Stoke City v Middlesbrough: Chris Wilder sees positive signs as Boro chase transfer targets

For Chris Wilder, you sense that is when the season truly will begin as he knows what he has to play with, gets his signings up to speed and can attack the division.

In the here and now, Boro must battle away in their search for points, while working feverishly behind the scenes to bring in the four players Wilder wants by the close of business on September 1.

Boro’s opening has been a bit scratchy, with some good offensive elements pockmarked by some defensive mistakes.

They have yet to win this season. But Wilder sees the bigger picture and knows what needs to be done and remains positive.

He said: “We just have to get through this little period, cut out the little mistakes that are costing us goals, and keep picking up as many points as possible.

“It’s performances, for me, I see 20 minutes at QPR, 15 minutes where we were up against it against a decent side in West Brom who put Watford on the back foot and I see us go toe to toe with arguably one of the best teams, certainly squads, in the whole division on Sunday. In the last 15-20 minutes, we completely dominated that game.

“So there is a load of good things that are happening and I’m sure they will happen off the pitch as well and that only helps to attract good players that make us better.”

Wilder remains confident of landing the players he wants.

One new name that Boro have enquired about is Preston forward Emil Riis Jakobsen, who scored three goals versus the Teessiders in 2021-22 en route to an impressive haul of 20.

North End yesterday issued a statement to reiterate they have not received any ‘acceptable’ offers for any of their players amid speculation, but stopped short of saying none were for sale.

Wilder commented: “We’re after good players. We face competition for players; clubs sometimes don’t want to let them out for the amount we are willing to offer.

“So there is an incredible amount of work and negotiating, persuading and a little bit of luck at times I think as well. But we’re confident, when that window shuts, we’ll have the players in to batten ourselves down.”

Last six games: Stoke LDLWDL; Middlesbrough WLDLLD.

Referee: M Salibury (Lancs).

Last time: Stoke 0 Middlesbrough 0, December 11, 2021; Championship.