| 2020–21 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Steve Gibson | |||
| Manager | Neil Warnock | |||
| Stadium | Riverside Stadium | |||
| Championship | 10th | |||
| FA Cup | Third round | |||
| EFL Cup | Second round | |||
| Top goalscorer | League: Duncan Watmore (9 goals) All: Duncan Watmore (9 goals) | |||
The2020–21 season wasMiddlesbrough's fourth consecutive season in theChampionship in their 145th year in existence, the club also competed in theFA Cup andEFL Cup.[1]
During the2020–21 season,Middlesbrough Football Club competed in theEFL Championship, the second tier of English football. The team was led by managerNeil Warnock, and concluded the season in 10th place, achieving 18 wins, 10 draws, and 18 losses. The season was marked by a strong defensive performance but was undercut by inconsistency in attack, which ultimately led to the team missing out on a playoff position for promotion to thePremier League.
The campaign was heavily influenced by the ongoingCOVID-19 pandemic, leading to a modified schedule and games being played without fans for a significant part of the season. Despite these challenges, Middlesbrough maintained a mid-table position, steering clear of the relegation battle but also not managing to secure a place in the top six for much of the season.
As a result of thecoronavirus pandemic, football in the2019–20 season in multiple countries was halted in order to convey safety regulations, with football returning in England on 17 June forPremier League clubs and 20 June forChampionship clubs;[2][3] the decision was made for the premature conclusion of theLeague One andLeague Two seasons, with the final table would be calculated by a points-per-game method with theplay-offs being played as normal.[4] As a Championship club, Middlesbrough resumed play, their first game back in action in three months being a 3–0 defeat toSwansea City.[5] With Middlesbrough already engaged in a surprising relegation battle, chairmanSteve Gibson sacked club managerJonathan Woodgate, which came as a surprise to supporters, with heavily experiencedNeil Warnock, who had been linked with the club on numerous occasions, replacing him on the same day on a contract until the end of the season.[6]
With the pandemic resulting in the delay of the season, the season's remaining matches continued past 30 June, the date which signifies the conclusion of an English football season as a whole, also including the date that sees players with expiring contracts being allowed to leave the club on a free transfer. This occurred heavily at Middlesbrough, withRudy Gestede,[7]Daniel Ayala, Mitchell Curry, Nathan Dale,Enes Mahmutovic, Layton Watts, Stephen Wearne, Harold Essien, Harry Flatters all departing.[8] On the same day as the final game of the 2019–20 season,Adam Clayton announced his departure from the club through social media, with the club confirming this the following day.[9]
| No. | Player name | Nationality | Position(s) | Date of birth (age) | Contract until | Signed from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | ||||||
| 1 | Marcus Bettinelli | GK | (1992-05-24)24 May 1992 (age 33) | 30 June 2021 | Fulham | |
| 13 | Jordan Archer | GK | (1993-04-12)12 April 1993 (age 32) | 30 June 2021 | ||
| 32 | Dejan Stojanović | GK | (1993-07-19)19 July 1993 (age 32) | 30 June 2023 | ||
| Defenders | ||||||
| 2 | Anfernee Dijksteel | RB | (1996-10-27)27 October 1996 (age 29) | 30 June 2022 | Charlton Athletic | |
| 4 | Grant Hall | CB | (1991-10-29)29 October 1991 (age 34) | 30 June 2023 | Queens Park Rangers | |
| 6 | Dael Fry | CB /RB | (1997-08-30)30 August 1997 (age 28) | 30 June 2021 | Academy | |
| 15 | Nathan Wood | CB | (2002-05-31)31 May 2002 (age 23) | 30 June 2020 | Academy | |
| 17 | Paddy McNair | CB /DM | (1995-04-27)27 April 1995 (age 30) | 30 June 2022 | Sunderland | |
| 27 | Marc Bola | LB | (1997-12-09)9 December 1997 (age 27) | 30 June 2022 | Blackpool | |
| 29 | Djed Spence | RB /LB | (2000-08-09)9 August 2000 (age 25) | 30 June 2020 | Fulham | |
| 33 | Hayden Coulson | LB /LM | (1998-06-17)17 June 1998 (age 27) | 30 June 2023 | Academy | |
| Midfielders | ||||||
| 3 | Marvin Johnson | LW /LB | (1990-12-01)1 December 1990 (age 34) | 30 June 2020 | Oxford United | |
| 5 | Sam Morsy | DM | (1991-09-10)10 September 1991 (age 34) | 30 June 2023 | Wigan Athletic | |
| 7 | Marcus Tavernier | LW | (1999-03-22)22 March 1999 (age 26) | 30 June 2021 | Academy | |
| 8 | Lewis Wing | AM /CM | (1995-05-23)23 May 1995 (age 30) | 30 June 2022 | Shildon | |
| 12 | Marcus Browne | AM /RW /LW | (1997-12-18)18 December 1997 (age 27) | 30 June 2023 | West Ham United | |
| 16 | Jonny Howson | CM | (1988-05-21)21 May 1988 (age 37) | 30 June 2020 | Norwich City | |
