Why Middlesbrough's promotion ambitions now look like an impossible dream
On the day Middlesbrough slumped to another new low for the season, Steve Gibson explained again his reasons for sacking Gareth Southgate - a point off the top and having just won a home game.
“One day I woke up and thought: 'I’m not happy about that, I’m not happy about that and I’m not happy about that.’ My faith had gone.
“It was as simple as that. There was no one event. It was a series of events. We had papered over the cracks at the start of the season.”
I bet that is the feeling most Boro supporters get when they wake up after a match these days.
Since Gordon Strachan took charge the cracks have turned into gaping holes. No papering over needed, just a full demolition job and rebuild.
Gibson wanted Southgate to “get us up at the first chance.” And he told him: “If there is anytime in the coming season I don’t think those objectives will be fulfilled, I will change it.”
Up at the first chance? It was still a possibility when Southgate was sacked. Now it looks an impossible dream.
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