Middlesbrough feel the absence of key men as winning run ends in Blackburn Rovers defeat

Middlesbrough missed key players as their unbeaten run came to a stuttering end in a 1-0 home defeat to Blackburn Rovers.

Missing the guile of Finn Azaz in particular, Boro lacked their usual tempo and cutting edge before a late Dom Hyam goal ended their three-game winning run and condemned them to a frustrating defeat. Not without controvery too, with replays showing Hyam was offside when the ball was played across.

That doesn't excuse their own performance though, as they felt the absences of key men. In total, they were without four of their usual starters and, having lost Delano Burgzorg to injury, lost Riley McGree early on to injury too, in what proved disruptive to their rhythm and recent form.

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Michael Carrick was forced into two changes for the game after illness continued to afflict the squad in the aftermath of the Oxford victory. With Seny Dieng still not able to return, Sol Brynn retained his place in goal. And with Azaz and Burgzorg also missing out, Tommy Conway and McGree came into the starting 11.

It was a slow start to the game for both sides as stoppages for either side disrupted the flow of the game. The most impactful of them saw Boro lose McGree in just the 19th minute to add to their notable absentees.

It was Azaz who they were particularly missing though. Regularly swarmed in the middle of the pitch by Blackburn, they just didn’t manage to move through the lines quick enough, with the usual link play from Azaz in the hole an obvious factor.

That in turn meant they couldn’t find Ben Doak often enough in opportune areas as the Liverpool loanee grew ever more frustrated as the first half wore on. Beyond a couple of half chances, Emmanuel Latte Lath’s header from a good Neto Borges cross, which he just couldn’t direct on target, was as close as Boro came in an easy 45 minutes for Boro academy graduate Aynsley Pears in the Blackburn goal.

The stoppages may have impacted Boro’s rhythm, but the same could not be said for the visitors. They were looking increasingly bright and, as Boro’s struggles in the middle of the pitch continued, their tails rose ever more.

Their best chance of the first half saw Ty Dolan ghost into the penalty area and head wide unmarked in a chance he really should have scored. Rovers continued to push and look the more likely of the two sides before the interval, though to Boro’s credit, Brynn didn’t have a notable save to make either.

There were better signs from Boro early in the second half. With more of an emphasis on the left of their attack given the attention Doak was getting, Boro looked more urgent and started to put pressure on Blackburn.

The visitors were proving a stubborn and organised defence to break down though. Neto Borges headed one just wide after 50 minutes but that was as close as Boro got in the first 20 minutes as many positive openings and nearly moments didn’t quite transpire into anything meaningful enough for them.

Blackburn offered less in the second half but were almost gifted a goal 20 minutes from time. George Edmundson’s ball out of defence was sloppy and Ty Dolan thought he’d put Todd Cantwell through on goal to score. The linesman’s flag denied them the opener after a smart finish.

Up at the other end, Boro’s best opening of the game came moments later. A well-executed counter offered Doak a rare opportunity to drive towards the final third. He cut it back to the edge of the box where Micah Hamilton picked up space, but he blazed his first-time effort well over the bar.

Boro were punished moments later. On 77 minutes the visitors were rewarded for their defensive solidity as they found a way in behind Boro. Todd Cantwell got in the box from the left in behind and was able to slide it across the face of goal to allow Hyam to easily tap in.

With time running out, Boro needed a quick response. They almost had it when Dan Barlaser and Emmanuel Latte Lath combined well with a one-two on the edge of the box before finding Doak as he arrived into the area. He created half a yard before smashing one at goal. He beat Pears but not the post as it rattled the woodwork.

It would prove as close as Boro would come as their winning run came to an end. A disappointing home defeat came on a night when it just didn’t quite drop for them. Missing the positivity and energy of either one of Hayden Hackney or Aidan Morris in midfield, and the link up play of Azaz or McGree in the final third, Boro didn’t ever quite look convincing.

It was a poor game overall with few chances for either side. Blackburn found one and left with all three points. Boro do at least stay in the top six, but miss an opportunity to push closer to the top two. Carrick will be hoping he has some fresh reinforcements for Saturday when managerless Hull City visit.