| 18 | Duncan Watmore | RW | (1994-03-08)March 8, 1994 (age 31) | January 2021 | Free Agent | |
| 19 | Patrick Roberts | RW | (1997-02-05)February 5, 1997 (age 28) | 30 June 2021 | Manchester City | |
| 22 | George Saville | CM /LW | (1993-06-01)1 June 1993 (age 32) | 30 June 2022 | Millwall | |
| 24 | Sam Folarin | RW | (2000-09-23)23 September 2000 (age 25) | 30 June 2021 | Tooting & Mitcham United | |
| 34 | Connor Malley | CM | (2000-03-20)20 March 2000 (age 25) | 30 June 2022 | Academy | |
| 37 | Ben Liddle | DM | (1998-09-21)21 September 1998 (age 27) | 30 June 2020 | Academy | |
| Forwards | ||||||
| 9 | Britt Assombalonga | CF | (1992-12-06)6 December 1992 (age 32) | 30 June 2021 | Nottingham Forest | |
| 10 | Chuba Akpom | CF | (1995-10-09)October 9, 1995 (age 30) | 30 June 2023 | ||
| 11 | Ashley Fletcher | CF /LW | (1995-10-02)2 October 1995 (age 30) | 30 June 2021 | West Ham United | |
| 36 | Stephen Walker | CF | (2000-10-11)11 October 2000 (age 25) | 30 June 2023 | Academy | |
| 41 | Rumarn Burrell | CF | (2000-12-16)16 December 2000 (age 24) | 30 June 2022 | Grimsby Town | |
| Rank | No. | Nat. | Po. | Name | Championship | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 | CF | Duncan Watmore | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 | |
| 2 | 3 | LW | Marvin Johnson | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 | |
| 9 | CF | Britt Assombalonga | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | ||
| 22 | CM | George Saville | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | ||
| 5 | 10 | CF | Chuba Akpom | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| 11 | CF | Ashley Fletcher | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 6 | 7 | LW | Marcus Tavernier | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | |
| 7 | 4 | CB | Grant Hall | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 12 | AM | Marcus Browne | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 17 | CB | Paddy McNair | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 10 | 5 | DM | Sam Morsy | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 6 | CB | Dael Fry | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 8 | AM | Lewis Wing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 16 | CM | Jonny Howson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 19 | RW | Nathaniel Mendez-Laing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 21 | RW | Neeskens Kebano | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 24 | RW | Sam Folarin | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 27 | LB | Marc Bola | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 29 | RB | Djed Spence | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Own Goals | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||||
| Total | 45 | 1 | 4 | 55 | ||||
| Rank | No. | Nat. | Po. | Name | Championship | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | CM | Sam Morsy | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1 | |
| 2 | 16 | CM | Jonny Howson | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
| 22 | CM | George Saville | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 4 | 17 | CB | Paddy McNair | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | |
| 27 | LB | Marc Bola | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 6 | 2 | RB | Anfernee Dijksteel | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| 7 | RW | Marcus Tavernier | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 8 | 1 | GK | Marcus Bettinelli | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| 9 | 6 | CB | Dael Fry | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 9 | CF | Britt Assombalonga | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 10 | CF | Chuba Akpom | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 12 | 3 | LW | Marvin Johnson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 11 | CF | Ashley Fletcher | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 14 | LW | Yannick Bolasie | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 15 | CB | Nathan Wood | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 20 | RB | Darnell Fisher | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 29 | RB | Djed Spence | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 34 | CM | Hayden Hackney | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 55 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 0 | 2 | ||||
| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Fee | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 July 2020 | CF | Cole Kiernan | Sunderland | Undisclosed | [10] | |
| 31 July 2020 | CB | Grant Hall | Queens Park Rangers | Free | [11] | |
