The key debating points from Boro’s Riverside draw

Britt Assombalonga’s second-half strike levelled the scores, and kept Boro in the play-off positions. What were the main debating points from the game at the Riverside?

A CASE FOR THE DEFENCE

A combination of injury and suspension have forced Tony Pulis to shuffle his defence on a regular basis in the last few weeks.

Boro have switched from five at the back to a flat back four – sometimes during the same game – but with all his defenders available, it was telling that Pulis reverted to what is unquestionably his first-choice line-up.

Daniel Ayala played superbly alongside Aden Flint at the heart of the back four, and for all that Danny Batth has filled in admirably, the pair look Boro’s best central-defensive partnership.

Ryan Shotton returned to replace Dael Fry at right-back, and his defensive acumen, coupled with his long throws, made an immediate impact.

BRAITHWAITE AWAY?

Not only did Martin Braithwaite fail to make Middlesbrough’s starting line-up on Saturday – the Danish forward was not even on the bench, with Pulis admitting he selected Marcus Tavernier ahead of him. That will surely mean Braithwaite leaving when the transfer window reopens in January.

He tried to push through a move to Spain in the summer, and while he knuckled down to produce some decent performances at the start of the season, Pulis has clearly been unhappy with his efforts in the last few weeks.

With a major overhaul planned for the turn of the year, Braithwaite will be one of the players who is sacrificed. As an established international who does not turn 28 until next summer, he should not be short of suitors.

A BRITT OF ALRIGHT

What should we make of Britt Assombalonga? The £15m man scored a cracker to haul his side level, but missed a sitter when the flag had gone up for offside and then failed to make the most of a golden opportunity with five minutes left.

Pulis could have hailed Assomablonga a hero when he spoke after the game, but instead, he once again chose to damn his side’s leading goalscorer with faint praise: “Britt scored a great goal, but there were two other chances too. The last chance at the end, really and truthfully, without being too critical, you’ve got to score those opportunities.”

Pulis clearly harbours major reservations about Assombalonga’s conversion rate, but the 26-year-old remains a much more reliable goalscorer than either Jordan Hugill or the injured Rudy Gestede. As a result, does it really make sense to keep naming him on the bench?

BESIC LETS HIMSELF DOWN

Mo Besic has had a pretty good season at the heart of the Middlesbrough midfield, and anyone can be excused a one-off error.

However, Saturday’s aberration was not the first time that Besic’s refusal to take the easy option has caught him out. On a number of previous occasions he had dribbled towards his own goal, only to get away with it. This time, he was unable to escape unscathed.

Besic could easily have cleared his lines as he found himself in possession in his own half. Alternatively, he could have rolled an early pass into Darren Randolph. Instead, he dawdled on the ball, enabling Bradley Dack to steal possession. He then panicked and pulled his opponent’s shirt. Pulis felt Randolph might have got to the ball ahead of Dack, but in the eyes of most neutrals, it was a clear red card.

ROVERS MAKING A RETURN

There were two former Boro players in the Blackburn side, and they acquitted themselves well. Richie Smallwood outplayed his midfield opponents in the first half, although the ‘Dormanstown destroyer’ faded somewhat after the break. Danny Graham was a lively presence in attack, even if his two best efforts were saved by Darren Randolph.

Then, of course, there was Tony Mowbray. Things didn’t work out for Mogga when he returned to Teesside as a manager, but he retains a real fondness for his former club.