Middlesbrough ratings vs Blackburn sum up a below-par performance with one player offering little

Middlesbrough’s three-game winning run came to an end in controversial circumstances as they lost 1-0 to an offside Blackburn Rovers goal.

With 13 minutes remaining, Dom Hyam tapped in Todd Cantwell’s cross at the back post, but replays showed the Rovers midfielder was in an offside position as the ball was played across.

That being said, it was an evening in which, without a number of key men, Boro struggled to find their usual rhythm. Here’s how the Boro players rated.

Sol Brynn - 6

In a poor game, he was hardly tested and couldn’t do anything with the goal which was ultimately scored from an offside position.

Luke Ayling - 6

Solid enough dealing with Cantwell before letting him in behind in the crucial moment. Could have done better with one or two attacking crosses too.

George Edmundson - 7

One sloppy moment aside which didn’t prove costly, he was solid at the back as Blackburn were restricted to very few chances.

Matt Clarke - 7

Similar to Edmundson. He put in some big tackles and headers and is unfortunate to leave on the losing side.

Neto Borges - 6

Carrick tasked his left-back with trying to get more involved from an attacking point of view in the second half. He tried but ultimately struggled to make much of an impact beyond one early headed opportunity.

Dan Barlaser - 6

After a solid game at Oxford, this was a disappointing one from Barlaser who just had one or two too many sloppy moments with the ball to disrupt the flow enough in key moments. Kept going and did pick some highlight-reel passes to no avail.

Jonny Howson - 6

Of the two midfielders, he tried to be the one forcing the issue in a way that Hayden Hackney might, with driving runs forward. It’s not a natural thing for Howson though as he struggled to make an impact.

Ben Doak - 6

The Liverpool loanee missed Azaz picking up the ball and feeding him quickly while taking some attention away from him. Boro ultimately didn’t get the ball to him quickly enough or in opportune moments which meant he struggled to make much of an impact. He kept going on almost found an equaliser when he smashed the post.

Tommy Conway - 5

Struggled in the ten role to provide the same link that Azaz does between midfield and attack. And that absent from Boro’s play, along with any kind of flow at all, Boro ultimately failed to create much of note for Conway to work with. His effort couldn’t be faulted, but his return to the ten role proved unsuccessful.

Riley McGree - N/A

Had to be withdrawn after an early injury. Frustrating for the Australian and Boro missed him, with no Azaz either to link midfield to attack.

Emmanuel Latte Lath - 6

Similar to Conway in that his chances were few and far between because of Boro’s lack of creativity or control on the night. He worked hard to fashion a couple of half chances for himself and headed his best opening from Borges cross wide in a frustrating evening.

Substitutions

Micah Hamilton (For McGree, 19’) - 5 - Off the bench early after McGree’s injury, he continued to struggle in a Boro shirt as he offered so little in attack.

Anfernee Dijksteel (For Ayling, 81’) - N/A

Alex Gilbert (For Howson, 81’) - N/A

Marcus Forss (For Latte Lath, 86’) - N/A