Middlesbrough were left frustrated with their 0-0 Premier League draw against Swansea City – but it could have been a completely different story.
Middlesbrough’s Rudy Gestede looks dejected after the match
Middlesbrough striker Rudy Gestede has found himself on the receiving end of many Boro fans’ disbelief on social media outlet Twitter – after the 6’4 forward missed a headed chance to score in the dying embers of the archetypal six-pointer encounter.
With the game well into added on time, Gestede, a £6m January transfer window signing from Aston Villa, headed wide when it appeared easier to score – ultimately providing both clubs with a share of the valuable points towards the bottom of the Premier League table and continuing Middlesbrough’s winless league run in 2017 in the process.
The significance of the miss did not go unnoticed by supporters of the Teessiders, accompanied by a feeling that Gestede’s miss may well be costly in Boro’s attempts to remain in the top flight and prevent an immediate return to the Championship following their side’s promotion last season.
Middlesbrough’s Rudy Gestede in action with Swansea City’s Martin Olsson
In a further amplification of Gestede’s inability to convert Alvaro Negredo’s cross in the 93rd minute, the result means that the former Villa, Blackburn Rovers and Cardiff City front man has now gone a record 39 Premier League appearances without experiencing a single victory.
Middlesbrough fan reaction on Twitter ranged from a sense of deflation and acceptance that their time in the Premier League is over for now, to a direct criticism towards the Benin international.
Middlesbrough’s Rudy Gestede and Ben Gibson look dejected after the match
However, if the worst outcome is realised – and Boro do indeed find themselves relegated back to the Championship – there may be a slight silver lining in that Gestede has a rather prolific recent scoring record in the division; having scored 32 league goals for Blackburn between 2014 and 2015.
Here is a taste of the Twitter reaction to Rudy Gestede’s miss against Swansea City:
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