Middlesbrough must take advantage of Stoke City observations of new boss and Ben Gibson
Middlesbrough could do with a morale-boosting victory this weekend after disappointing recent results against Preston North End and Sunderland. In that respect, on paper at least, Stoke City's visit to the Riverside could be the perfect opportunity.
Not to be underestimated by any stretch, Stoke have already proven their quality of Teesside this season, beating Boro 5-0 in second round of the Carabao Cup, albeit with both sides much-changed for that game. Nevertheless, dangerman Million Manhoef will be one to watch in particular as he scored two goals within seven minutes of coming off the bench.
Things are very different at the bet365 Stadium since that night at the Riverside last month, however, with Steven Schumacher removed from his position as head coach and replaced by former Norwich City coach Narcis Pelach in the hotseat. The Spaniard saw his side squander a 1-0 half-time lead in his first game in charge on Friday to lose 3-1 to previously winless Hull City.
READ MORE: Stoke City injury latest with Middlesbrough bogeyman hoping to return for Potters debut
SIGN UP: Middlesbrough FC news straight to your phone on WhatsApp
Boro favourite Ben Gibson, who joined Stoke on a free from Norwich City this summer knows the new head coach well. After the game, he noted the high amount of information that Potters players are needing to take on, and the intensity levels expected, that he felt contributed to their downfall - and could still be a factor as they head to Boro this weekend.
Gibson told the club website: “We’re going to have to work really hard. I know him and what he demands. No one will work harder than him, believe me. The guy’s obsessed, he’s a machine, and we’ll benefit from that. Obviously we’re doing different things, we’re being asked to do different things than this football club has done for a long time.
"We had the craziest week, loads of information to take on board and it’s going to be so different to how it has been for a long time. It’s going to be a rollercoaster, there will be peaks, there will be troughs, we have to be patient. I saw a lot of good things and a lot of things we can work on.
"In the first half we were really good, we made the opportunity to get a second, which we didn’t take, and then a couple of mistakes cost us in the second half. I think we ran out of juice, which cost us a bit. The emotions of the week, we’ve got a young team, which will have never been given this volume of information in such a short period, I think that showed."
While it could play into Boro's hands if Stoke are still having teething issues learning their new head coach's ways, there will be a desire from Michael Carrick for his side to show their own improvements and earn the win, regardless of whether the opposition are at their best or not.
Boro have been struggling with their attack in particular so far this season, and it's widely appreciated that has to be better, with the last two opposition managers effectively labelling Boro predictable as they masterminded plans to restrict Carrick's side. That might not be as easy for Pelach, who had an interesting observation about his players after their second-half Hull collapse.
He told Stoke Live after the game: "I saw a lot of frustration. When something bad happens to the team like a goal against I saw the team losing composure because we were fine defending the space, organised, solid. Ok, you can have the ball in front of us.
"But then after the goal, I saw the team take a knock mentally and that's something we have to address quickly. We have to talk because one thing is to play with emotion and energy and try to build something in that direction, but another is to lose control. We have to find the balance.
"We have to make them conscious about it. We have to talk. I will only look from two days ago but it's my job. I don't think the game was that bad. It's difficult to come here and say that after we've lost 3-1 at home. The first and second goals we gave them the chance because it was our mistake. We should have just played wide with the ball. Then the third one is because our heads are not in the right place. We have to get better, we have to be much more composed and readdress that."
While the thought of Stoke being defensively organised before conceding the first goal should be of concern to Boro given their recent record, ultimately the onus will be on them to find that first goal and start turning their fortunes around. Much of the focus in the days since the Sunderland defeat will have been on exactly that.
With their own boss suggesting that Stoke are mentally weak right now - most probably a confidence issue after a bruising few weeks - it's something Boro can, and absolutely have to, take advantage of. Those three points feel particularly important at this stage.