We calculate how many points Boro have dropped this season through gifting the opposition results and not winning games they should have.
This season, Middlesbrough has a dreadful tendency of finding ways to lose games.
It was on full display again against Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day. They were three goals ahead at halftime, but they utterly disintegrated after the break and just managed to hold on to a point with ten men.
The setback puts promotion-chasing Boro one point outside the play-off places and 12 points behind the top two, exacerbating the frustration of Boro’s bad habit in what had been a season of opportunity in a weaker Championship battle in recent years. At the midway point of the season, we look at how costly Boro’s bad habit has been so far.
You could argue that Boro dropped all three points here because, despite dominating the game from start to finish, they failed to capitalize on their 71% possession and convert any of their 20 shots. They should have left Pride Park with a point, but instead they left empty-handed as Isaiah Jones’ blunder allowed the hosts to score the winner.
Boro were heavy favourites at home against Championship newcomers, but they had to come from behind twice to draw with Portsmouth. Again, they should have won the game after having 70% possession and 30 shots on goal. They gave the visitors a second lead in a humorous way when Seny Dieng and Matt Clarke competed for a loose ball in the air, leaving Christian Saydee with an open goal.
Boro did not do enough at the Stadium of Light to claim victory, but they did enough to earn a point. There was some luck in the way the ball eventually dropped to Chris Rigg for the game’s only goal, but Boro’s main problem in this one was failing to finish their chances. They had 63% possession and generated several great opportunities with their 12 shots on target in the contest. They simply couldn’t convert to give their opponents all three points.
Watford 2-1 Middlesbrough – three points dropped
Boro, like Sheffield Wednesday, lost control of the game due to poor game management, and as a result, they gave up the victory. Boro led 1-0 with George Edmundson’s goal until the 75th minute. To that point, it had been an excellent away performance. Boro abruptly crumbled in the final 15 minutes, with two late Watford goals turning three points into zero in the blink of an eye.
Middlesbrough 0-2 Bristol City – one point dropped
By this point, Boro’s inability to capitalize on their superiority in games was costing them heavily. Boro lost the game despite having many golden opportunities early on.
Norwich City 3–3 Middlesbrough – two points dropped
After falling behind, Boro responded emphatically at Carrow Road, leading 3-1 at halftime. This was another case of losing control and failing to manage a situation better, as Norwich scored in the 71st and 80th minutes to balance out Boro’s efforts up to that point. Boro needed to defend their lead much better.
Middlesbrough 0-3 Coventry City: one point dropped.
This one is the most difficult to measure in terms of how many points they lost because the costly part was Hayden Hackney’s red card for two bookable offences in the 24th minute. Boro fought strongly on the day, implying that they could have won all three points without the man disadvantage. Coventry’s extra man made a significant difference in a 3-0 defeat.
Burnley 1–1 Middlesbrough – two points dropped.
In many ways, a draw was a fair outcome in this one, since both teams dominated one half each. Having saying that, Boro seized the lead in the first half before enduring intense pressure and defending admirably. They were held back by a wind-aided goal but should never have beaten Seny Dieng, who was caught too far off his line. Boro then needed at least three glorious second-half chances to secure what would have and should have been a massive victory.
Middlesbrough 3-3 Sheffield Wednesday, two points dropped.
If you want to win a promotion, you can’t only draw games while you’re up 3-0 at halftime. The 16 minutes following the restart are among the most perplexing you’ll ever watch, as Boro utterly crumbled, losing their lead and control of the game. It was another evidence of Boro’s frail underbelly and inability to navigate difficult situations in matches.
In conclusion.
This isn’t every game in which Boro has dropped points; rather, it’s the games in which they had realistic expectations based on performance to have gained more, only to be disappointed due to their own actions. In that sense, it is subjective.
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