Marc Bola deserved to be named Middlesbrough captain at Brentford says Neil Warnock after FA Cup defeat

Bola, who joined the Teessiders at the start of the 2019/20 campaign, was loaned out to League One side Blackpool last season following a difficult start to his Boro career.

Yet the 23-year-old has become a key player under Warnock, starting the side’s last 14 league games at the back.

Despite Boro’s 2-1 defeat at Brentford, Warnock was pleased with Bola’s display after moving the defender from his natural left-back position to centre-half.

When asked about Bola after the match, Warnock said with a smile: “Yeah I said to him when I gave him it in front of the lads, ‘bloody hell, before I come you couldn't even get in the Blackpool side. Now you’re the captain.’

“He deserved it. I thought he did well. He had to play centre-back because we ran out of options with the lads that we left behind."

Warnock was forced to make seven changes to his team at Brentford after a Covid-19 outbreak at the club.

The Boro boss admitted the plan was always to rest George Saville and Paddy McNair who have played relentlessly this campaign.

“Looking ahead as well, I was always going to rest Pad and Sav because they’ve been non-stop with Northern Ireland,” added Warnock.

“I didn’t really want to play Chuba (Akpom) and (Marcus) Tavernier, but they both asked to play - Tav wants to play every game so I let them play.”

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