A number of Middlesbrough players have taken to Twitter to send a message of defiance and unity despite allowing their rivals an opportunity to overtake them this weekend only managing a draw against an inspired Birmingham side.
Aitor Karanka had nothing but praise for his players post match, insisting they make him calm and reiterated his unerring trust in them. It has clearly given his players the fire in their belly to want to repay that faith by completing the job next week against Brighton.
However before looking at the tweets that followed the disappointment, there were some interesting tweets evident whilst the game was on, with Boro youth player Harry Chapman unable to hide his excitement as Rhodes struck Boro’s first goal….
they all count!!! RHODES!!
— Harry Chapman (@HarryChapman101) April 29, 2016
….and also a controversial tweet from an excited Mustapha Carayol who is contractually tied to Boro but currently playing for Championship rivals Leeds.
This tweet caused a bit of a twitter stir…..
Yessssssss!!! 💃🏾 come on the boys 🙏🏾
— Mustapha Carayol (@Muzza_19) April 29, 2016
The game didn’t really play out the way the fans had envisaged though and after a cruel blow was landed by Birmingham’s Davis an even more cruel delivery was issued by the linesman who waved his flag following a crisp Dani Ayala strike, despite the player being well onside.
The result meant many Boro fans endured an evening of disappointment and none more so than big Boro fan and comedian Bob Mortimer who asked the question (to a Boro stats page) of whether Boro missed their reliable left back…
https://twitter.com/RealBobMortimer/status/726396885737558018
However on reflection some Boro players still felt very positive about getting their team promotion to the Premier League with midfielder Adam Clayton sending out a rousing message to the fans..
Riverside Saturday , full house . Can't wait. Win and we have done it . Come on Boro . Proud to wear this shirt . We can do it together ⚽️⚽️
— Adam Clayton (@Clayts15) April 29, 2016
Boro’s Uruguay winger Carlos De Pena followed with a never give up message…
Caerse esta permitido, pero levantarse es OBLIGATORIO ⚽️💪🏼// A fall is permitted, but getting up is a must! pic.twitter.com/yeicqwVEHu
— Carlos de Pena (@carlosdepena) April 30, 2016
Right then 1 win and were there … Let's make a week tomorrow one of the greatest days the Riverside has seen … UTB !!!!!!
— Ben Gibson (@bengibson1993) April 29, 2016
..and finally Central defender Ben Gibson gave the sort of leadership speech fans would have hoped for with a rallying cry.
Middlesbrough will still be hopeful that Derby can pull off a result against Brighton and either way a win for Boro next week will mean a return to the Premier League so it is very much in their hands.