Everyone feeling deep sense of frustration

MIDDLESBROUGH'S shell-shocked players must clear their heads to lift themselves for one last stand at Coventry on Saturday.

- ERIC PAYLOR

The deep sense of frustration which we all feel in the stands will surely be similarly felt in the dressing room.

The squad hasn’t been good enough, that’s true, but I feel sorry for those players who have put their heart and soul into everything.

Most of all I feel for Tommy Conway, who must have thought he was on a winner when swapping a probable mid-table campaign at Bristol City for a top-six challenge when he moved up here to Teesside.

If Boro fall short in the final Championship table, as most of us assume they will, then it won't be through lack of effort from Conway. He doesn’t put away all of his chances, but he’s a half-decent finisher who will get plenty of goals given enough half-decent opportunities.

The problem, especially in recent weeks, is that Boro just haven't been picking out Conway when he gets himself into those perfect positions.