What the stats say about Neil Warnock's Middlesbrough side compared to Cardiff, Watford, Reading and Championship rivals

When asked for his assessment of the match, the Bluebirds boss was quick to label Boro as a team who smash the ball forward at every opportunity – but what do the stats really say about Neil Warnock's side?

There was more than a hint of irony about Harris’ comments, especially as his team used pitchside towels to utilise their long throw-ins, and were also going direct to towering frontmen Kieffer Moore and Robert Glatzel in the closing stages.

Last week Warnock was asked about his reputation and the way he sets his teams up.

“I think all managers get tainted, don’t they?” he replied. “You just have to take it on board. It’s long since gone for me. I listen to it, but I look at some of the football my lads are playing, and I really enjoy it."

The long passes stats

Looking at the stats, Boro haven’t been one of the most direct teams in the Championship so far this season, sitting tenth when it comes to long passes played with an average of 50.04 per game.

Interestingly, Cardiff are sixth with an average of 51.5 long passes per game, while Preston are top with 62.31 per game.

At the other end of the spectrum, Bournemouth and Swansea have recorded the least number of long passes per match with 39.08 and 39.88 respectively.

Improvements in defence

In recent weeks it’s been clear that Boro have tightened things up at the back under Warnock, conceding just once in three games.

It’s also been noticeable the Teessiders have dropped deeper and made themselves difficult to break down, whether they are playing with a back four or a back three.

With that in mind, it’s not surprising to see Boro have averaged just 44.8 per cent possession in league games this season, the fifth lowest in the Championship.

Goalscoring challenges

Of course possession isn’t everything. Watford, for example, are third in the table and have averaged just 46.5 per cent possession in games.

But, despite taking five points from three tough games, Boro have looked a little blunt up top.

That is understandable considering there have been injuries to Ashley Fletcher and Britt Assombalonga, leaving Chuba Akpom to lead the line on his own.

Yet Boro, who have netted six league goals this campaign, are still creating chances and have an expected goals total of 7.16 after seven league games.

That is the ninth lowest in the Championship but is interestingly higher than league leaders Reading (6.38) and third-place Watford (7.13).

Conclusion

Unlike some games in the Premier League this season, a lot of Championship matches have remained tight this term, and just two of the weekend’s 12 second-tier fixtures were won by more than a single goal.

And ultimately Warnock knows how to be successful in this league, most recently with Cardiff who were promoted from the Championship in 2018.

During that season, the Bluebirds weren’t accused of being dull to watch, and often played with two exciting wingers in Junior Hoilett and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.

As Warnock has pointed out, all managers can be categorised one way or another, yet he will continue to do what he thinks is best.

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