2 big dilemmas facing Neil Warnock ahead of Boro’s clash with Cardiff | OneFootball

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Football League World

·23 October 2021

2 big dilemmas facing Neil Warnock ahead of Boro’s clash with Cardiff

Article image:2 big dilemmas facing Neil Warnock ahead of Boro’s clash with Cardiff

After seemingly being on the verge of the sack after Middlesbrough’s defeat against Hull City at the MKM Stadium before the international break, things are looking a lot brighter for Neil Warnock on Teesside all of a sudden.

Scoring four goals and keeping two clean sheets against two struggling sides in Peterborough United and Barnsley, this has set them up well for their trip to another struggling side in Cardiff City, with another three points up for grabs.


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They now find themselves in a respectable 10th place, just three points off the play-offs and against a side that have lost their last seven league games, they won’t get a better chance to close in on the top six.

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Under an experienced man in Warnock, they should be able to get the job done in today’s early kick-off but could be punished if they don’t take this latest assignment seriously.

Today’s game and the previous two may not be an accurate measure of where Boro are considering all three of their opponents are currently struggling at the bottom end of the second-tier table – but you can only beat what’s in front of you and keeping two clean sheets amid a defensive injury crisis is an impressive achievement.

Despite these recent victories though, there are a few things that the Boro boss will need to weigh up ahead of today’s exciting clash at the Cardiff City Stadium.

We take a look at just two of those dilemmas.

Is it worth risking Andraz Sporar?

Soccer Football – World Cup – UEFA Qualifiers – Group H – Slovenia v Russia – Ljudski vrt, Maribor, Slovenia – October 11, 2021 Slovenia’s Andraz Sporar celebrates their first goal scored by Josip Ilicic REUTERS/Borut Zivulovic

27-year-old striker Sporar has been one overseas signing that has been an instant success on Teesside, arriving from Sporting Lisbon on loan and providing more attacking firepower up top with the likes of Uche Ikpeazu and Duncan Watmore.

He scored against Barnsley in midweek with a well-placed header, but was forced off with a niggling adductor injury in the second 45 and didn’t train on Thursday.

According to boss Warnock, he was going to assess Slovenian on Friday before making a decision on his availability for this afternoon’s fixture against the Bluebirds, but it remains to be seen whether he will be fit enough to start.

Ikpeazu would be ready to come in for the 27-year-old if needed, but if Cardiff’s recent defensive record is anything to go by, Sporar would have a great chance of getting in and amongst the goals and this would only go on to set him up nicely for the rest of the campaign.

The knock he picked up on Wednesday has been a long-running issue though, so there’s a real risk of him aggravating this injury if he isn’t managed properly. Because of this, it may be worth dropping him to the bench just for this weekend.

Soccer Football – Championship – Middlesbrough v Barnsley – Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, Britain – October 20, 2021 Middlesbrough’s Martin Payero in action with Barnsley’s Jordan Williams Action Images/Lee Smith EDITORIAL USE ONLY

It makes you wonder whether it’s worth playing with three centre-backs this afternoon against a side that have scored just one goal in over 630 minutes of Championship football, conceding 17 goals during this torrid seven-game spell.

Although Kieffer Moore is a threat and will continue to be despite his poor form this term, they have a real lack of attacking threat in other areas of the pitch and it would almost seem like a waste to operate with five when on the defensive.

Starting with two centre-backs and operating with two advanced wide men in Onel Hernandez and Marcus Tavernier could help to put the Welsh side on the back foot immediately, with Cardiff boss Mick McCarthy moving away from starting five centre-backs on Wednesday evening when his side took on Fulham.

This could mean a change in formation with a 4-1-2-1-2 and Martin Payero operating behind Sporar/Ikpeazu and Watmore, although it would be difficult to drop one of Matt Crooks and Jonny Howson.

With this and Boro getting into a good run of form recently, Warnock may decide to stick with the same system. If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.

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