Damning numbers signal a team that is going backwards

IN MANY ways it feels like we've just finally been put out of our misery. Middlesbrough's season was, in the end, like death by a thousand cuts.

- CRAIG JOHNS

They did just about to enough to prolong the battle, but it all finally came to an end on the final day of the season.

Michael Carrick admitted that the defeat in many ways summarised the season overall, and the problems that have plagued Boro throughout.

Giving away sloppy goals has been a major Boro flaw all campaign. Coventry's decisive first goal came on the stroke of half-time, after a period in which Boro were ending the half the better team having weathered the early storm. Anfernee Dijskteel gave the ball away in his own half, Samuel lling-Junior allowed Tatsuhiro Sakamoto too much space to cross, and Jonny Howson allowed Jack Rudoni to peel off him too easily.

For all of Boro’s improvement in the first half, and their probing in the second half, they once again lacked conviction and ideas in the final third.

Boro were caught on the counter late on for the second goal. Carrick had understandably thrown every attacking option he had on the pitch in an attempt to get something from it.