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EXCLUSIVE: Boro rival Swansea to sign classy Aston Villa star
Middlesbrough have joined Swansea City in the race to land stylish Aston Villa midfielder Conor Hourihane, TEAMtalk can reveal.
www.teamtalk.com
EXCLUSIVE: Boro rival Swansea to sign classy Aston Villa star
Middlesbrough have joined Swansea City in the race to land stylish Aston Villa midfielder Conor Hourihane, TEAMtalk can reveal.
www.teamtalk.com
EXCLUSIVE: Boro rival Swansea to sign classy Aston Villa star
Middlesbrough have joined Swansea City in the race to land Aston Villa midfielder Conor Hourihane, TEAMtalk can reveal.The 29-year-old Republic of Ireland international is only on the fringes of the Dean Smith’s squad.
Indeed, he has made only four appearances for the Villans in the Premier League so far this season. Hourihane is attracting interest from the Championship.
As such, we can reveal Villa are willing to let him go and he’s ready to talk to interested parties.
Promotion-chasing Swansea are hopeful of a deal and currently lead the chase. However, our sources have informed us that Boro have also made an approach too. Neil Warnock is looking to bolster his squad ahead of a push for the Premier League too.
We understand Middlesbrough are also looking to move Lewis Wing on this month.
That would help with the finances for other prospective signings such as Hourihane.
Everton, Newcastle keen on Boro star
Everton and Newcastle United still hold an interest in Middlesbrough defender Djed Spence and are monitoring his progress.TEAMtalk exclusively revealed back in November that a number of Premier League clubs had taken notice of the young full-back.
Wolves were the other club credited with an interest last year. And it seems they, along with Crystal Palace, might still throw their hat into the ring.
Boro do not want to sell the London-born right-back, who is a firm favourite with boss Neil Warnock. The veteran tactician compared him to Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Trent Alexander-Arnold last year.
That is high praise and the reason why top-flight clubs are circling the Riverside.
Spence has featured regularly for Boro this term, starting 12 times, scoring once and stepping off the bench in another nine.
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Garry Monk's verdict as Boro lose to Birmingham and Friend excels
Garry Monk offered his thoughts while working for Sky Sports on the game
www.gazettelive.co.uk
Garry Monk's verdict on Middlesbrough's loss to Birmingham City, with George Friend excelling
Garry Monk offered his thoughts while working for Sky Sports on the game
Garry Monk felt Birmingham City were good value for their victory over Middlesbrough, but said the home side had enough chances to feel they could have taken a point.
Monk was offering his thoughts on the game after being picked by Sky Sports to be their match pundit for the televised fixture, having previously managed both sides.
It was the visitors who took all three points away from the Riverside thanks to Scott Hogan's first-half goal - a well-orchestrated one from a Birmingham point of view.
“Morsy tried to gamble on the cut-back and loses Hogan who then has a simple tap-in.
“Defensively you’re disappointed, but from a Birmingham point of view, it’s good play and good movement.
“They forced Boro into making split-second decisions. Morsy picking up Hogan which isn’t really his man, he makes the wrong decision and it’s a goal.
“Middlesbrough will be disappointed with it.
“But with a man-marking system you only have to beat one player to then put a decision to the other players.
“Once you beat that first player, the others have that ‘do I go, or do I stay?’ decision to make.
“Morsy isn’t usually picking up Hogan but initially goes with him, then leaves him to gamble on the ball being pulled back to the edge of the box and it’s a goal.
“That’s what you can often do against man-marking teams if you can work your way into those positions, and Birmingham did it well there.”
The defeat was a blow for Boro who still have a top-six finish in their sights, but know they can't afford many performances or results like this if they're to achieve it.
Monk was less-committal on Boro's chances of a play-off spot with the host joking he was sitting on the fence when asked.
The ex-Boro boss said: “It will be difficult for them, but they’re doing a fantastic job and Neil has been brilliant for them.
“Who knows? This is the beauty of the Championship.
“Anyone can do it, but it will be a tough ask for them.
“Everything is to play for in the second half of the season.”
Boro, meanwhile, clearly suffering after-effects of their recent Covid-19 outbreak, looked sluggish and struggled to get into the game.
But they still managed to muster a few opportunities throughout, with Chuba Akpom and Sam Morsy both going close with headers - Morsy's exceptionally so - and then Britt Assombalonga and Duncan Watmore having chances just after the interval.
Reflecting after, Monk told Sky Sports: "You look overall in terms of the stats side of it and it was a very close game.
“They went so close with that Morsy chance off the line and if that goes in then it’s 1-1 and a different game.
“When you’re on top you need to take your chances, but I’m sure Middlesbrough are disappointed with their overall performance.
“It was below their usual levels and Neil alluded pre-match to their troubles so maybe there was a little bit of rustiness.
“Birmingham came out on the front foot and had the chances. Second half Boro came out better and had a couple of chances that they could have done better with and they might come out thinking they should have got a draw from it.
“I think it’s just an accumulation of a lot of things really. A lot of games and a tough week meant their energy levels were low.
Birmingham City v Leeds United in the Sky Bet Championship match at the Trillion Trophy stadium St Andrew's, with, Garry Monk (Image: Tim Easthope)
“It’s impossible to maintain the high level of performances they have been every week when games come two or three times a week.
“They still come off the pitch feeling like they could have got something from the game, but I feel overall Birmingham were good value today.”
In typical Boro fashion, Sky's man of the match award went to George Friend, with Boro boss Warnock picking him out for a special mention at full-time too.
Monk, who worked with Friend at Boro, said: “It was fantastic for him returning to a club that he has such fond memories of and where he was such a fantastic servant.
“He was man of the match, and defenders don’t get that too often.
“He typified what Birmingham were about overall today. They were defensively very sound and he was at the heart of that, particularly second half.
“It was a tight game overall in terms of chances, but they were good value overall for their win.”
As for the goal which won it for Aitor Karanka's side, Monk feels that it's a classic example of the risk involved in man-marking as Warnock sets Middlesbrough up to do.
He said: “What I liked about Birmingham is they were aggressive and when you play like that you naturally look sharper.
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