'Need him back so badly': Middlesbrough fans point to key absentees after Derby County defeat

First-half goals from Rams frontman Lee Gregory and Colin Kazin-Richards put Boro on the backfoot before Neeskens Kebano pulled one back before half-time.

Yet the Teessiders registered just one effort on target in the second half as they struggled to create chances.

Some supporters pointed out the absence of defender Dael Fry and midfielder Marcus Tavernier, who also look set to miss Tuesday’s home game against Huddersfield.

Here’s how some reacted to the result:

@BurkeyfromBoro: A dreadful performance against very average opposition ... the early season promise has well & truly faded

@JosephW36068541: We are still overachieving, nobody expected this before the season. Let's be honest, we were expecting this. Play-offs too far now. Squad simply isn't good enough.

@lewisyates20: Not good enough @Boro! Britt on the pitch for a wasteful 60 minutes! Fletcher brought on far too late ! Dijksteel playing CB in a back 4 doesn’t work for me!

@tom_mcgarry17: Warnock can have no excuses and our recent results and performances are concerning and far from good enough, especially given the number of struggling sides that have beaten us

@LeeHall1977: Bit of perspective. Poor performance, yes, but we've come a long way in 6 months. It was never going to be pretty but NW's established us in the top half. Look at where we were this time last season. It'll take time for new players to settle but when they do I think we'll do OK.

@kenna32: The midfield trio doesn't work . We miss Fry

@LewisThompson7: Need Fry at CB. Need Tav in the No.10. Without them two, we are poor at both ends of the pitch

@stephen_mackin1: Terrible today boys. Worst I’ve seen for a while. I know we have a good few new players to bed in and a couple of injuries, but we need a lot more commitment if we want to get in the play-offs

@TimTomTam8: We need Fry and Tav back so badly

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