Middlesbrough midfielder Matt Crooks has insisted that Boro are confident they can continue to improve under Chris Wilder and that it is still all to play for them in terms of challenging for promotion.
Wilder managed to pick up three points for the first time since taking over from Neil Warnock on Saturday as Boro secured a 2-1 win at Huddersfield Town. It was a much-needed victory that helped to lift Middlesbrough back into the top half of the table, and it will provide them with something to build on over the coming weeks as they aim to close the gap on the teams above them.
Crooks has got off to a strong start under Wilder with the midfielder scoring the first goal of the new manager’s reign at the Riverside in their 1-1 draw with Millwall. While he also managed to register an assist for one of Duncan Watmore’s two goals against Huddersfield as Boro secured their first three points under the former Sheffield United boss on Saturday.
Middlesbrough are now just six points adrift of the play-off places and if they are able to put a winning run together over the festive period then there is every chance they could yet be a major player in the promotion race this term. However, they will have to improve their consistency during the rest of the season under Wilder to do that.
Speaking to the Northern Echo, Crooks has insisted that Middlesbrough’s squad are enjoying working with Wilder and he believes there is more to come from them this season. He also insisted that promotion is still well within their grasp this term.
He said: “Me personally, I’ve really enjoyed the last three games and I think all the boys have as well. We’ve really enjoyed the way the new manager works and the way he plays and I think it’s a benefitting us in the games.
“Obviously we should have had more points on the board but they will come.
“We don’t want to get too ahead of ourselves but we’re all enjoying it. I think the more we work on it, obviously we’ll have a full week of training now, the better we should become at it. We’re not getting ahead of ourselves but at the same time, be confident in what we are doing.
“With results at the weekend, it all tightened up again. There is so many points to play for. To win 10 or 12 games it puts you in a really good position of being right up there.”
The verdict
Crooks is right to be confident that Middlesbrough can continue to improve and climb the table under Wilder. The former Sheffield United manager seems to be developing a strong relationship with most of his squad and the win against Huddersfield will go a long way to getting players to buy into his methods and believe he can be a success at the Riverside.
Wilder has already managed to get Sheffield United promoted from the Championship in recent years, so Middlesbrough’s squad should be aware that if they take on board his methods then they have someone in charge who can take them to the next level. That certainly appears to be something that the squad are aware of given their start under him.
It will be interesting to see how much of an impact Crooks has for Middlesbrough under Wilder because he will have a slightly different role under him than he did for Warnock. However, the midfielder has shown already that even playing a little deeper he can affect games in the final third.