There were always going to be some teething problems as Rob Edwards settled into the head coach role at the Riverside, but even accounting for the need to embrace a new style of play and bed in new players, the scale of last week’s League Cup failure was alarming.
A reaction was required at the weekend, and facing one of the most daunting away days on the Championship calendar, Boro’s players delivered as they maintained their 100 per cent league record. The ability to bounce back from a disappointment is one of the key requirements of any successful team – faced with adversity for the first time since Edwards’ appointment, Boro’s new-look side came up trumps.
“Tuesday was nowhere near good enough for the standards we set ourselves, or for this club,” said Alfie Jones, who claimed his first goal since his summer move from Hull as he stabbed home from a corner to double Boro’s lead midway through the second half at the weekend. “We were nowhere near good enough and it was important we reacted right to that.
“It was a nice touch at the end with the fans. They were in great numbers and great voice. It was a special moment and hopefully we can have many more of them this season.
“It’s a great start to the season, two clean sheets as well. We just have to stay consistent and not get too ahead of ourselves. We have to keep going and keep grinding through the games.”
Boro were always going to face a tough physical examination against Alex Neil’s Millwall side, but having matched their opponents for effort and intensity in the first half, the Teessiders’ technical ability came to the fore in the second.
Hayden Hackney broke the deadlock with a clinical finish that rounded off a slick attacking move sparked by a neat turn and run from new signing Sontje Hansen, Jones made it 2-0 with another goal from a set-piece, and Delano Burgzorg completed the scoring with a smart piece of control and a hooked finish.
“It was a great result at a really tough place,” said Jones. “We got the three points and another clean sheet to top it off, so [it was a] brilliant day.
“First half, we played into their hands, playing short, inviting them on. Then there were a few misplaced passes and heavy touches that gave them momentum. We weathered the storm though, and sometimes you have to do that.
“Second half, we came out, we were on the front foot, went forward, and that opened the space for our creative players to play and go and hurt them, and that’s what we did.
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“It was the plan to play like that all game. From our kick off in the second half, we looked for the ball in behind and although it didn’t find our man, it forced them back and that’s what creates the space for us to play in. That’s how we want to play throughout the season.”
Jones will also be hoping to remain amongst the goals, having found the net for the first time since December 2023 at the weekend.
“More goals are something I want to add to my game,” he said. “Especially from set-plays because we get a lot of them. We’ve been really clinical with them recently and that can be a massive thing in this league. To get my first goal for Boro, it was a special day.”
