3 things we clearly learnt about Middlesbrough after their 2-2 draw v Stoke City | OneFootball

Middlesbrough will have been disappointed to concede late on and draw 2-2 at Stoke City on Wednesday evening, having worked so hard to turn the tide at the bet365 Stadium.

A quick break saw Dwight Gayle assist Jacob Brown just 19 minutes in, putting the Potters in a strong position to kick on towards back-to-back home wins.

Boro were breached too easily for Chris Wilder’s liking and are yet to keep a clean sheet in their opening four encounters.

Dael Fry was an unused substitute as his return to full fitness continues to drag on.

Duncan Watmore’s first time finish and a Phil Jagielka own goal had the visitors in the ascendency, only to be denied a first victory of the campaign by a D’Margio Wright-Phillips diving header in second half additional time.

Here, we have taken a look at three things we learnt from Boro’s 2-2 draw at Stoke…

Final third still a work in progress

Marcus Forss and Matthew Hoppe were amongst the substitutes with only the former coming on.

With Wilder going for Riley McGree playing off of Duncan Watmore up front.

The former Sunderland man is usually more effective in a front two or as a winger, though he led the line admirably, but it was not a forward line that justifies Boro being automatic promotion contenders.

Boro have been on the look-out for a left-sided centre back for quite a while, but it turns out that the answer to that conundrum may well have been under their noses with Marc Bola slotting into the role quite comfortably.

Defensively, the whole team can improve, but Bola was able to offer an attacking threat marauding forward from the left of the back three.

With Wilder’s ability to bring the best out of players, even in unfamiliar positions, Bola could be one to watch as the season plays out.

Potentially, allowing the club to prioritise other areas in the transfer market.

Quiz: Do these 25 ex-Middlesbrough players currently play abroad or not?

1 of 25

1. Adam Clayton

Yes No

Chance creation not an issue

Despite losing Marcus Tavernier, and not having a settled attacking contingent, Boro have scored seven goals in their opening four games, and have been creating a healthy amount of chances.

A strike partnership of Forss and Hoppe could be very exciting, with Boro having created chances equating to 5.30 expected goals (xG), as per Wyscout, the seventh most in the division, against some tough opposition in their opening quartet.

Should the defence be tightened up, they will climb the table swiftly.