Three things learnt from Stoke’s 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough

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Pressure build for Karanka

Aitor Karanka has done a fantastic job at Middlesbrough, guiding them to promotion from The Championship and making them a competitive outfit in their debut season in the Premier League, but things are just beginning to turn sour for the Spaniard.

Defeat against Stoke City ensured that The Boro slipped into the relegation zone for the first time this season and the lack of goals is seriously undermining their survival hopes. They are the lowest scorers in the league, with just 19 goals all campaign, and looked completely devoid of creativity at the Bet365 Stadium. Lee Grant, in goal for Stoke, did not have a significant save to make and lone striker Rudy Gestede was left completely isolated in the final third. There were frustrated chants of “attack, attack” from the away supporters and also sarcastic cheers when the visitors mustered a rare shot on goal in the second half.

Karanka is certainly under pressure and he needs to find a solution to his team’s goal-scoring crisis – and quickly. Top goal scorer Alvaro Negredo was left on the bench whilst his replacement Gestede was forced to plough a lone furrow with minimal support. January signing Patrick Bamford did not even make the bench.

Middlesbrough have dropped into the relegation zone at just the wrong time and it is now four games since they last scored a Premier League goal.