MIDDLESBROUGH reclaimed second position in the Championship table as they extended their unbeaten run to seven matches in all competitions with a 2-1 win at Brentford.

Jordan Hugill and Marcus Tavernier scored as Tony Pulis’ side won at Griffin Park – what were the main talking points to emerge from the game?


QUESTION MARKS OVER BRAITHWAITE’S FUTURE

On the face of it, the decision to leave out Martin Braithwaite after his international involvement with Denmark was a simple one. Braithwaite played in both of his nation’s matches during the international break, and only returned to Rockliffe Park on Thursday.

However, the fact he didn’t even figure in the 18-man squad strongly suggests Pulis thinks he can manage without him. If Braithwaite was a really crucial part of Pulis’ plans, he would surely have been on the substitutes’ bench at least?

Braithwaite made no attempt to hide his desire to leave in the summer, submitting a transfer request to try to force through a move to Leganes, and more interest is anticipated when the transfer window reopens in January.

This time, might Boro be keener to sell. The Teessiders’ recruitment team have lined up a number of attacking targets, and Braithwaite’s departure could form part of a wider overhaul.


THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT

Boro have long prided themselves on the strength of their academy, and the Rockliffe Park production line shows no sign of slowing.

There were three home-grown players in Saturday’s starting line-up, and while Stewart Downing might be coming towards the end of his career, Dael Fry and Marcus Tavernier are still at the start of their playing days.

Fry has proved a revelation at right-back, and while Ryan Shotton will probably return for Saturday’s home game with Aston Villa, Pulis now knows he has an able deputy in the position.

Tavernier has had to wait more than a year for a Championship starting spot, but he seized his opportunity with both hands at the weekend, capping a fine display with his side’s second goal.


FAREWELL TO GRIFFIN PARK

Saturday’s game could prove Boro’s final visit to Griffin Park, with Brentford due to move into a new ground at Lionel Road at the start of the next season.

Building work on the new ground, which the Bees will share with London Irish rugby club, has already begun, but Boro will be sad to see the back of Griffin Park, which has been Brentford’s home since 1904.

Saturday’s victory means Boro have now won on six of their last seven visits to Griffin Park, with the other game ending in a draw, and have not lost at Brentford’s home ground since January 1964.

There have been some memorable matches in their unbeaten sequence, with the high point undoubtedly coming courtesy of Fernando Amorebieta’s stoppage-time winner in the first leg of the play-off semi-final in 2015.


HUGILL FINDING HIS FEET

It has taken a little while, but Jordan Hugill is finally beginning to look like a £10m striker. Having produced his best performance in a Boro shirt in the 2-0 win over Wigan that preceded the international break, the Teessider impressed again as he was preferred to both Britt Assombalonga and Rudy Gestede.

He could still be more clinical – the first-half chance that was spurned as he shot straight at Darren Bentley was a bad miss – but his sharpness in front of goal is slowly returning and he opened the scoring with a neat finish after sprinting on to Jonny Howson’s pass.

His hold-up play is undoubtedly his biggest strength, and with Boro lacking pace and power from midfield, his ability to outmuscle opposition defenders is a key part of the Teessiders’ game.


REMEMBERING ROBERT ROWAN

It was an emotional evening at Griffin Park as Brentford paid tribute to their former technical director, Robert Rowan, who died earlier this month at the age of 28.

Rowan, who joined Brentford in 2014 after working with Celtic and the Scottish FA, was clearly a popular figure, who had become a key part of the Bees’ innovative off-field set-up.