Neil Warnock happy with Middlesbrough’s patient approach as he eyes striker

Despite playing 81 minutes without scoring and controlling much of the play against Coventry City tonight, Boro kept plugging away and got their rewards with a 2-0 victory.

Britt Assombalonga’s first of the season arrived when he finished off Sam Morsy’s through pass and deep in stoppage time Djed Spence rounded goalkeeper Marko Marosi to finish the job.

Warnock said: “That’s Britt when he is confident and the earlier (missed) header is Britt when he’s not confident. I am looking away thinking ‘oh my goodness’. Strikers thrive on goals and I am pleased with that.”

Warnock also revealed in his post-match press conference that Chuba Akpom will undergo a precautionary test for coronavirus after withdrawing from the squad through illness earlier in the day.

Warnock missed several matches earlier in the season after himself testing positive for Covid-19 and he said: “We don’t know about Akpom. He just didn’t feel very well. With this virus around, we couldn’t take a risk.

“We will do a test for him and make sure it’s not the virus. Cross our fingers. That’s all we can do.

“But I was pleased with a lot tonight. I knew it would be hard, the result on Saturday for Coventry (a 4-0 loss to Blackburn) with the sending-off, you knew they would come and defend in numbers.

“We had most of the chances. You just have to be patient, games you have to win by hook or by crook. We missed a few more chances second half but we deserved it.

“The hardest games are the ones you don’t expect. The Cardiffs, Bristol Citys, take care of themselves. I was really pleased with the attitude, application.”

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