MX23RW : Thursday, May 2 03:34:35| >> :600:461486:461486:

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:
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
CLeicester CityLeicester453141089395097
2Ipswich TownIpswich452712690573393
3Leeds UnitedLeeds45279980413990
4Southampton452591185622384
5Norwich CityNorwich4521101479631673
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4520121367472072
7Hull City451913136859970
8Middlesbrough45199176861766
9Coventry CityCoventry4517131569571264
10Preston North EndPreston45189185664-863
11Bristol City451711175347662
12Cardiff CityCardiff45195215165-1462
13Swansea CitySwansea451512185964-557
14Watford451317156058256
15Sunderland45168215252056
16Millwall451511194455-1156
17Queens Park RangersQPR451411204557-1253
18Stoke CityStoke451411204560-1553
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn451311215874-1650
20Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds45148234268-2650
21Plymouth ArgylePlymouth451212215870-1248
22Birmingham CityBirmingham451211224965-1647
23Huddersfield TownHuddersfield45918184875-2745
RRotherham UnitedRotherham45412293287-5524


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!