The surprising Middlesbrough tactic deployed by Neil Warnock which kept Swansea's Andre Ayew at bay

After a deflating defeat at Huddersfield made it just one win in five for Neil Warnock’s Middlesbrough side, this was a real test of the Teessiders’ credentials

They don’t get much tougher than a meeting with an in-form Swansea side either, the team who thrashed Boro 3-0 when football resumed back in June and ended Jonathan Woodgate’s tenure at the Riverside.

Nearly six months on, Dael Fry, Paddy McNair and Jonny Howson were the only Boro men who started Wednesday’s 2-1 win over the Swans as well as the game last summer.

A lot has changed since Neil Warnock subsequently took charge at the Riverside, yet this was probably Boro’s best win yet under the Yorkshireman.

Warnock celebrated his 72nd birthday on Tuesday and received a chocolate cake from the club’s secretary, alongside a happy birthday song from his players.

“They did sing me happy birthday but it was a very weak effort,” said Warnock after the match.

Yet there was nothing weak about Boro’s defending in the closing stages, as the Teessiders gave everything they had to stop Swansea from scoring

Duncan Watmore deservingly took the headlines after his two goals justified his selection and the short-term contract Boro offered him.

The 26-year-old gave the Teessiders something they have been missing, someone with a burst of pace who can travel with the ball and stretch opponents.

Watmore’s first in the 26th minute may have taken a deflection off defender Marc Guehi but the striker’s probing run at Swansea’s backline was refreshing to see.

The second was an assured finish on the counter attack after an excellent pass from Paddy McNair. Boro have lacked that composure and cutting edge in front of goal.

Warnock was also able to find a system which suited Watmore as the ex-Sunderland forward lined up in a 3-5-2 set-up alongside Chuba Akpom.

The tactic was designed to match Swansea up but also gave Boro more of a threat going forward.

With Anfernee Dijksteel unavailable, the surprising decision came as Marc Bola was used as a left-sided centre-back. “None of you would have picked him to be left-sided centre-half,” laughed Warnock after the game.

Yet this was probably Bola’s best performance in a Boro shirt, as the Teessiders kept Swansea’s potent attack, which included the highly-rated Andre Ayew, at bay.

After starting up front alongside Jamal Lowe, Ayew switched to the left and then the right as the Swans changed shape to a 4-2-3-1 formation and made three substitutions at half-time.

There were a couple of nervy moments, like when goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli missed a clearance and Dael Fry blocked Viktor Gyokeres’ effort, but Boro’s backline stood firm.

After Watmore’s second in the 67th minute, the hosts appeared to be defending with a back six at times, with wingers Djed Spence and Marvin Johnson, who was replaced by Hayden Coulson, continuously tracking Swansea’s full-backs.

Boro’s position became more fragile when Yan Dhanda’s deflected effort halved the deficit 13 minutes from time, yet Warnock’s side hung on.

The manager’s adrenaline-fueled reaction at full-time showed just how much it meant.

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