EPL 2016/17: Middlesbrough 1-3 Manchester United, 5 Talking Points

United started the match with Bailly, Smalling and Jones at the back

#4 Boro fall deeper into the relegation zone

Steve Agnew — This defeat leaves them with 22 points in 28 matches, five less than Swansea who sit at the 17th position

Middlesbrough had failed to win any of their last 11 matches in the Premier League coming into the match. With Aitor Karanka’s sacking last week, there were expectations that Steve Agnew might do a ‘Shakespeare’ and bring the team back on winning terms.

However, a subdued first half saw United take the lead and then double it after the half-time. Gestede’s goal did see the Boro faithful hope that there is a way back in the match. But an error at the back from Valdes saw Valencia easily slot the ball in the back of the net to officially end any chances of a Boro comeback.

This defeat leaves them with 22 points in 28 matches, five less than Swansea who sit at the 17^th position. Their next couple of fixtures, against Swansea and Hull City respectively will more or less decide their fate.

About the author

Sankalp is a veteran European and international football writer at Sportskeeda. He has a total experience of 8 years, having previously worked for some top companies such as Wisden India and Fox Sports Asia. An engineer by qualification, Sankalp places a very high emphasis on accuracy by leaving no stone unturned in his research, and prides himself on showcasing the human aspect of the sporting world.

Sankalp has had the privilege of interviewing senior Indian cricketers such as Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Chris Woakes in his experience so far. He has also covered various Indian and international matches, such as the 2019 ICC ODI World Cup when working for FOX.

Sankalp started following football after watching the 2002 FIFA World Cup with his family. He is a die-hard Manchester United supporter, who started following the club due to David Beckham. His favorite manager is Sir Alex Ferguson and favorite player is Lionel Messi, both for setting unattainable benchmarks. He considers Barcelona’s incredible 6-1 second leg comeback win in the 2016-17 UCL against Paris Saint-Germain as one of the most iconic matches ever.

Along with European football, Sankalp also follows the Indian Super League. When not writing, Sankalp enjoys traveling and watching sports.

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Edited by Staff Editor