Middlesbrough ‘too good not to climb the table’

Middlesbrough ‘too good not to climb the table’

Middlesbrough have too many good players to be where they are in the table, and it’s only a matter of time until they start to make their way towards the top.

That’s the view of Barnsley manager Paul Heckingbottom, whose side earned a 2-2 draw with Boro over the weekend.

New signings Martin Braithwaite and Britt Assombalonga scored as Boro were twice forced to come from behind.

But the result means Monk’s men are now four league matches without a win, and sit 11th in the table despite being tipped for promotion at the beginning of the season.

As a result, the pressure is on Garry Monk and his men to start producing wins and climb up the table. Barnsley boss Heckingbottom insists that it won’t be long before this eventuality starts to happen, with the sheer class that Boro’s squad possesses.

“They’ve got too many good players not to be up there,” Heckingbottom said after the 2-2 draw.

“We had it when we played Aston Villa. They hadn’t lost in six (but were ‘under pressure’), and Boro have lost one in 10? I’d take that – you know what I mean?”

“Give me that any day. So yes, they won’t be far away.”
[Quotes via Gazette Live]

Ashley Fletcher scored an own goal after two minutes against his former side, before Danish forward Braithwaite levelled the scoring 7 minutes in. His strike was cancelled out just minutes later though, before Middlesbrough finally equalised through Britt Assombalonga’s sixth goal of the season on the hour mark.