Bernie Slaven: Grinding out results is good - but Boro also need to up the quality

Boro's ability to grind out results really has to be admired, but I can’t help but think that they need to start upping the quality levels.

They haven’t been at their fluid best in the last three or four league games.

If you’re still winning while you’re not at the top of your game, you must be doing something right.

But better teams are to come and we need to step up the quality, I think.

You can’t keep relying on workrate and and effort to get you through games.

I’m not saying Leeds are one of the better teams, but it would be nice to see Boro firing on all cylinders against them on Saturday.

Albert Adomah incorrectly had a goal ruled out at Elland Road in the reverse fixture in August, and Leeds went on to get a late winner.

The referee had a nightmare that day and if I was a Boro player I would remember that all too well and be looking to get one over on them.

Certainly if I was Adomah I would.

Neil Redfearn has steadied the ship since he came in at Elland Road.

I played against him and he was always a good, honest pro, and he will probably be old school in his methods.

He has got them playing and in form.

Steve Morison hasn’t scored a goal this season for Leeds yet, but I wouldn’t read too much into that.

Boro have still got to be wary of him.

Action Images / Ed Sykes

Steve Morison of Leeds United

I’ve been in team talks where we’ve been told to shepherd a player on to their supposedly weaker right foot, and the same player has gone out and scored a 30-yarder on his right.

All it takes is the ball to go in off Morison’s back or even his backside, and all of a sudden he is full of confidence again.

The big striker has also scored against Boro for Millwall, so let’s keep him under wraps and get another three points in the bag.

I’ll be there to watch again on Saturday, but before that I’m up in Glasgow watching Celtic against Inter Milan in the Europa League tonight.

I’m taking my youngest son and we’re both really looking forward to it.

Going to the 1970 European Cup Final with my late father to watch Celtic play Feyenoord is something I’ll never forget.

Celtic beat Leeds to get there, and let’s hope Boro keep their promotion challenge on course with a win against them on Saturday.