Source: Team_Talk
Strachan: Boro can hold heads high
A record low league crowd of 17,232 watched Boro dominate the first half only to leak a sloppy goal on 61 minutes when a Chris Burke free-kick was allowed to bounce through a crowded area and straight in.[LNB]It took Boro's home record under Strachan to three defeats and one draw with just one goal scored, and the fans made their frustrations heard.[LNB]"I don't think in the overall play we deserved to get beat," Strachan insisted.[LNB]"I thought my two central midfielders were excellent, Mark Yeates got voted man of the match and Adam Johnson was always a threat while we were lively up front.[LNB]"I think they can walk out of here with their heads held high, I don't think we could do that on Tuesday night against Blackpool.[LNB]"If you can do that then it's not so bad. Slink out of the ground when you can't look at anybody in the eye, then you have a problem.[LNB]"I thought they gave it a right good shot. I thought the confidence was fine.[LNB]"The goal... you expect to defend that kind of situation. It was a good delivery but there were still enough people to deal with it."[LNB]Cardiff boss Dave Jones, who saw his side move up to third in the table, said: "I'm delighted with any win.[LNB]"It was a hard-fought contest. We played when we could and at times we had to dig deep so it's nice to come here and come away with a victory.[LNB]"We've had to work hard because we've lost that little bit of grit and little bit of grind in November but I think that coincided with suspensions and injuries and we just took our eye off the ball a little bit.[LNB]"I'm quite happy with the players that we have. We have to strengthen, we know that.[LNB]"The only problem is the chairman will think everything is fine and we haven't got to bring anybody else in and I want to bring people in because I want a lot of competition in the place."[LNB]Boro should have taken the lead on 26 minutes when Rhys Williams picked out Marcus Bent in the box but, with the goal gaping, he opted to roll the ball inside for Dave Kitson whose shot was blocked.[LNB]The home side almost broke the deadlock early in the second half as Johnson went on a weaving run down the right and cut inside two men to lash a shot just over.[LNB]But Cardiff got the crucial goal on 61 minutes when Burke floated in what looked a routine free-kick from wide on the left which dropped between a static Sean St Ledger and David Wheater and bounced past Brad Jones, who remained rooted to his line.[LNB][LNB][LNB]
