# 2020–21 Middlesbrough F.C. season

The 2020–21 season was Middlesbrough's fourth consecutive season in the Championship in their 145th year in existence, the club also competed in the FA Cup and EFL Cup.

## 2020–21 Season

During the 2020–21 season, Middlesbrough Football Club competed in the EFL Championship, the second tier of English football. The team was led by manager Neil Warnock, and concluded the season in 10th place, achieving 18 wins, 10 draws, and 18 losses. The season was marked by a strong defensive performance but was undercut by inconsistency in attack, which ultimately led to the team missing out on a playoff position for promotion to the Premier League.
The campaign was heavily influenced by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a modified schedule and games being played without fans for a significant part of the season. Despite these challenges, Middlesbrough maintained a mid-table position, steering clear of the relegation battle but also not managing to secure a place in the top six for much of the season.

## Changes

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, football in the 2019–20 season in multiple countries was halted in order to convey safety regulations, with football returning in England on 17 June for Premier League clubs and 20 June for Championship clubs; the decision was made for the premature conclusion of the League One and League Two seasons, with the final table would be calculated by a points-per-game method with the play-offs being played as normal. As a Championship club, Middlesbrough resumed play, their first game back in action in three months being a 3–0 defeat to Swansea City. With Middlesbrough already engaged in a surprising relegation battle, chairman Steve Gibson sacked club manager Jonathan Woodgate, which came as a surprise to supporters, with heavily experienced Neil Warnock, who had been linked with the club on numerous occasions, replacing him on the same day on a contract until the end of the season.
With the pandemic resulting in the delay of the season, the season's remaining matches continued past 30 June, the date which signifies the conclusion of an English football season as a whole, also including the date that sees players with expiring contracts being allowed to leave the club on a free transfer. This occurred heavily at Middlesbrough, with Rudy Gestede, Daniel Ayala, Mitchell Curry, Nathan Dale, Enes Mahmutovic, Layton Watts, Stephen Wearne, Harold Essien, Harry Flatters all departing. On the same day as the final game of the 2019–20 season, Adam Clayton announced his departure from the club through social media, with the club confirming this the following day.

