Morecambe 0-3 Boro: Ryan Giles stars in dominant display in Lancashire

It may well be just a pre-season run out but based on the evidence of the performance at the Mazuma Stadium, Wilder may well have found the missing ingredient in his new left wing-back who laid on three assists and was a constant menace all evening. However, it was far from a one man show everyone in a Boro shirt in top form in Lancashire.

Morecambe got an immediate taste of Boro’s presence when they tested both frames of the goal. A well worked passing move saw Dael Fry release that man Giles down the left. His floated cross was meat and drink for Matt Crooks who powered his header off the outside of the post. Minutes later, after Duncan Watmore won a free-kick in a dangerous position, Marcus Tavernier took the responsibility and bent his free-kick off the top of the crossbar.

Boro were in confident mood and they didn’t have to wait much longer for a breakthrough. Giles floated another inviting cross meeting the run of Tavernier who powered his header into the top corner to give the visitors the lead.

As the first half wore on, Morecambe were chasing shadows as Boro were at their best. Another new signing in Darragh Lenihan was a constant voice at the back and could be heard all over the pitch. However, Giles was making the biggest noise on the pitch. It was clear to see how he is the player who fits the mould of what Chris Wilder would want from his wing-backs.

Marcus Tavernier celebrates his headed goal against Morecambe

Once again he was at the heart of the action. After another bursting run, his low cross made it simple for Crooks who made no mistake this time in slamming the ball past former Boro shot stopper Connor Ripley.

Boro were pinning Morecambe back in their own half with neat intricate passing with every player looking comfortable on the ball and capable of providing a threat. But Giles would claim a third assist when a bending powerful cross met the head of Riley McGree who powered his header low into the corner.

The start to the second half didn’t quite match the first but that didn’t stop Crooks from testing the Shrimps goal as he drove low inside the box from Jonny Howson’s through ball but Ripley palmed the effort away.

It was a much more functional performance from Boro in the second half who went man-to-man and were forced to do a bit of defending of their own. There were one or two shaky moments but they were largely untested. Shane McLaughlin found himself inside the box at the back post after a deflected cross bounced his way but he couldn’t quite divert the header.

The bar was set by the first half performance and the manager didn’t make the second to be as pleasant viewing from the sideline.

Giles almost helped himself to a fourth assist when his inviting ball was intended for Callum Kavanagh but the substitute couldn’t quite divert his volley goalwards.

That was all she wrote from Lancashire as Boro executed a dominant and confident display against the League One side. Wilder’s search for a striker continues but if they happen to be watching Boro in pre-season, they should be salivating at thought of the service they will get from Boro’s wing-back.