Source: Northern_Echo
Cresswell sinks new-look Boro
THREE new Middlesbrough players, same old problems for Gordon Strachan.[LNB] Strachan might have been quick to hand first starts to his triple signings from Celtic, but it was Sheffield United's latest permanent signing that claimed the points.[LNB] Richard Cresswell, who scored four goals during his loan from Stoke, arrived in the box to head in the Blades winner ten minutes after half-time.[LNB] It proved enough to condemn Middlesbrough to a fifth defeat in six matches and leaves Strachan with just two victories to show from his first 11 matches in charge.[LNB] Strachan must have hoped the introductions of Barry Robson, Chris Killen and Willo Flood would have brought new spirit and new hope.[LNB] Instead this latest defeat leaves Middlesbrough even further behind the play-off places, even if there were occasional nice touches from all three of the new-boys.[LNB] There are now six points separating Boro from Sheffield United, who have climbed into sixth spot following this narrow win at Bramall Lane.[LNB] If Strachan has serious eyes on closing that gap in the coming months, then new signings and plenty of them will be required to lift morale if nothing else before the transfer window closes on February 1.[LNB] SHEFFIELD UNITED (4-4-2): Bunn; Walker, Morgan, Seip, Taylor; Williamson (Ward 70), Montgomery, Harper, Quinn; Evans (Camara 70), Cresswell. Subs (not used): Henderson, Bennett, Stewart, Geary, Fortune.[LNB] MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2): Coyne; McMahon, Wheater, Riggott, Hoyte; Robson, O'Neil, Osbourne, Flood (Franks 75); Killen, Aliadiere (Johnson 63). Subs (not used): Bent, Arca, Bennett, Steele, L Williams.[LNB]