## First team squad

| No. | Player name | Position(s) | Date of birth (age) | Contract until | Signed from |
| Goalkeepers |||||||
| 1 | Marcus Bettinelli | GK | (1992-05-24) 24 May 1992 (age 32) | 30 June 2021 | Fulham |
| 13 | Jordan Archer | GK | (1993-04-12) 12 April 1993 (age 31) | 30 June 2021 | Motherwell |
| 32 | Dejan Stojanović | GK | (1993-07-19) 19 July 1993 (age 31) | 30 June 2023 | St. Gallen |
| Defenders |||||||
| 2 | Anfernee Dijksteel | RB | (1996-10-27) 27 October 1996 (age 28) | 30 June 2022 | Charlton Athletic |
| 4 | Grant Hall | CB | (1991-10-29) 29 October 1991 (age 33) | 30 June 2023 | Queens Park Rangers |
| 6 | Dael Fry | CB / RB | (1997-08-30) 30 August 1997 (age 27) | 30 June 2021 | Academy |
| 15 | Nathan Wood | CB | (2002-05-31) 31 May 2002 (age 22) | 30 June 2020 | Academy |
| 17 | Paddy McNair | CB / DM | (1995-04-27) 27 April 1995 (age 29) | 30 June 2022 | Sunderland |
| 27 | Marc Bola | LB | (1997-12-09) 9 December 1997 (age 27) | 30 June 2022 | Blackpool |
| 29 | Djed Spence | RB / LB | (2000-08-09) 9 August 2000 (age 24) | 30 June 2020 | Fulham |
| 33 | Hayden Coulson | LB / LM | (1998-06-17) 17 June 1998 (age 26) | 30 June 2023 | Academy |
| Midfielders |||||||
| 3 | Marvin Johnson | LW / LB | (1990-12-01) 1 December 1990 (age 34) | 30 June 2020 | Oxford United |
| 5 | Sam Morsy | DM | (1991-09-10) 10 September 1991 (age 33) | 30 June 2023 | Wigan Athletic |
| 7 | Marcus Tavernier | LW | (1999-03-22) 22 March 1999 (age 25) | 30 June 2021 | Academy |
| 8 | Lewis Wing | AM / CM | (1995-05-23) 23 May 1995 (age 29) | 30 June 2022 | Shildon |
| 12 | Marcus Browne | AM / RW / LW | (1997-12-18) 18 December 1997 (age 27) | 30 June 2023 | West Ham United |
| 16 | Jonny Howson | CM | (1988-05-21) 21 May 1988 (age 36) | 30 June 2020 | Norwich City |
| 18 | Duncan Watmore | RW | (1994-03-08) March 8, 1994 (age 30) | January 2021 | Free Agent |
| 19 | Patrick Roberts | RW | (1997-02-05) February 5, 1997 (age 28) | 30 June 2021 | Manchester City |
| 22 | George Saville | CM / LW | (1993-06-01) 1 June 1993 (age 31) | 30 June 2022 | Millwall |
| 24 | Sam Folarin | RW | (2000-09-23) 23 September 2000 (age 24) | 30 June 2021 | Tooting & Mitcham United |
| 34 | Connor Malley | CM | (2000-03-20) 20 March 2000 (age 24) | 30 June 2022 | Academy |
| 37 | Ben Liddle | DM | (1998-09-21) 21 September 1998 (age 26) | 30 June 2020 | Academy |
| Forwards |||||||
| 9 | Britt Assombalonga | CF | (1992-12-06) 6 December 1992 (age 32) | 30 June 2021 | Nottingham Forest |
| 10 | Chuba Akpom | CF | (1995-10-09) October 9, 1995 (age 29) | 30 June 2023 | PAOK Salonika |
| 11 | Ashley Fletcher | CF / LW | (1995-10-02) 2 October 1995 (age 29) | 30 June 2021 | West Ham United |
| 36 | Stephen Walker | CF | (2000-10-11) 11 October 2000 (age 24) | 30 June 2023 | Academy |
| 41 | Rumarn Burrell | CF | (2000-12-16) 16 December 2000 (age 24) | 30 June 2022 | Grimsby Town |

## Statistics

    As of 21 March 2021
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Championship | Championship | FA Cup | FA Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Marcus Bettinelli | 39 | 0 | 38+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | NED | Anfernee Dijksteel | 31 | 0 | 29+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
| 3 | MF | ENG | Marvin Johnson | 36 | 5 | 18+17 | 4 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 1 |
| 4 | DF | ENG | Grant Hall | 12 | 2 | 10+1 | 2 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 5 | MF | EGY | Sam Morsy | 30 | 1 | 27+2 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Dael Fry | 34 | 1 | 30+2 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | ENG | Marcus Tavernier | 32 | 3 | 25+4 | 2 | 1+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 1 |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Lewis Wing | 15 | 1 | 4+8 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | COD | Britt Assombalonga | 30 | 5 | 19+10 | 5 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | ENG | Chuba Akpom | 33 | 4 | 17+15 | 4 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | ENG | Ashley Fletcher | 12 | 4 | 5+5 | 2 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 2 |
| 12 | MF | ENG | Marcus Browne | 8 | 2 | 1+4 | 2 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | SCO | Jordan Archer | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 14 | FW | COD | Yannick Bolasie | 7 | 0 | 6+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | ENG | Nathan Wood | 7 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | ENG | Jonny Howson | 35 | 1 | 32+1 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | NIR | Paddy McNair | 39 | 2 | 38+0 | 2 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 18 | FW | ENG | Duncan Watmore | 22 | 6 | 15+7 | 6 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | ENG | Patrick Roberts | 10 | 0 | 4+5 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | ENG | Nathaniel Mendez-Laing | 8 | 1 | 1+7 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 20 | DF | ENG | Darnell Fisher | 8 | 0 | 7+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | COD | Neeskens Kebano | 11 | 1 | 8+3 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | NIR | George Saville | 35 | 5 | 28+7 | 5 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | ENG | Sam Folarin | 4 | 1 | 0+2 | 0 | 0+1 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 27 | DF | ENG | Marc Bola | 35 | 1 | 33+0 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 29 | DF | ENG | Djed Spence | 34 | 1 | 18+14 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 32 | GK | MKD | Dejan Stojanović | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 33 | DF | ENG | Hayden Coulson | 12 | 0 | 3+7 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 34 | MF | ENG | Hayden Hackney | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 37 | MF | ENG | Isaiah Jones | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 39 | FW | ENG | Rumarn Burrell | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |

