Middlesbrough went down 1-0 at Sheffield United in the Championship on Wednesday evening, and after the match many fans took to social media to demand the removal of their boss Tony Pulis.
It has not been a good period for Boro, with their FA Cup exit at Newport County last week among their low points, but their league form hasn’t been particularly inspiring either, and supporters appear to have run out of patience with the former Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion manager.
Pulis has angered many Middlesbrough fans throughout his tenure at the Riverside Stadium, with his style of football not being particularly appealing. That is often overlooked when results are going well, but when his team begins to struggle the pressure soon mounts.
Boro actually headed to Bramall Lane unbeaten in four matches in the Championship, but their agonising late concession of two points to Leeds on Saturday, so soon after that embarrassing FA Cup exit, had many supporters feeling indifferent about what they were witnessing.
With Pulis adopting a policy that requires his team to be hard to break down, but not necessarily offering much in the way of entertainment going forward, he often has to work to win supporters round.
Boro offered little in attack at Bramall Lane, and after conceding in the second half, their efforts were not helped with the dismissal of Daniel Ayala minutes later, and in the end they fell to a pretty tame defeat, which leaves them clinging on to their place in the play-offs by goal difference only.
Judging by the strong feelings of anger towards him on social media, Pulis has lost the faith of the majority of Middlesbrough supporters, who are now calling for him to leave their club with results and performances not up to their expectations.
Here are some of their posts:
Pulis with every excuse under the sun. The problem is you and your tactics. Pulis out! #Boro
— Steve Downing (@smdowning) February 13, 2019
Hilarious people on here who were backing pulis now want him out now the plays offs is under threat. Maybe you should have opened your eyes 4 months ago instead of saying 'we are still in a good position'. This cannot even be called football #boro #pulisout
— chris cottrell (@chriscottrell25) February 13, 2019
Used to love going to the home games, away days, no where better on a Saturday. Now even the thought of watching Pulis's #Boro on tv just makes me… not care as much. We're boring.
— Joe Jennings (@1JoeJennings1) February 13, 2019
Pulis has prob done all he can cutting costs now January over, if his contract up in the summer then get rid now. Build for next season cos we ain't got a hope in going up with his dreadful football. #Boro
— Craig (@SilverSmoggy) February 13, 2019
Tony Pulis has systematically reduced all expectations since the day he walked through the door. #Boro
— Robert Archer (@robarcher1990) February 13, 2019
#Boro @bbcteessport……… and there it is, back to normal, we were beaten by the better team but should have actually put up a fight
Let's see the Pulis fans defend that with "were still in the play offs" yes we are but not for long, get a grip #pulisout— Tony Baird (@Parmoman) February 13, 2019
Not even upset. Had a few beers and laughed at us. Pulis has done that too me. If that makes me less of a fan, so be it lads. #boro
— Jacob S (@jacobms23) February 13, 2019
We are rubbish. Mikel & Randolph too good for us right now. Rebuild in the summer with Pulis gone and we go again. Seems like no one can be bothered at the moment 🙄😬 #boro
— Toria 🦁✨ (@VAWilkinson) February 13, 2019
This is the least interested I’ve been in being a #Boro fan in my life, I just don’t care anymore. I think I’ll just stick to FlashScore notifications from now on until Pulis the dinosaur has been sacked and our horrendous recruitment team are gone.
— Josh (@TheJCTrain) February 13, 2019
Pulis has to go. Bauser has to go. The boardroom has to go. This is a joke #boro
— Better Nurf Akali (@AdamRenahan) February 13, 2019
