Middlesbrough effort applauded but they need to make own luck after defeat to Bristol City

Boro missed a golden opportunity to pull clear of the bottom three after Hull City, Huddersfield Town and Charlton Athletic were all beaten.

The Robins led at the break after two fine goals from Nakhi Wells and Jamie Patterson before the former Town and Bradford City striker sealed the win with a third in the second half.

Britt Assombalonga pulled a goal back for the hosts and Warnock credited the effort his players put in, as they prepare to face Reading on Tuesday evening.

“I know one thing, the players are trying. They are trying their hardest,” insisted Warnock.

“Nobody can tell me that they don’t care when you see what the dressing room was like after.

“We need to get the disappointment behind us and get ready for the Reading game now.”

Dael Fry missed a golden chance to draw level following Wells’s opener but nearly put the ball into the back of the stand from eight yards out. George Saville had a header tipped onto the bar and Warnock lamented the missed opportunities.

“You can see why the confidence is low but goals change games,” he added. “Dael’s chance, when you watch it back you don’t know how he has missed that, and neither does Dael. We need to make our own luck.”

Middlesbrough: Stojanovic; Spence, Shotton (Tavernier 66), Fry, Friend, Johnson; McNair (McNair 77), Howson (Clayton 83), Saville (Wing 45); Fletcher (Roberts 66), Assombalonga. Unused substitutes: Dijksteel, Morrison, Nmecha, Pears.

Bristol City: Bentley; Kalas, Baker. Benkovic; Dasilva, Smith, Weimann, Paterson (Nagy 87), Hunt (Vyner 87); Wells (O’Dowda 83), Diedhiou (Watkins 82). Unused substitutes: Eliasson, Rowe, Wollacott, Mssengo.

Referee: D England.

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