Speaking to Teeside Live, Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock has highlighted his team's lack of leaders compared to his time at Cardiff City.

Boro currently sit in ninth place but are only six points behind Reading who currently occupy the final play-off spot.

Warnock's side face a tricky away test at high-flying Bournemouth on Good Friday where a win would be crucial in their battle to reach the top six.

Boro have been inconsistent this season and have never been able to put a run of games together to put pressure on the teams above them. Two straight wins, without conceding a goal, over Stoke and Preston looked to be the start of a promotion push before the team suffered a set-back in their last game losing 1-0 to Millwall.

Boro's stop start season has resulted in Warnock pointing out a potential weakness in the side which he explains he didn't have trouble with during his time with Cardiff.

He said, “They’re a group that need help at times.

“We haven’t got players like Gunnarson or Morrison who used to do my work for me at Cardiff. We haven’t got those type of players."

 

 

Striker Britt Assombalonga was handed the captaincy at the start of the season but after some poor results it was handed over to current club captain Jonny Howson until at least the end of this season.

Warnock did go on to explain how the side will grow in confidence as they get used to his demands as a manager.

"We have to help them as best we can when we see the problems that other teams are causing us.

“We saw that against Stoke and how much we improved when people changed positions and you could see the benefit of what we did within minutes. “But I do think the lads will get more confident the more they get used to exactly what we want them to do." The Verdict It's no secret that Middlesbrough have struggled to find real leadership this season especially since they chose to change their captain. However, it always takes time for a new manager to have his stamp put on the players and given a transfer window you would expect the vastly experienced Warnock will be looking to bring in some leaders to the club. That being said it's never great if you're Jonny Howson and your manager has said you lack the leadership his former players at Cardiff had.