Sky pundit Paul Merson 'shocked' by Kieran McKenna's Ipswich Town tactics vs Middlesbrough - Tractor Boys didn't 'respect' Boro | OneFootball

Paul Merson wasn't impressed by Ipswich's showing against his former club on Friday night.

Sky Sports pundit and former Middlesbrough star Paul Merson was less than impressed by Ipswich Town's collective showing against Boro on Friday night.

It had been a mixed return to the Championship for the Tractor Boys following their relegation from the Premier League at the end of last season.

However, Kieran McKenna's side had shown green shoots of recovery in the outings leading up to the highly-anticipated clash at the Riverside Stadium on Friday night.

Many punters had predicted Town's upsurge in form to continue on Teesside despite there being a seven-place and five-point gap between the two sides at the start of play, with Rob Edwards' outfit somewhat faltering prior to the October international break after a record-breaking start to life on Teesside for the 42-year-old.

It was to be the ex-Luton Town boss who emerged victorious in the clash of two of the division's most highly-rated homegrown head coaches and managers, though, with Ipswich's overall performance throughout the 90 minutes undone by several mishaps - particularly in defence - which led to them being ruthlessly exposed by a Cedric Kipre own goal and Morgan Whittaker's first goal for Middlesbrough 10 minutes after the break, both after George Hirst saw a spot-kick denied by Sol Brynn moments before the first of those concessions.

Town looked to stage a dramatic fightback when Dara O'Shea also netted his first for the club with a smart header 14 minutes from time.

However, the 2-1 defeat has only added to the woes suffered by the Suffolk outfit and their supporters on the road in recent times, leaving onlookers, such as Merson, far from impressed when tying the negative theme with the expectancy of promotion placed on their shoulders.

Paul Merson critical of Ipswich Town performance vs Middlesbrough as poor away form continues

Merson was part of the Sky Sports panel providing analysis on Town's defeat in the North East, with the 57-year-old offering a Middlesbrough perspective on proceedings alongside modern-day Ipswich legend Luke Chambers, and regular EFL host David Prutton.

As previously mentioned, the Tractor Boys came into the game unbeaten in five games courtesy of three wins and two draws, albeit all three maximum point hauls came at Portman Road over Sheffield United, Portsmouth and local rivals, Norwich City.

The Blues have only accrued two points on their travels from a possible 12 thus far through draws against Birmingham City and Bristol City, as well as being dumped out of the EFL Cup on the road against League Two side Bromley in mid-August.

Indeed, Town are currently on a run of eight away fixtures without victory, which stretches back to a 2-1 success over AFC Bournemouth on April 2nd.

Therefore, with McKenna having arguably the strongest Championship squad on paper at his disposal, Merson was left perplexed by their approach to the game which made it rather simple for their hosts to expose on two occasions, as well as having further opportunities to score that were well saved by Alex Palmer.

"What shocked me with Ipswich tonight, they were so open," Merson claimed in the Sky Sports studio post-match.

"You've got to show respect when you go away. You're going to the team second in the league.

"You (should) go there and go: 'right, sit four at the back, you four stay where you are, don't move, and we'll get on with it (in forward areas)'.

"Some of the plays at the end of the first half, it was like the end of an extra-time cup game," he explained. "Stretched pitch, big gaps. Twice, they (Middlesbrough) were three vs one.

"This is at 0-0. This isn't when they're chasing a game with a minute to go. They need to get back to being tight, nicking a point here and there and winning all their home games, then they'll nick that away game.

"But, at the moment, they're not going to do much without sorting out that away form," Merson stated.

"That would've covered over the cracks had they (Ipswich) gone in at (half-time) 1-0. The goalie (Palmer) was the best player on the pitch first half, he made save after save, after save.

"So, it wasn't like they'd have gone in 1-0 and you're thinking, 'phwoar, Ipswich have played well'. It would've covered over the cracks. They didn't deserve anything from that football match."

Kieran McKenna needs to address Ipswich Town away form ASAP

As Merson alluded to, the hallmark of a promotion-winning side is winning the vast majority of home encounters alongside a consistent number of positive results on the road.

Yet, despite the attacking prowess, in particular, at his disposal, the chances of taking points off potential promotion rivals on the road are starting to slip away from Town, having also lost at Preston North End, who currently reside in the play-offs.

McKenna also referenced such a predicament in his post-match press conference, stating: "I don't think we've had a lead in an away game yet having had big moments to go 1-0 up in pretty much all of them."

At present, Town have the second-best home form - ironically behind Middlesbrough - but the third-worst points return on the road, which is perfectly embodied by their current position of ninth, albeit that is set to change after Saturday's upcoming encounters.