WHICHEVER way you look at Tony Pulis’ first 12 months in charge at Middlesbrough, it is fair to say that he is yet to win over the supporters. 

He arrived with a reputation for keeping things tight and playing direct football, and fans still think that of him now. The pressure has grown on him recent weeks because of a dip in form.

Middlesbrough sit in a slightly better position than they were in when Pulis took over from Garry Monk on Boxing Day last year, but they are still only on course for a play-off spot which is where they ended up in May too.

That was the month of course when Boro fell short. After all the hard work that had been put in to achieve a top six spot, Aston Villa’s narrow win at the Riverside in the first leg could not be overturned.

Pulis' side never really got going over the two legs, and the manner of the defeat was epitomised by how Adama Traore was left frustrated over the two legs having been the main source of creativity and attack in achieving a play-off spot.

Since then Pulis has raised over £50m in transfer fees, selling the likes of Traore, Ben Gibson and Patrick Bamford, as 12 players left. They have spent £18m in three players, seven loans and free transfers, which Pulis claims to have secured a £30m profit over the calendar year.

That is why this forthcoming window is a big one. Middlesbrough hit it with the mood downbeat after one win in eight at home, a depressing quarter-final Carabao Cup exit to Burton and a lack of firepower. Boro need greater consistency in 2019.

HIT OF THE YEAR

LEWIS WING

The young midfielder plucked from the Northern League has forced his way into Tony Pulis’ plans.


FLOP OF THE YEAR

Defeat to League One’s Burton in the Carabao Cup quarter-final when a Wembley appearance was within reach.

GOAL OF THE YEAR

Lewis Wing’s thunderbolt winner from Marcus Tavernier’s knockdown against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup.

MOMENT OF THE YEAR

Aston Villa play-offs. The outcome might not have been memorable but the atmosphere of the two legged semi-final was worth hearing.

2018 RECORD (all competitions)
P29 W24 D17 L13 F70 A47