How Middlesbrough's players rated in the 2-0 defeat at Stoke:

6 Dieng: Couple of misplaced passes but couldn’t do much about the goals.

4 Ayling: Costly mistake led to first goal. Lacked composure in possession all afternoon

6 Van den Berg: Captain at just 19, an immense achievement. Solid in the first half but unsettled in the second.

5 Clarke: Never settled. Looked shaky in possession throughout. Wasn’t helped by Thomas to his left.

4 Thomas: Struggled from the off. Couldn’t get to grips with Manhoef, was repeatedly caught out and careless in possession.

4 Barlaser: Twice caught out dithering in possession on the edge of his own box. Too often sloppy and slow on the ball.

5 O’Brien: Better than Barlaser but too often picked the safe pass and never had control.

5 Forss: A spectator for the most part.

5 McGree: Looked most likely to make something happen in the first half. Went close early on. Ineffective in the second half.

4 Greenwood: Anonymous again.

5 Latte Lath: Bright early on but faded. Lacked service.

Substitutes:

5 Engel (for Thomas, 64): Better than Thomas.

5 Azaz (for Greenwood, 64): Had Boro’s only second half shot on target in 94th minute.

Dijksteel (for Ayling, 72): N/A

Silvera (for McGree, 83): N/A

Subs not used: Glover, Gilbert, McNair, McCabe, Woolston

Stoke: Iversen 6, Hoever 6, Rose 6, Wilmot 6, Gooch 7, Baker 7, Burger 7 (Pearson, 89), Laurent 7, Junho 7, Manhoef 8 (Leris, 76), Ennis 7 (Campbell, 82)

Substitutes: Bonham, Vidigal, Haksabanovic, Cundle. Clark, Lowe

Man of the Match: Manhoef. Caused Thomas plenty of problems. Found pockets of space. A threat throughout.