Weight is already off Middlesbrough’s new arrival Chuba Apom, says Kevin Blackwell

New signing Chuba Akpom scored on his debut in the 1-1 draw with QPR at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, where Bright Osayi-Samuel’s equaliser earned the hosts a point.

Blackwell, who has filled in while manager Neil Warnock has been self-isolating after testing positive for coronavirus, has seen signs of progress after the struggles of last season.

He said: “We’ve been consistently doing well and were an inch away in the second half from winning that game.

“You can always nick a win but if you want to consistently win then you have to consistently put in the performances.

“The performances are always going to be the key to results and I think if we keep producing these kind of performances then we will get the results.

“If you don’t get the win when you’re away from home then you certainly don’t lose. Defensively we’ve looked a lot more organised and stronger.”

Akpom opened his account with a glancing header from Paddy McNair’s 19th-minute corner.

It was the perfect start to his Boro career for the striker who arrived from Greek club PAOK.

“It’s important as a striker that you’re seen to do your job and that job is scoring goals,” said Blackwell. “It will take a lot of weight off him psychologically, whether he thinks about it or not. Apart from Akpom and Grant Hall it’s really the same team as last season, so they’ve done really well.”

QPR: Dieng, Kakay, Dickie, Barbet, Wallace, Amos, Cameron; Thomas (Carroll 60), Chair (Smyth 73), Samuel, Dykes. Unused substitutes: Kane, Ball, Oteh, Masterson, Kelly.

Middlesbrough: Bettinelli, Dijksteel, Hall (Fry 55), McNair, Howson; Spence (Morsy 64), Tavernier, Saville, Johnson, Assombalonga, Akpom. Unused substitutes: Wing, Browne, Bola, Coulson, Pears.

Referee: D Whitestone (Northants).

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James Mitchinson