Middlesbrough are now on a goal-scoring spree.
Michael Carrick assumed charge of Middlesbrough in October 2022, and his team is now playing some of its greatest football in two years.
Boro are now in fifth place in the play-offs, having earned 30 points from their first 18 league games this season. Of those 18 games, 50% were victories, with three draws and six lost.
Their firepower has recently been on display, as they have scored 18 goals in their previous five games, including a 6-2 triumph against Oxford United and a 5-1 victory at home over Luton Town.
| Middlesbrough’s last five results | |
|---|---|
| Opposition | Result |
| Hull City (H) | 3-1 W |
| Blackburn Rovers (H) | 1-0 L |
| Oxford United (A) | 6-2 W |
| Luton Town (H) | 5-1 W |
| QPR (A) | 4-1 W |
Only Norwich City has scored more goals in the Championship this season than Middlesbrough, and if Boro continues to score, they might be serious promotion contenders.
This season has been a collective effort at Riverside Stadium, but three individuals have distinguished out as some of the top marksmen in the division.
Latte Lath, Conway and Azaz are banging in the goals
Middlesbrough presently has three players among the top ten Championship goalscorers. Norwich’s Borja Sainz leads the way with 15 goals, followed by West Brom’s Josh Maja with 10, but Boro players take third and fourth place.
Tommy Conway has had a successful debut season at the Riverside Stadium after arriving for the club in the summer for an estimated £4.5 million. The 22-year-old has only made nine Championship starts for Boro this season, but has already scored eight goals.
This includes braces against Norwich City and Hull City, as well as two further goals scored after coming on as a replacement. Conway is proving to be a real threat for Middlesbrough, giving Michael Carrick something to worry about in the competition for the number nine spot against Emmanuel Latte Lath.
Latte Lath has been in fantastic form recently, scoring seven goals in his past five league appearances. The striker scored on the first day of the season, but had a tough start. That’s over, and he’s found his shooting boots again, scoring a hat-trick in Boro’s 6-2 victory over Oxford United.
With seven goals, the Ivorian is fourth in the Championship Golden Boot competition, one position behind Conway.
Finn Azaz has been in top form this season. He is joint-top in the Championship in terms of assists, with seven, and joint-ninth in goals scored, with six.
Azaz has been a staple in Boro’s attacking midfield this season, contributing a total of 13 goals in his first full season at Riverside Stadium. As a trio, these three players perform consistently and are critical to Carrick’s aspirations of spearheading a successful promotion campaign.
Middlesbrough can compete for promotion
Middlesbrough has been banging on the door of promotion for the past few seasons, and this could be the year they finally return to the Premier League.
It will not be an easy assignment, as Leeds United, Burnley, Sunderland, and Sheffield United are also vying for promotion, and only three teams can advance, but current form suggests they will be right up there.
Carrick needs to improve his team’s defensive record, and he will have the opportunity to reinforce in January, but if Boro can continue to score as many goals as they do now, they might be a real threat by the end of the season.
Middlesbrough head to Burnley on Friday evening, so Conway, Latte Lath, and Azaz will be tested to see if they can deliver against the league’s strongest defence.
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