Neil Warnock's Lewis Wing dilemma plus encouraging Middlesbrough statistic ahead of Warford clash: Talking points after Shrewsbury win

After a couple of days to reflect on Friday’s action-packed encounter, we take a closer look at where it leaves Neil Warnock’s side.

Mixed night for Lewis Wing

When the Boro team sheet was announced at 4:30pm, you felt it was a big opportunity for Boro midfielder Lewis Wing.

It may have only been a Carabao Cup tie, yet the 25-year-old was handed his first start under Warnock, with fellow midfielders Paddy McNair and George Saville away on international duty.

Wing started alongside Jonny Howson in Boro’s engine room, occasionally rotating with Marcus Tavernier who was deployed in an advanced midfield role.

Supporters are well aware of Wing’s ability in the final third, and last season the midfielder scored seven league goals, often performing at his best in the No 10 position.

Back in February after Boro beat Charlton in Jonathan Woodgate’s penultimate game, Warnock praised Wing when appearing as a pundit on the EFL’s highlights show.

But despite those comments, the player has fallen down the pecking order since Boro’s change of management, with Tavernier a preferred choice as an attacking midfielder.

Against Shrewsbury, Wing played a big part in two of Boro’s goals but also appeared to be bypassed in midfield at times.

The good thing for Wing is he should receive another opportunity throughout a relentless campaign.

Strike partnership starting to thrive

Warnock has described Boro’s lack of goals as disgraceful, so he will have been pleased to see his side take their chances against Shrewsbury.

Boro’s goalscoring woes isn’t just down to their strikers, yet getting the best out of Britt Assombalonga and Ashley Fletcher will be key in addressing the issue.

The pair have a great relationship off the pitch and have linked up well in flashes on it, most notably in a 2-0 win at Millwall in July.

Encouragingly, since Warnock took charge, there is only one game, a 1-0 defeat by QPR, where neither Fletcher or Assombalonga have scored.

It was Fletcher who netted two goals on Friday, yet Assombalonga worked hard to create space for his team-mate.

Long may it continue.

A tricky start for Grant Hall

A lot is expected of Boro’s new signing and it wouldn’t have been a surprise to see him handed the captain’s armband against Shrewsbury.

Instead, Assombalonga led the side out, yet it remains unclear who will be Boro’s first-choice skipper.

Hall has described himself as a leader, while his physical attributes were clear to see when he went up for headers

But it was a tricky debut for the 28-year-old, who was caught out of position on a couple of occasions and struggled to deal with Shrews striker Rekeil Pyke.

Hall’s rustiness was understandable given he hasn’t played a competitive match since March, and the centre-back seems like a player who will set high standards for himself.

The centre-back will know he has to improve for next week’s trip to Watford. It will be good to have minutes under the belt.

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