loved back in 2014/15. It has also played a huge part in their promotion push.
Because given that Gestede is out for the rest of the season, Boro’s only other out and out striker was Assombalonga, who has failed to score under Tony Pulis so far. This left Middlesbrough with a serious problem as they were already not doing great in the goal-scoring department. However, now Bamford is back to his best, his goal scoring could well fire them to the playoff final.
Muhamed Besic
While Traore and Bamford have received a lot of the limelight in recent weeks, one man who needs huge credit for Boro’s good form is Muhamed Besic. While he is not scoring and assisting like Bamford and Traore, he is still playing a key role.
Every time he starts a game for Boro he dominates the midfield. His passing is excellent, he controls games and his tackling is superb. Which is evidenced by the fact he hasn’t received a yellow card at Boro in his last five games he has played, a very rare achievement for a CDM.
So, while it is important that Traore and Bamford keep up their great attacking form, it is equally a key to Boro’s promotion push that Besic continues to dominate the Boro midfield week in week out.
