The most frustrating aspects of Middlesbrough's defeat to Norwich and what Neil Warnock's side will need to improve against Derby

When Neil Warnock first arrived at Middlesbrough back in June, he wasn’t sure what to expect from his players on a week-to-week basis.

At least now the Teessiders have a solid platform to build on, and Warnock’s Boro have formed the best defence in the Championship after 12 league games this term.

Yet their weakness is also obvious, though. Scoring goals.

Boro have now gone three league games without finding the net. Even when Marcus Tavernier appeared to convert a second-half penalty against Norwich on Saturday, the goal was ruled out for a double touch.

If the goal had stood, Boro could have been celebrating an excellent win against a team many people are tipping to win promotion this season, and which subsequently went top of the Championship after Teemu Pukki’s late spot kick secured a 1-0 win.

The home players were visibly dejected at the full-time whistle, particularly Tavernier and substitute Hayden Coulson, who conceded the late penalty before Pukki stepped up.

Warnock, meanwhile, let his frustrations boil over, shouting profusely at referee Tony Harrington who didn’t show Norwich defender Jacob Sorensen a second yellow card for a foul on Sam Folarin.

Like pretty much all of Boro’s fixtures this season, this was a performance full of grit, hard work and lots of pressing high up the pitch.

Yet it was a game which was always going to be decided by fine margins and, on this occasion, costly mistakes.

Still, the full-time regret once again put into perspective just how far Boro have come under Warnock.

In the first half it was a joy to watch Boro pin Nowich back and stop the visitors moving the ball into midfield.

Left-back Marc Bola did an excellent job man-marking Canaries dangerman Emi Buendia, with the Argentine starting on the right but regularly drifting infield.

Boro midfielders George Saville and Jonny Howson were also at their industrious best, snapping into challenges and keeping Boro on the front foot, while Dael Fry was like a man mountain at the back.

Yet there was still that lack of cutting edge in the final third and, when you look at the players’ goal-scoring stats, it’s clear to see why.

Between Boro’s front four, Marvin Johnson, Djed Spence, Tavernier and Chuba Akpom, the quartet have registered just 14 league goals for the Teessiders in 181 appearances between them.

While he isn’t a natural goalscorer, Patrick Roberts’ lack of game time remains something of a mystery, with Warnock reluctant to start the playmaker against better opponents.

Here, even youngster Sam Folarin was brought on ahead of the Manchester City loanee, and it wasn’t until Boro fell behind that Roberts was introduced.

Warnock may be tempted to let the shackles off when his team host a struggling Derby side on Wednesday.

Another frustrating aspect was the lack of threat from Boro’s set-pieces, with Paddy McNair’s deliveries below their usual standard.

With goals hard to come by, it’s an area Warnock’s side will have to improve.

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