Blunt Boro Beaten At Home Again

Article by e-Middlesbrough correspondent Stephen Davison

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The last game before the international break saw the Boro take on Reading at home. A crowd of little over 14000 was in attendance which is down some 4000 on the opening day, a sign of the times at the Riverside. Karanka went with the under fire Mejias in goal, Abella was right back and Friend left back. Omeruo and Hines formed the centre half partnership. Captain Grant Leadbitter was alongside Clayton in midfield. Adomah was on the right, Reach on the left with Tomlin behind Kike. It was good to see Ledesma and Gibson on the bench as both have now recovered from injuries. Chelsea striker Bamford was also on the bench having signed on loan on Friday.

The game started in a very positive manner for the home team, within minutes Adomah had been put in down the right by Tomlin and it would have been 1-0 only for a great save by Federici in the opposition goal. Moments later, Boro won a free kick some 30 yards out. A clever pass from Leadbitter fed in Kike 10 yards from goal but the Spanish striker shot tamely at the keeper. A good start and what was hoped was a sign of things to come.

Nearly 10 minutes of domination by the Boro was undone when a nothing pass forward wasn't dealt with by the Boro defence. Reading passed inside twice from the right and HInes got pulled out of position and easily beaten. Cox found himself 18 yards out, Abella was covering from right back and Omeruo was in a position to stop the shot when inexplicably Mejias come out of his goal and stood 8 yards out, Cox's decision had been made for him, he simply lifted the ball over the hapless Spanish keeper and made it 1-0.

There was no reaction from the Boro and it appeared as if they were again stunned with what had happened. Reading started as early as when they had taken the lead to waste time. The referee was being lambasted by the crowd as they tried repeatedly to draw his attention to the time wasting tactics that Adkins had obviously ordered. The referee done nothing, not even a word with the keeper or players to hurry up, so the time wasting tactics became more and more exaggerated as the game went on. Karanka was going crazy at times in the 2nd half with the 4th official but nothing was done.

Boro eventually cleared their heads and started trying to force the game and the tempo but in truth they struggled. Kike was unimpressive at the head of the attack. One incident in the first half saw the striker beat 2 men and run at the Reading back 2, he shot from 20 yards but it went as far wide as the distance he struck it from. Worryingly, the shot barely made it across the touchline, not dissimilar to the shot he weakly hit earlier.

Seb Hines missed a free header from 6 yards when it appeared easier to score and Kike wasted another effort with his head from another corner.

Half time and 1-0 down, I was searching for the positives but struggled. Clayton had been completely ineffectual in the centre of midfield, Friend had not got forward from left back nor had Abella from the right. Hines was wasteful in possession, often going long and passing to no one, he was looking very rusty indeed. Tomlin and Kike had been quiet and in all honestly poor. Adomah had tried to make things happen out wide, as had Reach in the left who was probably Boro's best player. Leadbitter and Omeruo were their usual, solid and professional selves.

The second half had very much the same look as the first, lots of possession but doing nothing with it, lots and lots of time wasting by Reading and the officials doing nothing about it and no one managing to take a hold of the game and drag the reds back into contest.

Reading offered very little, but when they did get a chance the orders were clear, test the dodgy keeper whenever you can. When they had corners they put them right under the crossbar knowing that Mejias couldn't deal with them. When they had a chance to shoot from wherever they were, they did. The corners were repeatedly missed by Mejias who had everyone in the Riverside nervous. On one occasion, a simple ball through was going straight into the box, Omeruo left it expecting his keeper to come and collect the ball. Mejias ran out of goal, stopped and ran back, almost leaving the striker able to catch up with his own over hit pass. Omeruo got back and dealt with the danger but it was clear that the team looked to have no confidence in Mejias at all.

Tomlin was replaced by the debutant Bamford as Boro went 442 in an attempt to get an equaliser but it never looked like coming. Whitehead replaced a poor Clayton and Luke Williams replaced Hines as the manager again changed the formation to 3412. The team never looked like it knew what to do from then on in; everyone looked out of position and never got to grips with the changes.

Chances were still made however, but they came predominately from set pieces. Adam Reach did beat his man late on down the left and attempted to cross, but the ball deflected off a Reading defender, hit the post and went clear. Adomah went close late on and Kike again missed a header from a corner. One effort did look destined for the net when Leadbitter put a cracking ball across the 6 yard line from the right but Bamford and Kike missed the ball, it was a god send though as the linesman's flag had long been raised.

The game finished 1-0 to the away team and they had in all honesty come and done a job on Boro.

Post match Karanka was again furious with his team and said they lacked spirit and character. He said that the team aren't learning and have lost their identity and the way he insists that they play.

The manager now has 2 weeks to organise his team and work on the tactics that he is so adamant his team are not following. This break could just have come at a very good time for the Boro.

One player that has signed is Yanic Wildschut from Heerenveen in an 800k Euro deal. The tall winger was a product of the famed Ajax academy but has yet to be seen as successful with his parent club and subsequent loan clubs. Reports in Holland are actually surprised that the Boro are looking at him. That said, he is only 22, very direct, fast and tall. The clubs scouting system must have watched him so as supporters all we can do is trust.

For now, we go into the international break in 16th place which is not good enough for what is now a very talented and deep squad. Karanka and his team must now put the hours in on the training ground in order to repay Steve Gibson for his fantastic financial support and to reward the long suffering fans that are expecting a challenge at the right end of the table this year.

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