| 11 September 2020 | CM | Sam Morsy | Wigan Athletic | £2,000,000 | [12] | |
| 18 September 2020 | CF | Chuba Akpom | Undisclosed | [13] | ||
| 17 November 2020 | RW | Duncan Watmore | Sunderland | Free transfer | [14] | |
| 5 January 2021 | GK | Jordan Archer | Free transfer | [15] | ||
| 28 January 2021 | RB | Darnell Fisher | Preston North End | Undisclosed | [16] | |
| 1 February 2021 | RW | Nathaniel Mendez-Laing | Free transfer | [17] | ||
| 3 February 2021 | AM | Malik Dijksteel | Free transfer | [18] |
| Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Date until | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 September 2020 | GK | Marcus Bettinelli | Fulham | 30 June 2021 | [19] | |
| 12 October 2020 | RW | Patrick Roberts | Manchester City | 1 February 2021 | [20][21] | |
| 28 January 2021 | LW | Yannick Bolasie | Everton | 30 June 2021 | [22] | |
| 1 February 2021 | AM | Neeskens Kebano | Fulham | 30 June 2021 | [23] |
| Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Date until | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 September 2020 | GK | Tomás Mejías | End of season | [24] | ||
| 2 October 2020 | CM | Connor Malley | Carlisle United | 1 January 2021 | [25] | |
| 16 October 2020 | SS | Stephen Walker | Milton Keynes Dons | 13 January 2021 | [26][27] | |
| 7 November 2020 | GK | Brad James | Aldershot Town | End of season | [28][29] | |
| 20 November 2020 | CF | Tyrone O'Neill | Darlington | 31 January 2021 | [30][31] | |
| 5 January 2021 | GK | Dejan Stojanović | End of season | [32] | ||
| 14 January 2021 | CF | Rumarn Burrell | Bradford City | End of season | [33] | |
| 22 January 2021 | SS | Stephen Walker | Crewe Alexandra | End of season | [34] | |
| 29 January 2021 | RW | Isaiah Jones | End of season | [35] | ||
| 1 February 2021 | CM | Lewis Wing | Rotherham United | End of season | [36] | |
| 1 February 2021 | CB | Nathan Wood | Crewe Alexandra | End of season | [37] | |
| 26 February 2021 | GK | Sol Brynn | Darlington | End of season | [38] | |
| 22 April 2021 | GK | Brad James | Hartlepool United | End of season | [39] |
Britt Assombalonga free end of season
| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Fee | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 July 2020 | CB | Daniel Ayala | Blackburn Rovers | Free | [40][41] | |
| 1 July 2020 | CF | Mitchell Curry | Sunderland | Free | [42][43] | |
| 1 July 2020 | CB | Nathan Dale | Gateshead | Free | [42][44] | |
| 1 July 2020 | RB | Harold Essien | Free agent | Free | [42] | |
| 1 July 2020 | GK | Harry Flatters | York City | Free | [42][45] | |
| 1 July 2020 | CF | Rudy Gestede | Free | [40][46] | ||
| 1 July 2020 | RB | Nicholas Hood | Marske United | Free | [42][47] | |
| 1 July 2020 | CB | Enes Mahmutovic | Free | [42][48] | ||
| 1 July 2020 | CM | Layton Watts | Free agent | Free | [42] | |
| 1 July 2020 | AM | Stephen Wearne | Sunderland | Free | [42][49] | |
| 14 July 2020 | CB | Ryan Shotton | Free | [50][51] | ||
| 22 July 2020 | CM | Adam Clayton | Birmingham City | Free | [9][52] | |
| 15 August 2020 | LB | George Friend | Birmingham City | Free | [53] | |
| 9 September 2020 | CB | Sam Stubbs | Fleetwood Town | Undisclosed | [54] | |
| 10 September 2020 | GK | Joe Fryer | Swindon Town | Free | [55] | |
| 8 October 2020 | DM | Ben Liddle | Bristol Rovers | Undisclosed | [56] | |
| 16 October 2020 | GK | Aynsley Pears | Blackburn Rovers | Undisclosed | [57] | |
| 22 January 2021 | GK | Tomás Mejías | Mutual consent | [58] |
| 25 August 2020Friendly | Plymouth Argyle | 0–1 | Middlesbrough | Plymouth |
| 14:00BST | Report | Assombalonga | Stadium:Home Park Attendance: 0 |
| 1 September 2020Friendly | Middlesbrough | 5–1 | Newcastle United | Hurworth-on-Tees |
| 13:00BST | Assombalonga Tavernier Hall Walker | Report | Saint-Maximin | Stadium:Rockliffe Park Attendance: 0 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Reading | 46 | 19 | 13 | 14 | 62 | 54 | +8 | 70 |
| 8 | Cardiff City | 46 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 66 | 49 | +17 | 68 |
| 9 | Queens Park Rangers | 46 | 19 | 11 | 16 | 57 | 55 | +2 | 68 |
| 10 | Middlesbrough | 46 | 18 | 10 | 18 | 55 | 53 | +2 | 64 |
| 11 | Millwall | 46 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 47 | 52 | −5 | 62 |
| 12 | Luton Town | 46 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 41 | 52 | −11 | 62 |
| 13 | Preston North End | 46 | 18 | 7 | 21 | 49 | 56 | −7 | 61 |
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 46 | 18 | 10 | 18 | 55 | 53 | +2 | 64 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 30 | 25 | +5 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 25 | 28 | −3 |
Last updated: 8 May 2021.
