NEIL WARNOCK already knew he had to reshape a sizeable chunk of his Middlesbrough squad this summer – today’s 2-0 defeat at Barnsley will surely have convinced him that he needs to add a new goalkeeper to his list of transfer requirements.

Marcus Bettinelli has been Boro’s number one all season since joining on loan from Fulham, and is likely to be available for a permanent transfer this summer as his contract at Craven Cottage comes to an end.

However, if Warnock wasn’t already looking elsewhere, he will be tempted to after Bettinelli’s error-strewn display was a major factor in Boro’s undoing at Oakwell.

The Teessiders had battled gamely against Barnsley’s physical approach for the opening hour, with Grant Hall and Paddy McNair both excellent at the heart of the back four.

However, their work proved in vain when Bettinelli’s failure to make any contact with the ball from a corner resulted in Alex Mowatt opening the scoring.

The Boro keeper collided with Paddy McNair as he tried to clear from inside his own six-yard box, and appeared to commit another bad mistake three minutes later.

Daryl Dike, who scored Barnsley’s second goal with a diving header, was galloping clear when Bettinelli came haring off his line, and the visiting shot-stopper appeared to bring the striker down as he challenged for the ball.

Had referee Keith Stroud awarded free-kick, he would almost certainly have had to follow it with a red card.

As it was, Bettinelli survived, but his mistake had already proved decisive. Come the end of the season, he will almost certainly be on his way out of the Riverside.