### Goals record

    As of 21 March 2021
| Rank | No. | Nat. | Po. | Name | Championship | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Total |
| 1 | 18 | | CF | Duncan Watmore | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 2 | 3 | | LW | Marvin Johnson | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| 2 | 9 | | CF | Britt Assombalonga | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2 | 22 | | CM | George Saville | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 5 | 10 | | CF | Chuba Akpom | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 5 | 11 | | CF | Ashley Fletcher | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 6 | 7 | | LW | Marcus Tavernier | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 7 | 4 | | CB | Grant Hall | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | 12 | | AM | Marcus Browne | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | 17 | | CB | Paddy McNair | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | 5 | | DM | Sam Morsy | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | 6 | | CB | Dael Fry | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | 8 | | AM | Lewis Wing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | 16 | | CM | Jonny Howson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | 19 | | RW | Nathaniel Mendez-Laing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | 21 | | RW | Neeskens Kebano | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | 24 | | RW | Sam Folarin | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | 27 | | LB | Marc Bola | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | 29 | | RB | Djed Spence | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Own Goals | Own Goals | Own Goals | Own Goals | Own Goals | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 45 | 1 | 4 | 55 |

### Disciplinary record

    As of 21 March 2021
| Rank | No. | Nat. | Po. | Name | Championship | Championship | Championship | FA Cup | FA Cup | FA Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Cup | Total | Total | Total |
| 1 | 5 | | CM | Sam Morsy | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | 16 | | CM | Jonny Howson | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 22 | | CM | George Saville | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | 17 | | CB | Paddy McNair | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | 27 | | LB | Marc Bola | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | 2 | | RB | Anfernee Dijksteel | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | 7 | | RW | Marcus Tavernier | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | 1 | | GK | Marcus Bettinelli | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | 6 | | CB | Dael Fry | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | 9 | | CF | Britt Assombalonga | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | 10 | | CF | Chuba Akpom | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | 3 | | LW | Marvin Johnson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | 11 | | CF | Ashley Fletcher | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | 14 | | LW | Yannick Bolasie | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | 15 | | CB | Nathan Wood | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | 20 | | RB | Darnell Fisher | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | 29 | | RB | Djed Spence | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | 34 | | CM | Hayden Hackney | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 55 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 0 | 2 |

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Date | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| 14 July 2020 | CF | Cole Kiernan | Sunderland | Undisclosed |
| 31 July 2020 | CB | Grant Hall | Queens Park Rangers | Free |
| 11 September 2020 | CM | Sam Morsy | Wigan Athletic | £2,000,000 |
| 18 September 2020 | CF | Chuba Akpom | PAOK | Undisclosed |
| 17 November 2020 | RW | Duncan Watmore | Sunderland | Free transfer |
| 5 January 2021 | GK | Jordan Archer | Motherwell | Free transfer |
| 28 January 2021 | RB | Darnell Fisher | Preston North End | Undisclosed |
| 1 February 2021 | RW | Nathaniel Mendez-Laing | Cardiff City | Free transfer |
| 3 February 2021 | AM | Malik Dijksteel | Telstar | Free transfer |

### Loans in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Date until |
| 10 September 2020 | GK | Marcus Bettinelli | Fulham | 30 June 2021 |
| 12 October 2020 | RW | Patrick Roberts | Manchester City | 1 February 2021 |
| 28 January 2021 | LW | Yannick Bolasie | Everton | 30 June 2021 |
| 1 February 2021 | AM | Neeskens Kebano | Fulham | 30 June 2021 |

