Pundit's verdict on Marcus Tavernier's penalty against Norwich, Sam Morsy update plus Derby message ahead of Middlesbrough clash

We round up some of the latest stories concerning the Teessiders:

Pundit’s view on Tavernier penalty

Saturday’s game could have been very different if Marcus Tavernier had scored a second-half penalty.

The Boro midfielder’s effort was disallowed after he slipped and touched the ball twice.

After the game the incident was assessed on the EFL’s highlights show on Quest, when former Huddersfield boss Danny Cowley was a studio guest.

“I’ve never quite seen this before in a game, it’s a double touch,” said Cowley.

“We are the first to criticise referees but it’s actually an excellent decision.

“He just loses his standing foot, it comes underneath him. He strikes it with his left foot, it touches his right foot and it’s rightly disallowed.”

Sam Morsy injury update

Boro midfielder Sam Morsy missed Saturday’s game with a hamstring issue, the third straight fixture he has been absent from the squad.

Warnock was asked about the Egyptian international after the match and said Morsy could return for Wednesday’s meeting with Derby.

“He just felt a bit so we didn’t want to risk him with the games coming up,” said Warnock.

“We just want to make sure he’s right. I won’t rush him back.”

Coaching team’s message to Derby squad

Derby are bottom of the Championship after Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Bristol City.

A four-man management team consisting of Liam Rosenior, Shay Given, Justin Walker and Wayne Rooney have taken charge of the Rams after manager Phillip Cocu was sacked earlier this month.

Speaking after the game, Rosenior said: “We may not have had too many clear openings ourselves but we got the ball into dangerous areas on countless occasions and had two good penalty shouts.

“Those are things we cannot control. Rather than feeling that luck turns against you when you are bottom of the table, we want the players to take responsibility for the things they can affect.

“That will be the message when we play Middlesbrough in our next game.”

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