Middlesbrough show Championship promotion credentials ahead of Leeds United challenge

CHAMPIONSHIP tests won’t come much more challenging than this for Middlesbrough.

As if coming up against a Burnley side that were unbeaten and had conceded just two goals in eight home games wasn’t enough of an examination of Boro’s promotion credentials, Michael Carrick’s side also had the small matter of negotiating Storm Darragh.

Swirling winds made Friday night’s game at Turf Moor borderline unplayable at times, but Boro weren’t blown off course. Instead, they may well have felt the more disappointed of the two sides at the outcome, a 1-1 draw.

Carrick’s side led thanks to Anfernee Dijksteel’s 13th minute opener but were pegged back eight minutes before half-time when Seny Dieng, restored to the side in place of Sol Brynn, was caught off his line and desperately backtracked but was unable to keep out a looping shot from former Boro loanee Connor Roberts.

At that stage, with Burnley having had the better of the opening period, Boro would have gladly accepted a point, but they didn’t play like a team intent on protecting what they had in the second half. Instead, they carved out a string of chances with George Edmundson, Tommy Conway, Delano Burgzorg and substitute Emmanuel Latte Lath all missing opportunities. Still, a draw away at a Burnley side that have now lost just twice in 19 games will still be deemed a good result and is a decent start to a hectic and potentially decisive spell. It’s Leeds next.

Not since April 2019 had Dijksteel scored a league goal, his last coming in a League One game for Charlton Athletic against Scunthorpe. But the right-back showed the composure and class of a seasoned striker to take Dan Barlaser’s fine defence splitting pass under his spell before swivelling and calmly lifting the ball over Burnley keeper James Trafford.

It was just Dijksteel’s third goal of his career and just the third goal Burnley had conceded on home turf so far this season, the opener all the more surprising considering how the opening stages had played out.

Cagey would be an understatement. Neither goalkeeper had touched the ball and both sides had only managed one touch in the opposition box in the first 10 minutes.

It was only the second time this season Burnley had conceded the opening goal at Turf Moor but, despite being in unfamiliar territory, the Clarets responded well. Dieng was fortunate to see the ball flash over the bar after he failed to hold on to a Josh Cullen strike, before Jaidon Anthony failed to make the most of a free-kick right on the edge of the box, his tame low shot hitting the wall.

The ball had to stay on the deck, for the minute it was lifted high the swirling wind had its way and made the dropping destination a guessing game. Ben Doak was disciplined rather than dangerous in the early stages but showed Burnley why previous defences have been running scared when he weaved in from the left and flashed a low strike just wide of Trafford’s right post.

As filthy as the conditions were and taking nothing away from Roberts, Dieng will have been disappointed with Burnley’s leveller. The keeper was a few yards off his line, which meant he was backtracking and unable to stop the defender’s looping leveller. That said, Roberts was still allowed to get into a shooting position unopposed, strolling past Hackney.  Hackney attempted to make amends in the final seconds of the first half but Trafford managed to keep hold of his shot.

Burnley will have felt that being level at the break was the least they deserved but they were fortunate that was still the case come the hour mark.

In the absence of Aidan Morris, Barlaser has taken his chance in midfield and was good again at Turf Moor. After creating the first goal, he almost had a second assist when his fine floated free-kick was met by the unmarked Edmundson, whose header went just the wrong side of the far post.

More Boro chances swiftly followed. Conway opened up his body but shot straight at Trafford, then Burgzorg followed suit after excellent build-up involving Hackney and Borges.

Scott Parker turned to his bench and introduced two fresh forwards in Zian Flemming and Hannibal but it was Boro’s attackers who were causing the problems. Doak ran the full length of the pitch on the counter but was caught in two minds and his eventual shot was blocked.

The impressive Diksteel, who’d started the Doak breakaway, then got involved and flashed a low drive across the face of the goal.

At the other end, Fry – making just his second start after a 10-month lay-off – was superb. He made a brilliant block to deny substitute Hannibal after a rare Burnley second half attack.

Latte Lath was introduced and almost made an instant impact, racing away to meet a superb Azaz pass but denied by Trafford when he tried to round the keeper with his first touch.