### Loans out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Date until |
| 10 September 2020 | GK | Tomás Mejías | Dinamo București | End of season |
| 2 October 2020 | CM | Connor Malley | Carlisle United | 1 January 2021 |
| 16 October 2020 | SS | Stephen Walker | Milton Keynes Dons | 13 January 2021 |
| 7 November 2020 | GK | Brad James | Aldershot Town | End of season |
| 20 November 2020 | CF | Tyrone O'Neill | Darlington | 31 January 2021 |
| 5 January 2021 | GK | Dejan Stojanović | St Pauli | End of season |
| 14 January 2021 | CF | Rumarn Burrell | Bradford City | End of season |
| 22 January 2021 | SS | Stephen Walker | Crewe Alexandra | End of season |
| 29 January 2021 | RW | Isaiah Jones | Queen of the South | End of season |
| 1 February 2021 | CM | Lewis Wing | Rotherham United | End of season |
| 1 February 2021 | CB | Nathan Wood | Crewe Alexandra | End of season |
| 26 February 2021 | GK | Sol Brynn | Darlington | End of season |
| 22 April 2021 | GK | Brad James | Hartlepool United | End of season |
Britt Assombalonga free end of season

### Transfers out

| Date | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| 1 July 2020 | CB | Daniel Ayala | Blackburn Rovers | Free |
| 1 July 2020 | CF | Mitchell Curry | Sunderland | Free |
| 1 July 2020 | CB | Nathan Dale | Gateshead | Free |
| 1 July 2020 | RB | Harold Essien | Free agent | Free |
| 1 July 2020 | GK | Harry Flatters | York City | Free |
| 1 July 2020 | CF | Rudy Gestede | Melbourne Victory | Free |
| 1 July 2020 | RB | Nicholas Hood | Marske United | Free |
| 1 July 2020 | CB | Enes Mahmutovic | FC Lviv | Free |
| 1 July 2020 | CM | Layton Watts | Free agent | Free |
| 1 July 2020 | AM | Stephen Wearne | Sunderland | Free |
| 14 July 2020 | CB | Ryan Shotton | Melbourne Victory | Free |
| 22 July 2020 | CM | Adam Clayton | Birmingham City | Free |
| 15 August 2020 | LB | George Friend | Birmingham City | Free |
| 9 September 2020 | CB | Sam Stubbs | Fleetwood Town | Undisclosed |
| 10 September 2020 | GK | Joe Fryer | Swindon Town | Free |
| 8 October 2020 | DM | Ben Liddle | Bristol Rovers | Undisclosed |
| 16 October 2020 | GK | Aynsley Pears | Blackburn Rovers | Undisclosed |
| 22 January 2021 | GK | Tomás Mejías | Ankaraspor | Mutual consent |

## Competitions
### Championship
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 7 | Reading | 46 | 19 | 13 | 14 | 62 | 54 | +8 | 70 |
| 8 | Cardiff City | 46 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 66 | 49 | +17 | 68 |
| 9 | Queens Park Rangers | 46 | 19 | 11 | 16 | 57 | 55 | +2 | 68 |
| 10 | Middlesbrough | 46 | 18 | 10 | 18 | 55 | 53 | +2 | 64 |
| 11 | Millwall | 46 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 47 | 52 | −5 | 62 |
| 12 | Luton Town | 46 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 41 | 52 | −11 | 62 |
| 13 | Preston North End | 46 | 18 | 7 | 21 | 49 | 56 | −7 | 61 |

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 8 May 2021. Source:

#### Results by matchday

| Matchday | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| Ground | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H |
| Result | L | D | D | W | D | W | D | W | W | D | D | L | W | L | W | L | L | W | W | W | L | W | L | W | L | L | D | L | L | W | W | L | D | W | L | W | W | L | L | D | L | L | W | W | D | L |
| Position | 18 | 18 | 18 | 10 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 |

#### Matches

The 2020–21 season fixtures were released on 21 August.

### FA Cup

The third round draw was made on 30 November, with Premier League and EFL Championship clubs all entering the competition.

### EFL Cup

The first round draw was made on 18 August, live on Sky Sports, by Paul Merson. The draw for both the second and third round were confirmed on 6 September, live on Sky Sports by Phil Babb.