'I thought they were a waste of time': Neil Warnock slams Middlesbrough's performance against Bristol City and provides Ashley Fletcher injury update

Boro were beaten 3-1 by the Robins at the Riverside after a brace from Famara Diedhiou and Nahki Wells finish.

Dael Fry managed to pull a goal back for the hosts ten minutes from time, yet it was too little too late.

After the game, Warnock highlighted a first-half chance which was squandered by Marc Bola when the game was still goalless.

“I thought we started alright, the first 20 minutes, but I still can’t see how Bola can’t score when he’s through.” said Warnock.

“I don’t know why he’s passed it, he’s said he’s heard Ashley Fletcher screaming at him to square the ball but it’s on his left foot at a good angle with the goalie to beat – it doesn’t make sense to me.

“The next minute they hoof the ball out, we have three of our best defenders in Dael Fry, Paddy and Dijksteel against one striker and he ends up winning the ball and scoring the goal from it.

“We’ve got three against one on the halfway line, I don’t know what to say about it really.

“I said at half-time the scoreline is embarrassing but I want us to win the second half and it’s hard when you’re 3-0 down because you are defeated.

“But I thought the attitude was good second half, I thought Sam Morsy was super second half.”

Boro striker Ashley Fletcher was forced off with an injury midway through the first half and will have a scan on the issue.

Warnock doesn’t believe it’s a recurrence of the striker’s hamstring injury he suffered back in September.

“I’m disappointed that Fletcher came off,” added Warnock. “I asked him yesterday was he sure 100 per cent that he could start the game and give me an hour and he said yeah.

“He’s been in this morning and the physio said he was okay but I could tell within three or four minutes he wasn’t right.

“On Saturday I thought our front three were very good but I thought they were a waste of time in the first half tonight, the front three.”

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