Swansea City v Middlesbrough - Come and join us, says Neil Warnock

NEIL WARNOCK will look across to Swansea City’s forward line and cast an envious glance or two.
In form: Swansea City's Andre Ayew scores their side's second goal from the penalty spot against Stoke. Picture: Nick Potts/PAIn form: Swansea City's Andre Ayew scores their side's second goal from the penalty spot against Stoke. Picture: Nick Potts/PA
In form: Swansea City's Andre Ayew scores their side's second goal from the penalty spot against Stoke. Picture: Nick Potts/PA

The Middlesbrough manager has made no secret of his belief that Boro’s lack of strike power will probably cost them in the final analysis this season in their play-off quest – unless things drastically change.

Going for automatic promotion, Swansea have no such problems with Andre Ayew – out of contract this summer – and Jamal Lowe having got 20 league goals between them.

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Equally, Warnock has made no bones about the fact that bringing in a couple of fresh forward options in the summer is his overwhelming priority after committing to the club next season.

He said: “You have hope your strikers can cause them problems and hope that your defenders can cope with the strike-force they have got.

“They have got Ayew. Although whether they will be able to keep him next season, I am not sure as obviously I am aware of what wages he is on.

“But he is a good player and, in fairness, his attitude has been brilliant and he has not moaned about wanting to be here, there and everywhere.

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“He is ‘horrible’ at times, but I love it and I think he’s a great player. So if he goes find himself short of a club next season, he’s quite welcome to come up here.”

A controversial late penalty winner from Ayew at Stoke in midweek maintained the Swans’ top-two bid, with Warnock quipping that they are also receiving the fortune all promotion aspirants require.

That said, Swansea did not have it their own way in the reverse fixture in early December when Boro claimed victory.

The win put Boro within two points of the Swans. Now they are 12 points behind them.

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He added: “They are a good side. He (Steve Cooper) has got a good group of players and they have done ever so well. As you saw the other night, you need a little bit of... I don’t know what to say without getting into trouble.

“They won the game in the ‘94th minute’. I blame Kevin Blackwell really because he gave Kyle Naughton his debut (at Sheffield United), so he must be teaching him to go down.

“So it was Kevin Blackwell’s fault. I was quite embarrassed when I saw it.”

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