Scotland prodigy Ben Doak was on target for Middlesbrough – but they blew a three goal lead in a Boxing Day thriller against Sheffield Wednesday.
The Liverpool loanee, who has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign under the management of former Manchester United star Michael Carrick on Wearside, netted for the second time this season – and it came in an unlikely manner, as the diminutive attacker stooped to head in a Finn Azaz cross. It was his seventh goal contribution in 18 games this season, but despite Boro racing into a 3-0 half-time lead they were forced to settle for just a point.
After setting up Doak’s opener, Azaz netted twice himself to have Middlesbrough cruising at half-time – before a crazy first 15 minutes of the second-half turned the game on it’s head. First Svante Ingelsson and ex-Rangers man Josh Windass netted for Sheffield Wednesday, before the hosts’ Rav ven den Berg was sent-off and then Yan Valery levelled for the Owls – with Doak substituted following the red card.
However despite frustration at the result, Boro fans hailed Doak – urging parent club Liverpool to let him remain with them for the rest of the season. Doak is on a season-long loan, but the Anfield club have an option to recall him in January. One said: “Liverpool don’t recall him!” and another posted: “Ben Doak is having a seriously good season at Boro. Carrick getting the best outta him.” One Reds fan even said: “We should have given Doak chance in first team instead of signing Chiesa.”
Doak arrived at Anfield from Celtic in the summer of 2022 and has made 10 senior appearances for Liverpool after making his debut at the age of just 16 against Derby County in November 2022. He signed a new long-term contract in September last year but his progress was affected by a knee injury sustained shortly before Christmas that caused him to miss the remainder of 2023-24 campaign.
Despite this he was named in Steve Clarke’s provisional Scotland squad for Euro 2024 before withdrawing through injury, but fans didn’t have long to wait for his debut – which came against Poland in September as he produced sparkling displays in the national side’s final Nations League games of 2024.