Midfielder Paddy McNair is confident that things will improve for Middlesbrough under Jonathan Woodgate, and says the football the club are playing now is already better than last season.

Woodgate took over as manager at the Riverside Stadium in the summer, after the club elected not to extend the contract of Tony Pulis at the end of last season.

It has been a tough start to management for Woodgate, with his side picking up just a single point from their opening three league games of the season, with 'Boro finding themselves in the relegation zone after Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Blackburn.

Despite that, McNair - who has reverted to his preferred midfield role having been used in defence by Pulis - has been impressed by what he has seen from his side, as he told the Hartlepool Mail: “Compared to last season it is far better because we are playing football again.

“Everyone wants to get the ball down and pass it. Last season was the opposite of that."

That is an approach that McNair evidently feels suits this current Middlesbrough side, as he added: “We have good footballers in the team so we want to do that.

"In that respect it’s not too much of an ask, but I think at this stage it is about getting that bit of luck."

Addressing his side's difficult start to the season, McNair is confident that results will come for 'Boro, claiming: “If we stick to how we want to play then we will pick up points.

“We have to keep playing, be brave on the ball and keep going. It can be hard but you need to get it down and play.”

The Verdict

I do agree with what McNair has said to an extent here.

Middlesbrough played some good football at times on Saturday, and some of the passes forward they were making were intelligent, if a little wayward, although that execution will come in time.

The amount of the second half that 'Boro spent on the front foot will also help them as they look to add an attacking edge to their side, but it does seem as though it could be some time until they fully find that killer instinct when it comes to finishing off chances as well.

A full adaptation to this new approach may take some time for 'Boro, which could cost them in the short term, before they reap the long term benefits, which suggests the club may have to be patient with Woodgate and his side in the coming campaign.