‘A missed opportunity’ – Three things learnt from Middlesbrough 2-2 Manchester City

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Traore stakes claim for starting berth

Once again, it was another match where Adam Traore entered the fray and was at his electrifying best, and once again it begs the question of why he never starts for Middlesbrough.

With Manchester City possessing all the momentum and set to take a second-half lead at any moment, Traore pounced on the ball just inside his own half and ran directly at last-man standing Nicolas Otamendi, luring him into giving away a free-kick just on the edge of the penalty area.

The scrappy aftermath of the set-piece eventually led to Calum Chambers flicking home Boro’s second, and the impact that the Spaniard had once coming off the bench cannot be understated.

Whereas Alvardo Negredo had engaged both Otamendi and Vincent Kompany in a physical battle, Traore offered something totally different – with City’s defenders all over the age of 30, and the wing-backs stationed further up the field, there was no catching the 21-year-old once he started off on a mazy run.

It’s even possible to go as far and say that, had Traore been starting instead of Christhian Stuani, he could have given the visitors even more to think about with his immense acceleration on the break.