Source:[citation needed]
| Matchday | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H |
| Result | L | D | D | W | D | W | D | W | W | D | D | L | W | L | W | L | L | W | W | W | L | W | L | W | L | L | D | L | L | W | W | L | D | W | L | W | W | L | L | D | L | L | W | W | D | L |
| Position | 18 | 18 | 18 | 10 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
The 2020–21 season fixtures were released on 21 August.[60]
| 11 September 20201 | Watford | 1–0 | Middlesbrough | Watford |
| 19:45BST | Cathcart Wilmot | Report | Stadium:Vicarage Road Attendance: 0 Referee:Keith Stroud |
| 19 September 20202 | Middlesbrough | 1–1 | Bournemouth | Middlesbrough |
| 15:00BST | Saville Browne | Report | Solanke Mepham Stacey | Stadium:Riverside Stadium Attendance: 1,000 Referee: Matt Donohue |
| 26 September 20203 | Queens Park Rangers | 1–1 | Middlesbrough | Shepherd's Bush |
| 15:00BST | Osayi-Samuel | Report | Akpom Dijksteel | Stadium:Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Dean Whitestone |
| 3 October 20204 | Middlesbrough | 2–1 | Barnsley | Middlesbrough |
| 15:00BST | Tavernier Morsy Howson Akpom McNair Saville Bettinelli | Report | Styles Woodrow Simões | Stadium:Riverside Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee:Oliver Langford |
| 17 October 20205 | Middlesbrough | 0–0 | Reading | Middlesbrough |
| 15:00BST | Morsy McNair | Report | Moore Richards Holmes | Stadium:Riverside Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Darren Bond |
| 20 October 20206 | Bristol City | 0–1 | Middlesbrough | Ashton Gate |
| 19:45BST | Report | Fry Saville Bettinelli | Stadium:Ashton Gate Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Tim Robinson |
| 24 October 20207 | Cardiff City | 1–1 | Middlesbrough | Cardiff |
| 15:00BST | Moore Ojo | Report | Saville | Stadium:Cardiff City Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee:John Brooks |
| 27 October 20208 | Middlesbrough | 2–0 | Coventry City | Middlesbrough |
| 19:45GMT | Assombalonga Spence | Report | Maroši | Stadium:Riverside Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: David Webb |
| 31 October 20209 | Middlesbrough | 1–0 | Nottingham Forest | Middlesbrough |
| 15:00GMT | Morsy Johnson | Report | Figueiredo Bong | Stadium:Riverside Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee:Lee Mason |
| 3 November 202010 | Blackburn Rovers | 0–0 | Middlesbrough | Blackburn |
| 19:45GMT | Trybull Rankin-Costello Lenihan Wharton Holtby | Report | McNair | Stadium:Ewood Park Attendance: 0 Referee: David Webb |
| 7 November 202011 | Brentford | 0–0 | Middlesbrough | Brentford |
| 15:00GMT | Dalsgaard | Report | Stadium:Brentford Community Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: James Linington |
| 21 November 202012 | Middlesbrough | 0–1 | Norwich City | Middlesbrough |
| 15:00GMT | Tavernier | Report | Sørensen Pukki | Stadium:Riverside Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Tony Harrington |
| 25 November 202013 | Middlesbrough | 3–0 | Derby County | Middlesbrough |
| 19:00GMT | Assombalonga Clarke Johnson | Report | Jóźwiak Lawrence Byrne Buchanan | Stadium:Riverside Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee:Peter Bankes |
| 28 November 202014 | Huddersfield Town | 3–2 | Middlesbrough | Huddersfield |
| 15:00GMT | Eiting Campbell Bacuna Sarr Koroma Hogg | Report | Johnson McNair Howson Dijksteel Assombalonga | Stadium:The John Smith's Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee:John Brooks |
| 2 December 202015 | Middlesbrough | 2–1 | Swansea City | Middlesbrough |
| 19:00GMT | Watmore Johnson Akpom | Report | Fulton Dhanda Grimes | Stadium:Riverside Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee:Keith Stroud |
| 5 December 202016 | Stoke City | 1–0 | Middlesbrough | Stoke-on-Trent |
