Blackburn Rovers v Middlesbrough - Neil Warnock determined to put smile back on Boro faces

The Teessiders are unbeaten in eight Championship matches – a run that will be tested at Brentford on Saturday and Blackburn Rovers tonight.

It is a far cry from the sorry team Neil Warnock inherited, but he says the improvement is down in no small part to his players’ happiness, and he is pleased they are putting smiles on supporters’ faces.

“When you’re enjoying yourself in any job you do better,” argued the veteran manager. “And our lot are enjoying it.

“I want to make sure they enjoy themselves in training.

“We have to almost be a beacon in this tragic time.

“It’s strange for me, I’m at a club and I’ve never met the fans. At Bristol City there were three Middlesbrough fans welcoming the bus into the car park and that’s how much it means to them. I just want to put smiles on faces in a difficult time.”

Warnock took over a team at a low ebb in June, faced with a post-lockdown relegation battle.

“A lot of lads were really down on confidence because they’d got used to losing,” he explained. “First you have to try and get that defeatist attitude out of the way.

“Last year was touch and go whether we went down or not. So to see the lads respond, I think they’ve really enjoyed coming back and the four or five lads I’ve brought in have helped.

“I think they’ve not just surprised me, they’ve surprised themselves.

“Now they’re at a standard, the challenge is to keep that standard up.”

Former England Under-21 forward Duncan Watmore has been training with Boro to try to win a contract, but Warnock does not expect to sign him before the international break.

“At the moment I’m not prepared to sign anybody because of the circumstances but Duncan’s aware of that and of how much I’m enjoying him training,” he explained.

Blackburn have signed a free agent, so manager Tony Mowbray might not be the only Boro legend facing them.

Stewart Downing has rejoined Blackburn, although his match fitness may not yet be up to the task tonight.

Boro will assess centre-back Dael Fry.

Last six games: Blackburn Rovers LLWLLD; Middlesbrough WWDWDW

Referee: D Webb (County Durham)

Last time: Blackburn Rovers 1, Middlesbrough 0, August 17, 2019, Championship.

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