Middlesbrough’s defeat against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane could be seen as worrying for more reasons than one.
Middlesbrough were solid and created plenty of opportunities in the first half, but fell flat in the second. The game was brought to life in three second half minutes, with centre-back Richard Stearman putting the home side ahead in the 61st, and Boro defender Dani Ayala given his marching orders after being shown a second yellow card just moments later.
Ayala’s dismissal meant Dael Fry and George Friend, a natural left-back, were the centre-back pairing after Aden Flint had gone off due to injury before half-time.
With a difficult trip to Ewood Park to face Blackburn on the horizon, Middlesbrough only have one centre-back fit for the game this weekend.
Fry has come on leaps and bounds since breaking into the first team in 2014 as a 17-year old, but he does look more assured alongside the likes of Flint and Ayala. George Friend on the other hand, has only played at centre-back in a back five, where he is still given licence to roam forwards.
The likeliest of options will be for Ryan Shotton to play inside, with Paddy McNair deputising at right-back. Shotton was originally signed as a centre-back, and played there early in his Middlesbrough career under previous-manager Garry Monk.
Tony Pulis confirmed that Flint will be missing in action for around ‘three to four weeks’, but Ayala’s return can’t come soon enough, with the Spaniard expecting to come back into the fold for next week’s game against QPR.
