How did the players fare in Middlesbrough's 2-0 defeat at Barnsley?


BARNSLEY (3-4-2-1):

Collins 6; Sibbick 6, Helik 7, Andersen 7; Brittain 6, Palmer 4 (Halme 56, 5), MOWATT 8, Styles 6; Frieser 5 (Morris 46, 6), Woodrow 5 (Chaplin 56, 5); Dike 7.

Subs (not used): Walton (gk), Williams, Oduor, Sollbauer, Adeboyejo, Moon.


MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1):

3 Bettinelli: Committed a howler as he missed his punch from Mowatt’s corner and was fortunate not to be dismissed as he halted Dike’s run

5 Fisher: Made some important challenges on the right of the back four, but his delivery into the box was poor

7 HALL: Boro’s best player as he stood up to Dike’s physical challenge and won a succession of important headers

6 McNair: Didn’t concede an inch despite Barnsley’s route-one approach, but struggled to stem the flow of opposition attacks in the second half

5 Bola: Carried out his defensive work reasonably effectively at left-back, but wasn’t able to offer anything in the Barnsley half

5 Saville: Wasted Boro’s best chance of the game when he looped a tame header straight at Collins in the first half

6 Howson: Found himself fighting a losing battle at the heart of midfield, but as usual, his effort couldn’t be faulted

4 Spence: Hasn’t really kicked on at all this season – didn’t seem comfortable trying to handle Barnsley’s physical approach

5 Watmore: Displayed his usual energy in the ‘number ten’ role, but wasn’t able to make an impact in the Barnsley box

4 Kebano: Bitterly disappointing as he failed to offer anything from the right-hand side – his loan move hasn’t really gone as planned

4 Akpom: Didn’t really get involved before he was replaced midway through the second half – was brushed off the ball far too easily


Subs:

4 Assombalonga (for Watmore, 68): Didn’t do anything to suggest that Warnock has been wrong to sideline him in recent weeks

4 Bolasie (for Kebano, 68): Was touted as the saviour of Boro’s season, but hasn’t been able to make a significant impact since signing

4 Fletcher (for Akpom, 68): If this proves to be the tail-end of his time on Teesside, he is leaving with a whimper

Johnson (for Bola, 79)

Coulson (for Spence, 79)

(not used): Archer (gk).


Man Of The Match: ALEX MOWATT – His goal direct from a corner might have been fortuitous, but the Championship’s Player of the Month for March was still the best player on the pitch.