MIDDLESBROUGH 0 WATFORD 1

TWO years ago, Middlesbrough’s failure to beat Watford in either of the two sides’ games highlighted the frailties that ultimately resulted in the Teessiders failing to make it into the Premier League. Today, their struggles against the same opponents flagged up many of the deficiencies that could well result in them heading back to the Championship.

Now above the relegation zone only on goal difference, and still without a Premier League home win since 2009, these are troubled times on Teesside, with the momentum generated by last season’s successful promotion campaign having all but disappeared.

It is not that Boro are being outclassed in the top-flight, or even that they look like collapsing defensively. A tally of seven goals from eight matches tells its own story though, with today’s impotent attacking display representing a new low.

Boro’s only shot on target was an almost-apologetic side-foot from Adam Forshaw that rolled towards Heurelho Gomes midway through the second half. Either side of that, there was nothing, and even when the Teessiders were supposedly throwing caution to the wind in the dying seconds, there were still occasions when crosses were being delivered with just two men in the box.

That surely has to change, and for all that Aitor Karanka can point to his side’s organisation and solidity as corner-stones of last season’s success, they are insufficient to trouble better teams in the top-flight.

Jose Holebas’ match-winning strike was something of a bolt from the blue, but Watford were always the more threatening side, and while Middlesbrough’s fans were incensed by the performance of referee Roger East, it was their own team’s failings that were ultimately decisive.

The current system is simply not working when it comes to creating opportunities in the final third, and Karanka either needs to encourage his players to take more risks in the opposition penalty area or rip up his current template and come up with a new formation that increases his side’s attacking threat. Given his inherent conservatism, the worry is that neither will happen.

Alvaro Negredo’s limitations are becoming more obvious with every game, and for all that Karanka likes to talk of the striker’s former £30m price tag, his lack of mobility helps explains why he was unable to really make it at Manchester City. Might Jordan Rhodes, who was dropped after his one start at West Ham, be a better bet with an extended run in the side?

Similarly, it is surely time to start with Adama Traore on the right-hand side, rather than Cristhian Stuani, whose lack of pace means he is hardly a natural in his current position. Gaston Ramirez started the season brightly, but has lost his way markedly in the last month or so. Either Viktor Fischer or Stewart Downing would potentially offer more in the ‘number ten’ role.

For the neutrals watching on Sky Television, this was anything but a ‘Super Sunday’. While both sides were well-organised and industrious, they cancelled each other out from the outset and lacked the guile or creativity required to break down the opposition.

In truth, Watford were little better than Boro on that score, but their reluctance to over-commit could be partially excused by their status as the away side. And thanks to Holebas’ second-half rocket, they still came away with all three points.

The game was ruined as a spectacle by a succession of petty fouls, to the extent that one of the main post-match talking points was the performance of the referee.

East was booed at both the interval and full-time whistle, with Boro fans incensed at his failure to award a spot-kick despite the hosts having two strong first-half penalty appeals and the visiting contingent unhappy at his failure to dismiss Antonio Barragan for two yellow cards.

The penalty appeals came first, and in truth, neither warranted the award of a spot-kick. Younes Kaboul had his hands around Negredo as the pair wrestled for possession midway through the first half, but the Boro striker fell to the floor theatrically under little real contact.

Two minutes later, and Downing was heading the ball against Nordin Amrabat’s hand. However, given that the Watford midfielder was less than a yard away from his opponent, it was hard to claim the infringement was intentional.

Barragan’s guilt was much clearer cut, and the full-back was fortunate to remain on the field shortly after the half-hour mark. Having already been booked for a foul on Isaac Success, Barragan was outdone by the same opponent as Watford broke and hauled the winger to the floor in order to halt the counter-attack.

It was a cynical foul, but after a lengthy period of thought, East opted not to reach for a second yellow card. Plenty of other referees would not have been as lenient.

Aside from the refereeing debates, it was hard to come up with anything else of note before the interval. Downing fired a third-minute half-volley over the crossbar and Ramirez, who was recalled in place of Fischer, dragged another early effort wide of the target.

Beyond that, though, the main talking point was the ponderous nature of Boro’s attacking, which was hardly helped by Marten de Roon’s reluctance to do anything positive. Signed for £12m in the summer, the Dutchman repeatedly took the easy option and slowed up his side’s attacking.

It was the 52nd minute before Boro recorded a shot on target, and even that felt like something of an after-thought with Forshaw rolling a weak side-footed effort straight at Gomes.

Moments later, and Stuani flashed a shot into the side-netting after Negredo teed him up on the overlap, but 60 seconds after that, the hosts were behind.

De Roon’s clearance should have been claimed by Stuani, but Holebas nipped ahead of the Uruguayan to win possession. There was still an awful lot for the midfielder to do, but he produced a superb 20-yard shot that arrowed into the top corner of the net.

Negredo saw a weak header easily gathered by Gomes, but while Traore’s pace and energy provided a flurry of excitement in the final 20 minutes, there was to be no grandstand finish from the home side.

Instead, Success came close to adding a second for Watford, only to shoot straight at Victor Valdes after he cut in from the left flank.