The 2018-19 campaign delivered a heart-breaking near-miss for Middlesbrough as The Boro finished a close 7th in the Championship, falling one point short of the play-offs. Under manager Tony Pulis, the side boasted one of the league's best defenses but faced heavy fan criticism for their ultra-defensive style of play, which only managed to score 49 goals. Spearheading the attack was the club's top scorer, Britt Assombalonga, whose 14 league goals proved vital in a campaign built on grit and an early push for automatic promotion. However, a dramatic run of six successive defeats in the spring shattered their hopes of a top-six finish and ultimately led to Pulis's departure, marking a turbulent, defining chapter in the club's recent history.