WATFORD, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Tom Cleverley newly appointed interim head coach at Watford FC gives his first press conference at the clubs training ground in London Colney on March 14, 2024 in Watford, England. (Photo by Alan Cozzi/Watford FC/Getty Images)
Last season deja vu concern that Middlesbrough must step up to avoid after Watford defeat
Boro’s start to the season gives a worrying sense of deja vu
When Middlesbrough threw away a lead to lose at Watford on Saturday they surrendered an opportunity to spend the international break in the top six having build up a head of steam in the seven days prior.
Wins over Stoke City and West Brom offered real hope that Boro were starting to click and build some momentum towards looking like the side everyone had tipped them to be this season. Instead, the same old problem come back to bite again as Boro failed to make their dominance count for more than a vulnerable one-goal lead that was overturned in 15 self-destructive minutes.
While frustrating, particularly with the manner of the defeat, there can still be a lot of positives to be taken from, not just the Watford game, but that week as a whole. Rebounding from disappointing results against Preston North End and Sunderland, picking up six points from the nine available last week made for a good recovery to keep Boro within touching distance.
