MX23RW : Saturday, December 14 10:06:57| >> :120:21576:21576:

Tony Pulis: 'Middlesbrough squad not good enough to go up'

Middlesbrough manager Tony Pulis targets new signings before the transfer window closes as his current group "is not good enough" to earn promotion.

Tony Pulis has confessed that new players must be brought in before the end of the week if Middlesbrough are to challenge for promotion to the Premier League.

The Smoggies have lost a handful of regulars since suffering defeat in last season's playoff semi-finals, including striker Patrick Bamford and defender Ben Gibson.

Adama Traore was not involved against Millwall on the opening weekend as he closes in on a switch to Wolverhampton Wanderers, meanwhile, and injury ruled out Daniel Ayala and Rudy Gestede at The Den.

Speaking after the late 2-2 draw for his side, Pulis hinted that it could be a busy end to the transfer window for Boro.

"I think we've got to put things in perspective," he told reporters. "If you look at the team that came here today compared to the team that finished the season we're six players down. When you are talking about Gibson, Ayala, Traore, Bamford, [Mohamed] Besic, all top players, so that team was a massive change.

"And we know we have to bring players in, that group is not good enough to get us promoted. It's a smashing group, but it's not good enough to get us promoted. We need to add to the group."

Boro are reportedly close to signing Joe Bryan from Bristol City and Martyn Waghorn from Ipswich Town.

ID:332545: cacheID:332545:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3232:
Written by
Daniel Lewis
Restore Data
Share this article now:
A general shot of a Premier League football ahead of the Premier League clash between Everton and West Ham United at Goodison Park on October 30, 2016
Read Next:
Villa, Boro agree fee for Joe Bryan?
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd20135228111742
2Leeds UnitedLeeds20125336142241
3Burnley2010822471738
4Sunderland20107329151437
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn1910452317634
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2071122314932
7Middlesbrough209473425931
8Watford199462725231
9Swansea CitySwansea207672119227
10Norwich CityNorwich206863530526
11Bristol City206862525026
12Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds207582329-626
13Millwall196762017325
14Derby CountyDerby216692626024
15Preston North EndPreston2041062026-622
16Luton TownLuton2064102335-1222
17Coventry CityCoventry205692529-421
18Stoke CityStoke205692126-521
19Queens Park RangersQPR204972026-621
20Oxford UnitedOxford Utd194692030-1018
21Portsmouth193882134-1317
22Cardiff CityCardiff1945101730-1317
23Plymouth ArgylePlymouth1945101940-2117
24Hull City2037101828-1016


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!