Middlesbrough thumped Birmingham City 4-1 at St Andrew’s in the Championship today.
Aitor Karanka’s side have endured a mixed first-half of the season but they looked to be on the right track today when they took an early lead through Maxime Colin.
Middlesbrough though would bite back – they scored two in quick succession through Britt Assombalonga and George Saville to take a 2-1 lead into half-time.
A Neil Etheridge blunder in the second would make for a third, with Lewis Wing scoring the fourth for Boro who climb into the top-six with the win.
READ: Neil Lennon’s Celtic update ‘further’ suggests January move for Championship ace
For Birmingham, they remain in 17th.
A third-straight defeat leaves a bitter taste for Blues fans over Christmas and one player stuck out as particularly bad today – Marc Roberts.
The 30-year-old made his 17th Championship appearance of the season today and seems to be a favoured name under Karanka. Why though, Birmingham fans aren’t sure.
See what they had to say on Twitter about the defender’s performance today:
Karanka loves playing Roberts for his height, but we’re losing defensive organisation and solidify as a result. It isn’t worth it #bcfc
— ToweringZigic (@ToweringZigic) December 19, 2020
Whilst he hasn’t made any clear cut errors, it’s clear to see our defence is considerably weaker with Roberts instead of Friend at CB #bcfc
— Joe Hinton (@joephinton) December 19, 2020
I’ve said it for a while, the whole back 4 needs tearing up and starting again. Colin, Dean, Roberts and Pedersen are not to the standard you need even to be midtable. I’m afraid Clayton/San Jose are way off. Feel sorry for Karanka #BCFC #KRO
— Gary J. Richards (@TheGJRichards) December 19, 2020
Funny enough, Marc Roberts again.
— George (@bcfcgeorge03) December 19, 2020
https://twitter.com/landolotsof/status/1340319796974510083?s=20
https://twitter.com/everythingbcfc/status/1340320845873426434?s=20
I’d be absolutely fuming seeing Marc Roberts playing every week if I was Clarke-Salter. Roberts really hasn’t been it this season.
— Conner (@conner_1875) December 19, 2020
Would agree with Clayton. But Marc Roberts is not a championship defender
— Blues Breakdown (@blues_breakdown) December 19, 2020
