Boro 0 Plymouth 1: Argyle fail to ready the script in dreadful debut for Strachan

31 October 2009 19:24
It started with handshakes, waves and autographs, but it's safe to assume Gordon Strachan's first match in charge of Middlesbrough didn't exactly go according to plan. [LNB]Gordon Strachan[LNB]Plymouth, who had not kept a clean sheet all season and had been sitting second bottom of the Championship, raided the Riverside Stadium with a narrow victory that has left Boro four points adrift of leaders West Brom. [LNB]More worryingly for Strachan after the worst possible start to life in his new job, Middlesbrough are out of the top six, courtesy of a 63rd minute winner from Plymouth's Jamie Mackie. [LNB]'It was a wee bit frustrating I suppose,' admitted Strachan. [LNB]'We had a week to try and find the formula and we came up with it in terms of making chances, but the problems were with scoring, that's the hardest part. [LNB]'I think we all know what's wrong. You don't have to have your Uefa Pro Licence to see that. As a unit if you're not scoring goals then you make sure they don't go in at the other end.' [LNB]   Strachan makes his first Boro signing - Birmingham striker Bent joins on loan Wheater urges Johnson to stay at the Riverside and help Boro bounce backBristol City 1 Sheffield Wednesday 1Coventry 1 Reading 3Doncaster Rovers 3 Blackpool 3 Ipswich 1 Derby 0Peterborough 1 Barnsley 2Preston 1 Crystal Palace 1Scunthorpe 0 Swansea 2West Bromwich Albion 5 Watford 0It was home form that ultimately cost Gareth Southgate his job and it has taken just 90 minutes for Strachan to realise why. [LNB]There might have been just Mackie's goal between these two sides but, Middlesbrough could have kept playing while the children were trick or treating and they would not have scored. Adam Johnson's missed penalty was the proof of that. [LNB]Strachan holds the utmost respect for Paul Sturrock, a team-mate of his during the 1986 World Cup, but he was well aware of the importance of inflicting more woe on the Plymouth boss. [LNB]However, his tenure almost got off to the worst possible start. Within 70 seconds Alan Judge came within inches of putting Middlesbrough a goal down. [LNB]The winger, the biggest threat to the home team throughout, struck a 30-yard drive just the wrong side of goalkeeper Brad Jones' left upright, which offered an early indication that Strachan's first match would not be straight-forward. [LNB] Empty feeling: Middlesbrough striker Leroy Lita and team-mate Rhys Williams stand dejected as Boro fall to a shock deficit[LNB]Middlesbrough enjoyed more of possession, but there was a lack of driveand desire from a team that have lacked confidence on North-East soilfor the majority of the last 18 months.[LNB]  In Johnson, however, Strachan had a player capable of bursting into life whenever he felt like it. When he did he successfully highlighted why Middlesbrough want him to stay beyond this season. [LNB]Having cut in from the left and beating three Plymouth players, he poked the ball towards the unmarked Marvin Emnes who looked certain to score. The Dutch striker's first time shot was somehow blocked by Shane Lowry. [LNB]That was as close as Strachan came to celebrating a first half goal, even if Leroy Lita forced Roman Larrieu into a comfortable low save late in the half. [LNB] Mack the knife: Sean St Ledger is sent tumbling under a tough challenge from Plymouth's Jamie Mackie[LNB]Despite keeping possession relatively comfortably, a lack of purpose in the final third could have cost Middlesbrough dearly. Instead their Australian goalkeeper, Jones, saved face by denying midfielder Karl  Duguid from 12 yards with an exceptional save to his left. [LNB]Tough at the top: Leroy Lita's appeal is in vain as Boro fall to lowly Plymouth[LNB]David Wheater was also unfortunate to see his shot cleared by Kari Arnason before being held on the line by Larrieu. But there was no misfortune about Wheater's blunder just after the hour. A hopeful punt up-field from full-back Gary Sawyer, Wheater misjudged and Mackie nipped in and applied the finish. [LNB]A penalty looked harsh on Lowry when Sean St Ledger barged his way into the box after linking up with Lita and ended on the floor. Johnson ensured justice was done, by shaving the post from the spot. [LNB]Sturrock had words of comfort for his former Scotland team-mate. [LNB]He said: 'Gordon will get them promoted. He's a good manager, they're still high up in the table and they're got some good players.[LNB]'I'm almost positive he'll be promoted at the end of the season.'[LNB]  Strachan makes his first Boro signing - Birmingham striker Bent joins on loan Wheater urges Johnson to stay at the Riverside and help Boro bounce backBristol City 1 Sheffield Wednesday 1Coventry 1 Reading 3Doncaster Rovers 3 Blackpool 3 Ipswich 1 Derby 0Peterborough 1 Barnsley 2Preston 1 Crystal Palace 1Scunthorpe 0 Swansea 2West Bromwich Albion 5 Watford 0 [LNB]  

Source: Daily_Mail