'Humour, passion, insight': Inside Neil Warnock's excellent post-match press conference after Barnsley win

“I get talking don’t I” said Warnock after his media briefing following Boro’s 2-1 win over Barnsley, his 1,500th game in the dugout. You get the impression he could speak about football all day.

His words have meaning too. From his dressing room insight, revealing that Dael Fry was given a round of applause post match, to his humour and quick wit. Warnock’s interviews are always worth a watch.

This was the Teessiders’ first league win of the season, after goals from Jonny Howson and Chuba Akpom either side of half-time. It was a deserved one too, following some decent performances which haven’t quite led to three points.

Warnock and his staff have been forced to adapt this season due to injuries and struggles in the transfer window, with Paddy McNair and Anfernee Dijksteel moving into a back three.

"If you’d have said that Dijksteel and Paddy were going to be my number one centre halves, you’d be thinking One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,” said Warnock when asked by the Mail about Boro’s defensive situation.

That reference was indead lost on me. “You haven’t seen that film have you?” asked Warnock. “It’s a bit too old for you son, have a look at that one. Jack Nicholson unbelievable.”

This was the first time Warnock has been able to speak to the media in person at the Riverside after months of press conferences taking place via a video link on Zoom.

Here, though, it was refreshing to see the Boro boss speak so passionately about the game while interacting with the socially-distanced audience.

“I thought you lot were all going to be on the telly again,” said Warnock. “It’s nice this isn’t it, to get the press like this.”

Yet Warnock can also adopt a serious tone, like when he spoke about 1,000 fans safely returning to the Riverside last month and the risks of COVID-19.

"The Government has got to do what they think is right, but when I see 200 kids having a party, they aren’t thinking about their mums and dads, aunts and uncles, grandpas, that’s totally selfish,” he said.

"But the way we performed with that 1,000 fans, that was far safer than going in a pub. Everyone was spread out, I thought it was amazing.”

As someone who has managed in England’s top four divisions and in non-league, Warnock is well aware of the whole football pyramid and the financial challenges clubs at the lower end are facing.

“We can’t afford to lose that,” added Warnock. “I do think the big boys have got to help, I know they are losing money as well, but when you are spending £200million on players. I’m sure morally they have to do something.”

Warnock also has a knack of calling out mistakes without shattering a player’s confidence.

“Dijksteel got a bit of a b******ing off me because he contributed to the penalty we conceded, I don’t think he’ll do it again,” added Warnock after praising the performances of his defenders.

The Boro boss then gave an honest assessment when asked about dropping wing-backs Marvin Johnson and Djed Spence, two players he has bigged up in the past.

"I was disappointed in the other two lads and I told them I was going to change it," said Warnock.

Ultimately the decision paid off, and Boro once again looked organised and comfortable in a 3-5-2 system which gives them more security at the back.

Barnsley may have dominated possession for most of the afternoon but didn’t force a save from goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli.

Boro, meanwhile, took their chances. A pleasing sight given the team’s goal-scoring woes in recent seasons.

The side still appeared to lack that creative spark though, a player who can open up defences with a moment of quality on the ball.

Yet here was more good news to come, as Warnock revealed Boro are close to re-signing playmaker Patrick Roberts on a season-long loan from Manchester City.

Warnock will have undoubtedly played a big part in Roberts’ decision after working with the player last season.

“I had a good chat with him yesterday and he’s looking forward to it,” the Boro boss added.

“I think he’s coming into a different team to what he played last year.

“I do believe we are a different team to last year and I think he’ll get more of the ball in areas where he’s dangerous, that’s how I see him.”

After a slow start to the transfer window, the addition of Roberts would give this improving side another dimension.

The 23-year-old showed flashes of what he can do last season and is a potential match winner. Supporters are certainly excited about his anticipated return and what could be possible this season.

"At the start of the season there were one or two areas where I wanted a bit more quality to try and get up there, because I do think the league is wide open this year,” Warnock admitted.

"But what we’ve got we’ve got, and we have to do the best with what we’ve got.

"They are a good group of lads, they listen to what I say and I’m quite proud of them today.”

At 71, Warnock appears as motivated as ever about his latest project. It's now 1,500 games and counting.

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