How did the players fare in Middlesbrough's home defeat to Bristol City?
MIDDLESBROUGH (5-3-2):
4 Stojanovic: Should have done much better when he was beaten by Paterson at his front post for Bristol City’s second goal
4 Spence: Looked hesitant in the wake of his midweek injury at Millwall and got into some poor positions when Bristol City broke upfield
3 Fry: Couldn’t deal with the City attack and wasted Boro’s best chance of the game when he blazed over in the first half
5 Shotton: Was far from rock solid in defence, but threatened to cause a problem with a succession of long throws in the first half
4 Friend: Continues to struggle when up against pacy, mobile forwards – couldn’t handle Wells’ movement around the box
4 Johnson: Delivered some dangerous set-pieces, but his defensive positioning was poor and he conceded possession cheaply
5 Saville: Would have scored had Bentley not produced a fine save to tip his first-half header onto the crossbar
5 Howson: Tried to hold things together at the base of midfield but couldn’t prevent Weimann from passing around him
4 McNair: Was supposed to be the most attacking of Boro’s midfielders, but never looked like getting into the Bristol City box
4 Fletcher: Couldn’t maintain the standards he has been setting since lockdown – didn’t really have a sniff of a chance
5 Assombalonga: Was a spectator for 80 minutes, but produced an excellent low finish from the one chance that came his way
Subs:
6 WING (for Saville, 46): At least tried to get Boro moving forward in the second half – has to have a good chance of starting at Reading
5 Tavernier (for Fletcher, 65): Is another player who is pushing for a starting spot – Boro could have done with his energy in the first half
5 Roberts (for Shotton, 65): Added an attacking threat down the right, but wasted an excellent opening when he paused before shooting
Coulson (for McNair, 77)
Clayton (for Howson, 82)
(not used): Pears (gk), Dijksteel, Morrison, Nmecha.
BRISTOL CITY (5-3-2):
Bentley 7; Hunt 8 (Vyner 86), Benkovic 8, Kalas 7, Baker 7, Dasilva 7; WEIMANN 9, Smith 7, Paterson 8 (Nagy 86); Wells 8 (O’Dowda 82), Diedhiou 7 (Watkins 82).
Subs (not used): Wollacott (gk), Eliasson, Rowe, Massengo.
Man Of The Match: ANDREAS WEIMANN – The Bristol City midfielder set up all three of his side’s goals and sliced apart the Middlesbrough defence on countless occasions.
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