Pulis: We should have scored more, but we’re still not good enough

Yet, Tony Pulis used the aftermath of beating Birmingham City on Saturday to underline his frustration at his club last week not signing the players he wanted.

It could be suggested that he is attempting reverse psychology with his players, hoping to elicit a level of performance otherwise unobtainable.

Challenging his squad, perhaps, to prove they are up to the task, no matter what he says in public about them not being good enough.

If so, then his approach is having the desired effect. Seven points from nine available and two clean sheets make for a very good start to the season, despite Middlesbrough missing out on their desired transfer targets.

Is he now more positive about his squad’s potential?

“The lads have been fantastic in the three games but, being perfectly honest with you, the squad is not strong enough to maintain this, just ain't strong enough, you can dress it up anyway you want to dress it up but I'd rather just be straight and honest with people and let them know how I feel.”

That’s a no then.

While agitated by the lack of fresh faces in his squad, those that remain are doing a fine job, with Saturday’s win being as comfortable a 1-0 victory as you’re likely to see.

It came after drawing 2-2 at Millwall last weekend and then beating 3-0 Sheffield United on Tuesday, when all three goals came before the break and a repeat looked likely on Saturday with Boro on top from the off against limited opposition.

On 13 minutes Britt Assombalonga curled home his first goal of the season from a position on the left after a fine pass from the centre of the pitch by Jonny Howson, the midfield metronome.

The goal was followed by Stewart Downing hitting the inside of the post with a free-kick and Assombalonga should have added a second before the break, instead hitting the upright after latching on to Martin Braithwaite’s back-heel.

“I thought it was a game that we could have won and should have won by five or six goals,” admitted Pulis.

“The chances and opportunities that we created during were absolutely outstanding and, as I say, on another day, I think we've hit the bar twice, we've hit the post twice, we've had one cleared off the line.

“There's been a melee a couple of times where it could have easily dropped for us. Jonny's missed a chance because Stewart's got in the way, Stewart's missed a chance because Jonny's got in the way.

“We're waiting for the whistle at the end but really and truthfully the game should have been buried.

“They were fantastic today and we've given them a game where we've created chance after chance after chance and the disappointing thing is we've only scored one goal.

“But we're very, very pleased. Birmingham have had a free week, they've had no game, no disruption and to come out and do that today – at times our football was excellent, we played some very, very good football. Britt scores that goal before half-time and make it 2-0 that's a great goal as well, great touch from Braithwaite.

“But really pleased seven points, great start.”

Middlesbrough were a little less convincing after the break, though they were rarely in danger of conceding.

Aside from a header by former Middlesbrough striker Lukas Jutkiewicz, saved by Darren Randolph, Boro nullified Birmingham, with their 3-5-2 formation also used against Sheffield United working a treat.

There is now no Ben Gibson to call on, but three-man defence marshalled by beanpole Aden Flint between Dael Fry and George Friend worked well, providing a platform for Downing and Ryan Shotton to fly down the wings.

Shotton even hit the crossbar, though it was unintentional and may not have counted had it been on target, because it came from a long throw misjudged by goalkeeper Connal Trieman.

The long throw is classic Pulis, and while Middlesbrough previously perhaps relied too heavily on Adama Traore for creativity, there is now a greater balance to the team, and in midfield Howson was industrious as was Lewis Wing, the former Shildon player again proving he is up to the task.

Howson had a shot from inside the penalty area cleared off the line by Birmingham captain Michael Morrison, before teeing up Assombalonga, but the striker poked wide at a stretch.

Braithwaite, having scored in the team’s first two games, did not come close to another goal, but he did provide the link between midfield and attack, the Danish international occasionally showing glimpses of class which would be a huge asset in the Championship.

Pulis did not rule out him leaving before the European transfer window, saying: “Martin's one of them, if he stays he's very much part of it.

“As you've seen he's got very good quality, he can do stuff, if he wants to leave and the deal’s right....

“I think this is a fabulous football club, smashing people here and I want people who want to be at the football club and Martin's, same as all of them, they are welcome to stay.”

It was a day to forget for humdrum Birmingham and Garry Monk on his Riverside return.

The former Middlesbrough manager’s team ended the match with ten men following the an 82nd minute red card for Craig Gardner after a challenge on Howson in the middle of Birmingham’s half.

Monk concluded that, much like his time on Teesside, his team had not been good enough.

He said: “A lot of endeavour and fight and commitment but it is a league that demands you be on your game from the start and, especially away from home against one of the better teams with the demands on them to get promotion, you have to be on your game and in the first half we were not and we caused our own problems. It was 1-0 and they could have maybe scored another to be honest.

“We were much better in the second half, without being at our best, but it is very early days we have new players and we will get better.”