EFL pundit praises 'outstanding' Middlesbrough duo as Neil Warnock's side bolster play-off hopes with Reading win

First-half goals from Ashley Fletcher and Marc Bola gave Boro all three points at the Madejski Stadium, moving the Teessiders to within three points of the Championship play-off places.

Boro boss Neil Warnock gathered his players together on the pitch after the match as the players performed a round of applause for midfielder Sam Morsy.

The Egyptian international was instrumental in the middle of the park and assisted his side’s second goal for Bola.

Fry’s return from a calf injury was also a big boost for the Teessiders, after Warnock heaped praise on the 23-year-old centre-back.

“Dael Fry coming back was instrumental,” said Warnock after the match. “He’s such a good player, he makes me feel good when I see him.”

Fry played a big part in Boro’s opener when he headed the ball back across goal for Fletcher to convert.

When discussing Fry’s performance on the EFL’s highlights show on Quest, pundit Dean Ashton said: “He was outstanding but Warnock must know by now that saying something like that is going to get him so much stick from the other players, Dael Fry. Poor old Paddy McNair must have gone into second place.

“It was a great header across from Fry who was outstanding, Sam Morsy as well setting up the second goal for Bola.

“They had Fletcher back as well, their top scorer from last season, he’s got two in two and things are looking up for players coming back in for Neil Warnock.”

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