There’d be an understanding in leaving Tuesday night’s game against Stoke City feeling disappointed.

Though Middlesbrough managed to stretch their unbeaten start to the new season to eight games - surpassing Bryan Robson’s 1994-95 promotion-winning side in the process - while maintaining their spot at the top of the Championship table, it’s fair to say that, once again, Boro were not at their best.

If we’re being honest, that’s been the case in the last few games now. The difference on Tuesday in comparison to other games, however, is that Boro’s better moments in the game were previously coming in the second half and through to the end. Turning a game around will always feel more positive than starting a game well before falling off, which is what Boro did against Stoke.

Rob Edwards

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