Middlesbrough's new Latte Lath chant can help lift Riverside atmosphere after Luke Williams jab

The atmosphere at the Riverside has been a talking point for many weeks now.

As usual, the Red Faction will always make themselves heard while a small pocket of supporters associated with the Twe12th Man group at the top of the North stand do their best to make themselves heard too. But with a bit of an apathy setting in over the events of the season and troubles with getting the right chants going, the Riverside hasn't quite had the same feeling for much of this season.

The issue came to a head after Saturday's victory over Swansea City, with their boss Luke Williams saying after: "It was just an atrocious game of football. There was nothing right about that. It was like going to a charity game in the summer, no atmosphere, a bit of talking in the crowd, pass it a little bit, something, something."

READ MORE: Luke Williams' 'charity game' atmosphere analogy after Middlesbrough's win over Swansea City

It should be said that, in Williams' defence, he was furious with his own side's performance in the game and said it in the heat of the moment. But the biggest thing about the reaction to the quotes from Boro fans is that there wasn't many arguing with the sentiment.

It's true that in recent weeks in particular, the apathy has felt strong despite the fact that, however unlikely it seems, Boro are still in the play-of race and have just six points to make up in a division where things can change so quickly. In that regard, for some, particularly after Norwich's win over Ipswich earlier in the day, there felt like little riding on the game.

Of course, what happens on the pitch - and to some extent off it in terms of communication and decision-making at the club - is ultimately the thing that sets the tone for the atmosphere. It shouldn't be a given that supporters come to the Riverside and create an atmosphere conducive to helping the players lift their levels.

The onus should ultimately be on the players to set the tempo that lifts the supporters and creates the atmosphere and, particularly against Swansea whose style of play and lack of ambition in the game made for a pretty dull watch, that wasn't easy to create. Having said all of that, one thing that's always impressed me about Boro and the Riverside, is the atmosphere and desire to get behind the players positively no matter the circumstances.

In recent months in particular it has felt like it has been in decline, with some bad luck as far as meaningful chants are concerned, to be fair. The importance of having an anthem that everyone can get behind was probably best evidenced recently during Chris Wilder's time in charge, with the 'Wilder Said' chant really taking off and echoing around the ground rather than just the small pockets of the ground where we currently hear the noise from.

We've had a bit of bad luck as far as that one is concerned. First came Wilder's exit, with fans eventually reviving it with Michael Carrick. But then Matt Crooks departed in February and no one as yet has been deemed worthy enough of having as fine hair as the midfielder, with many keen to see that one left in the past now.

On social media, the Red Faction have taken some flack recently with many complaining about their use of the drum drowning out other sections, as they begin their own chants that other supporters either don't know and/or aren't on board with. The recent Boro slant on the Allez, Allez, Allez chant proved divisive at best.

To Red Faction's credit though, they keep trying and on Saturday, there was a new chant for match-winner Emmanuel Latte Lath which showed real potential and seemed to earn the approval of many on social media after. To help, the fans' group posted a video on their social media pages too, providing lyrics to the new tune to help encourage more to join in - and we're only too happy to help share that message.

To the tune of Norman Greenbaum Spirit in the Sky, the new chant went: "He's our striker, he's our number nine, scoring goals in the red and white, he's f****** rapid and he loves to attack, and he goes by the name of Latte Lath."

Really punchy, easy to sing along to and good fun too, it's got all the required elements to make it a great tune to help get the Riverside rocking again. Fitting too that, with Latte Lath in fine form and offering real encouragement that he can be Boro's main man next season, he should be the subject of it. What's not to love.

There's no obligation to join in, of course. But there's no denying that it can positively influence matters on the pitch and just makes for a better day overall. There's nothing quite more uplifting than getting home from the Riverside after a good win in front of a raucous atmosphere.