Was Pitman been unlucky to be dropped?

There has been a lot of pats on the back for Brett Pitman of late. He has earned that with his impressive performances in the winning run since Yann Kermorgant picked up his red card at Bolton. Still, having scored four league goals and one in the League Cup he found himself sitting on the bench at Middlesbrough. He failed to score in his 66 minutes against Sheffield Wednesday and did not score against Brighton when he had 63 minutes. So Brett had been given some matches to continue his form, but Eddie probably thought that Yann was ready to come back in for such an important tie as the Middlesbrough match.

Brett passes the batten to Yann.

It was bold for the team to play two up front in any case against Middlesbrough, and the tough nature of the game probably suited Yann more than Brett. For Yann it has been a bit stop start as the minute he gets back into the side we now have the international break.

Eddie could have just played Callum Wilson up front but he wanted to reunite the front two that have been his main choice since the start of the season. For all the merits of Yann, many of his tricks and flicks were just conceding possession against Middlesbrough and Brett might have been given more than the 16 minutes he was given as a sub. I am sure Brett will keep pushing Yann for a place now as he knows that Yann needs to get some goals to keep that place.

Congratulations to Charlie Daniels and Carly on the birth of their new born son last Wednesday.

Tom Jordan speaks with Michael Dunne on All Department's podcast review of Boro 0 v 0 AFCB. You can listen by visiting the All Departments' website or scroll down the right side panel on Cherry Chimes until you get to the All Departments' sound bar and click on it.