O’Neil accepts criticism

While the abuse directed at Boro’s players and manager was muted in comparison to the end of last month’s home defeat to Leicester, sustained booing was audible at the final whistle.

The mutinous mood is likely to be in evidence again tomorrow as a Derby side that have not won an away match all season visit the Riverside, but O’Neil admits the Teessiders deserve all that is thrown at them following three home defeats in the space of five weeks.

“It’s not a problem for me,” said the midfielder.

“It’s very frustrating for us as players and for them as fans. We want to win as much as they do, but if things are not going well, you expect to take more stick.

“At least we’ve got a game on Tuesday for us to bounce back in.

“We know we need a win, but it’s a long old season. If we can get a win on Tuesday and get a little run going, I’m sure we can push back up there.”

To do that though, Middlesbrough will have to improve on the ineffective attacking display they produced at the weekend.

A lack of incision was apparent throughout the 1-0 defeat, and with Derby likely to adopt the same containing tactics adopted by the Hornets, O’Neil admits Boro’s attacking players will have to discover a method of prising a welldrilled defence apart.

“It’s frustrating because we’ve had a few home games on the trot now where we’ve not had a positive result.

Watford were well organised and came and closed us down, but we didn’t create any clear-cut chances so it’s disappointing.

“Teams are coming and playing a certain way against us,” he said.

“They know this isn’t an easy place to come, so they set up with five in the middle and make it hard for us.

“Away from home, we can play on the counter-attack a bit more, with a bit more space behind teams. We need to figure out the answer when teams come and sit behind the ball.”