| 15:00GMT | Collins Campbell Brown | Report | Fry Saville Bola | Stadium:Bet365 Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Jeremy Simpson |
| 9 December 202017 | Preston North End | 3–0 | Middlesbrough | Preston |
| 19:00GMT | Hughes Sinclair Jakobsen | Report | Howson | Stadium:Deepdale Referee:Andrew Madley |
| 12 December 202018 | Middlesbrough | 3–0 | Millwall | Middlesbrough |
| 15:00GMT | Watmore Tavernier Bola | Report | Hutchinson | Stadium:Riverside Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Darren Bond |
| 16 December 202019 | Middlesbrough | 1–0 | Luton Town | Middlesbrough |
| 19:00GMT | Akpom Morsy Assombalonga | Report | Collins Rea | Stadium:Riverside Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Andy Davies |
| 19 December 202020 | Birmingham City | 1–4 | Middlesbrough | Bordesley |
| 15:00GMT | Colin | Report | Assombalonga Saville Etheridge Wing | Stadium:St. Andrew's Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Steve Martin |
| 29 December 202021 | Sheffield Wednesday | 2–1 | Middlesbrough | Owlerton |
| 19:00GMT | Paterson Shaw Bannan | Report | Saville Morsy Watmore | Stadium:Hillsborough Attendance: 0 Referee: Geoff Eltringham |
| 2 January 202122 | Wycombe Wanderers | 1–3 | Middlesbrough | High Wycombe |
| 15:00GMT | Ikpeazu Mehmeti Knight | Report | Browne Tavernier Bola Bettinelli Akpom | Stadium:Adams Park Attendance: 0 Referee:Jarred Gillett |
| 16 January 202123 | Middlesbrough | 0–1 | Birmingham City | Middlesbrough |
| 12:30GMT | Dijksteel | Report | Toral Hogan Šunjić | Stadium:Riverside Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee:Darren England |
| 20 January 202124 | Nottingham Forest | 1–2 | Middlesbrough | West Bridgford |
| 19:00GMT | Sow Taylor Mbe Soh Knockaert Ribeiro | Report | Morsy Assombalonga Saville Howson | Stadium:The City Ground Attendance: 0 Referee: Andy Woolmer |
| 24 January 202125 | Middlesbrough | 0–1 | Blackburn Rovers | Middlesbrough |
| 15:00GMT | Morsy Tavernier Bola | Report | Davenport Rothwell | Stadium:Riverside Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Dean Whitestone |
| 27 January 202126 | Middlesbrough | 0–3 | Rotherham United | Middlesbrough |
| 19:00GMT | Report | Crooks Smith Giles | Stadium:Riverside Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Michael Salisbury |
| 30 January 202127 | Norwich City | 0–0 | Middlesbrough | Norwich |
| 12:30GMT | Buendía | Report | Saville Howson | Stadium:Carrow Road Attendance: 0 Referee:Keith Stroud |
| 6 February 202128 | Middlesbrough | 1–4 | Brentford | Middlesbrough |
| 15:00GMT | Raya Saville | Report | Fosu Toney Janelt Jensen | Stadium:Riverside Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Darren Bond |
| 13 February 202129 | Derby County | 2–1 | Middlesbrough | Derby |
| 15:00GMT | Gregory Kazim-Richards Jóźwiak Knight | Report | Kebano Dijksteel | Stadium:Pride Park Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Matt Donohue |
| 16 February 202130 | Middlesbrough | 2–1 | Huddersfield Town | Middlesbrough |
| 19:45GMT | Watmore Morsy Fletcher McNair | Report | Mbenza O'Brien | Stadium:Riverside Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Jeremy Simpson |
| 20 February 202131 | Reading | 0–2 | Middlesbrough | Reading |
| 15:00GMT | Richards Rinomhota | Report | Fletcher Bola Howson | Stadium:The Madejski Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: David Webb |
| 23 February 202132 | Middlesbrough | 1–3 | Bristol City | Middlesbrough |
| 19:00GMT | Bola Fry | Report | Diédhiou Wells Palmer Hunt | Stadium:Riverside Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Tim Robinson |
| 27 February 202133 | Middlesbrough | 1–1 | Cardiff City | Middlesbrough |
| 15:00GMT | McNair | Report | Vaulks Morrison Bennett Ng | Stadium:Riverside Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee:Jarred Gillett |
