Graphic: Bill Edgar’s tactical analysis
His manager called him “the king of Istanbul”, his captain intimated that he could become Middlesbrough’s most popular import since Juninho. Tuncay Sanli is winning over teammates and supporters alike not only for the class of his finishing, but for a willingness to work for the cause.
It is one thing to help your team to beat the Barclays Premier League leaders at home; quite another to show the guts and determination to win away to the bottom side. Tuncay has scored in each of these contrasting challenges to help to steer Middlesbrough away from the perils of relegation.
His goal at Pride Park on Saturday lit up a dismal game as Middlesbrough found Derby County’s players, in Paul Jewell’s