Rob Edwards says two Middlesbrough stars were ‘really good’ in pre-season defeat but ‘need more’ in key area

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Rob Edwards is still searching for his first win as Middlesbrough manager following his takeover this summer.

After Michael Carrick was sacked, Rob Edwards was appointed Middlesbrough manager after six months out of work.

He was previously in charge of Luton Town but left in January when the club were struggling prior to their recent relegation.

With the Championship season now close, Middlesbrough are in the midst of their pre-season preparations, and Edwards has commented on the latest clash.

Rob Edwards praises Middlesbrough duo

Boro’s first official pre-season friendly saw them face Mansfield Town on July 19.

The Teessiders went 3-0 up in that game but ended up drawing 3-3 with the Stags.

More recently, Middlesbrough met Bradford City on Wednesday evening, losing 2-0.

After that game, Edwards was happy with the positions Riley McGree and Morgan Whittaker were taking up.

He said: “A lot of really good stuff, but we’ve got to be able to finish the action more now.

“So I think we played better in the first half today than we did on Saturday, but we were 3-0 up on Saturday and 1-0 down today.

“We got into some really good positions in the final bit, where we shot too soon or didn’t slide someone in and snatched at things. So there was some really good bits we got Morgan and Riles, in particular, in the first half, in really good positions, turned and driving at them.”

Rob Edwards says where Middlesbrough need to improve

Edwards went on to say he wants his players to improve in the final third.

In particular, he wants them to be more aggressive at getting the ball into the box and hitting the target, especially late in games when they are a goal down.

He added: “But then didn’t work the goalkeeper enough, so that’s another area we’re still working on and still going to improve on. Need more in those wider areas as well, so that we can go not just through, but around as well.

“So yep, bits to work on but overall completely controlled the game just as I would expect us to do.

“But then the cut and thrust needs to be better and we’re in the final third especially later on when we’re 1-0 down I need to see and we’ve got a throw-in in this area here, we’ve got to find a way to get that in the box then it’s not little Rondo and come back out.”