Folarin Balogun was hugely unfortunate not to open his goalscoring tally with Middlesbrough this weekend, hitting the post twice.

Folarin Balogun provides an assist for Middlesbrough against Derby County (Photo via Boro on Twitter)
Folarin Balogun provides an assist for Middlesbrough against Derby County (Photo via Boro on Twitter)

Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun has had some positive moments on loan with Middlesbrough so far.

The young striker featured in the FA Cup win over Manchester United, he provided a match-winning assist against Coventry City, and he laid on another eye-catching assist against Derby County.

But the one thing missing is a goal, and Balogun was particularly unfortunate not to bag his first this weekend.

Balogun started the match against Barnsley on the bench, but Middlesbrough slipped to a two-goal deficit without him. Manager Chris Wilder introduced the Arsenal loanee at half-time to try and turn things around.

Just minutes after the break, Balogun burst past a defender into the box and fired off a weak-foot shot from a tight angle.

It was well-hit, but bounced off the inside of the post and deflected agonisingly across the goal and away.

Later in the half, Balogun received the ball in the area and spun on it for another weak-foot effort.

Once again, the same post denied him a goal. You can watch the highlights here.

Manchester United's French defender Raphael Varane (L) vies with Middlesbrough's English striker Folarin Balogun (R) during the English FA Cup fourth-round football match between Manchester United and Middlesbrough at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England, on February 4, 2022. (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY / AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester United’s French defender Raphael Varane (L) vies with Middlesbrough’s English striker Folarin Balogun (R) during the English FA Cup fourth-round football match between Manchester United and Middlesbrough at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England, on February 4, 2022. (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY / AFP via Getty Images)

If Balogun keeps playing like that, you’d have to imagine the goals will start to come before long.

Ideally, his luck will turn on Tuesday, as Middlesbrough face off against Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup fifth round. That would be a nice time to get off the mark.