Neil Warnock provides Britt Assombalonga update and seeks free agent clarification after 'deserved' Bristol City win

Boro midfielder George Saville scored the only goal of the game in the 73rd minute after a mistake from Robins defender Taylor Moore, yet Warnock never felt his side were under serious pressure.

It's result means Boro have now gone five games unbeaten and have moved up to ninth in the table ahead of Saturday’s trip to Cardiff.

The Teessiders don’t have the biggest squad in the division but Warnock was delighted with the determination and team spirit his side showed.

“I’m chuffed. I think we deserved it as well,” Warnock told BBC Tees after the game. “We dominated and had some good chances.

“We restricted Bristol to just one shot on target tonight and I think that epitomised our performance right throughout the whole team.

“We worked hard as a unit, right from the top, and we were always dangerous going forward.

“We just weren’t getting much luck and then we got a goal like that. You can’t plan it, can you?

“All credit to George, he worked on closing down and he did exactly that, and it’s always nice when you get your rewards.”

Boro captain Britt Assombalonga missed the game through injury, yet Warnock said it wasn’t related to the soreness the striker felt against Reading on Saturday.

“It wasn’t the stiffness from the weekend,” said Warnock when asked about Assombalonga. “He actually picked up a little niggle yesterday and he wasn’t fit enough tonight so we had to travel without him

When asked if the striker will be available for the weekend, Warnock replied: “He’ll be touch and go, it wasn’t a big one, just enough to stop him from running properly.”

The Boro boss has also said he’s identified a couple of free agent strikers who could join Boro to bolster the team’s attacking options.

Chuba Akpom led the line against Reading but tired as the match wore on, while Ashley Fletcher will be sidelined until the new year with a hamstring issue.

“I’m hoping to get some clarification but let’s enjoy the night first,” said Warnock when asked about the free agent market.

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