| 2 March 202134 | Coventry City | 1–2 | Middlesbrough | Bordesley |
| 19:00GMT | Dijksteel McFadzean | Report | Akpom Hall McNair Saville | Stadium:St. Andrew's Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee:Graham Scott |
| 6 March 202135 | Swansea City | 2–1 | Middlesbrough | Swansea |
| 15:00GMT | Ayew Manning Guéhi | Report | Bolasie Saville Morsy Howson Neil Warnock | Stadium:The Liberty Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Gavin Ward |
| 13 March 202136 | Middlesbrough | 3–0 | Stoke City | Middlesbrough |
| 15:00GMT | Hall McNair Mendez-Laing | Report | Powell | Stadium:Riverside Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee:Andrew Madley |
| 16 March 202137 | Middlesbrough | 2–0 | Preston North End | Middlesbrough |
| 19:00GMT | Storey Tavernier Fisher | Report | Browne Potts Alex Neil | Stadium:Riverside Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee:Oliver Langford |
| 20 March 202138 | Millwall | 1–0 | Middlesbrough | Bermondsey |
| 15:00GMT | Hall McNamara | Report | Bola | Stadium:The Den Attendance: 0 Referee: James Linington |
| 2 April 202139 | Bournemouth | 3–1 | Middlesbrough | King's Park |
| 15:00BST | Billing Lerma Smith Solanke | Report | Watmore McNair Bola | Stadium:Vitality Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee:Simon Hooper |
| 5 April 202140 | Middlesbrough | 1–1 | Watford | Middlesbrough |
| 12:30BST | Bolasie | Report | Chalobah Sarr | Stadium:Riverside Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Tim Robinson |
| 10 April 202141 | Barnsley | 2–0 | Middlesbrough | Barnsley |
| 15:00BST | Mowatt Dike | Report | Stadium:Oakwell Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee:Keith Stroud |
| 17 April 202142 | Middlesbrough | 1–2 | Queens Park Rangers | Middlesbrough |
| 12:30BST | Bolasie | Report | Dickie Wallace Kakay Dieng | Stadium:Riverside Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Matt Donohue |
| 21 April 202143 | Rotherham United | 1–2 | Middlesbrough | Rotherham |
| 18:00BST | MacDonald Crooks Lindsay Smith | Report | Saville Akpom McNair Kebano | Stadium:New York Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Darren Bond |
| 24 April 202144 | Middlesbrough | 3–1 | Sheffield Wednesday | Middlesbrough |
| 15:00BST | Bolasie McNair Coburn Watmore | Report | Windass | Stadium:Riverside Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee:Jarred Gillett |
| 1 May 202145 | Luton Town | 1–1 | Middlesbrough | Luton |
| 15:00BST | Rea Collins | Report | Watmore | Stadium:Kenilworth Road Attendance: 0 Referee: Jeremy Simpson |
| 8 May 202146 | Middlesbrough | 0–3 | Wycombe Wanderers | Middlesbrough |
| 12:30BST | Report | Onyedinma McCleary Adeniran McCarthy | Stadium:Riverside Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee:Martin Atkinson |
The third round draw was made on 30 November, withPremier League andEFL Championship clubs all entering the competition.[61]
| 9 January 2021Third round | Brentford | 2–1 | Middlesbrough | Brentford |
| 18:00GMT | Ghoddos Dervişoğlu | Report | Folarin Tavernier Hackney | Stadium:Brentford Community Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee:Tim Robinson |
The first round draw was made on 18 August, live onSky Sports, byPaul Merson.[62] The draw for both the second and third round were confirmed on 6 September, live on Sky Sports byPhil Babb.[63]
| 4 September 2020First round | Middlesbrough | 4–3 | Shrewsbury Town | Middlesbrough |
| 17:30BST | Johnson Fletcher Tavernier | Report | High Cummings Pyke Williams | Stadium:Riverside Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Michael Salisbury |
| 15 September 2020Second round | Middlesbrough | 0–2 | Barnsley | Middlesbrough |
| 18:00BST | Morsy Wood-Gordon | Report | Schmidt Williams Halme | Stadium:Riverside Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Anthony Backhouse |