Source: Northern_Echo
Boro boos return after defeat on day one
GORDON STRACHAN wanted to started the season on a high, now he is already having to face up to the prospect of having to turn things around at Middlesbrough.[LNB] Despite being installed as the pre-season favourites for the Championship title after spending almost £6m on new talent, Strachan watched his side capitulate during a dreadful second half.[LNB] Such was the manner in the turnaround, as Middlesbrough squandered a half-time lead abysmally, the fans that were still around at the final whistle jeered and booed the players off the pitch.[LNB] When Scott McDonald had headed Middlesbrough ahead in the 22nd minute from close range, after Julio Arca had nodded Barry Robson's centre across goal, there only looked like being one outcome.[LNB] But after the restart Middlesbrough collapsed. Ipswich, who failed to win in their opening 14 matches last season, looked a different team after a Roy Keane teamtalk.[LNB] Carlos Edwards had already been denied by goalkeeper Danny Coyne before the Tractor Boys turned the game completely around inside two minutes.[LNB] First Tommy Smith, a centre-back, was ecstatic to see his hopeful strike from the edge of the box deflect wickedly beyond the Middlesbrough goalkeeper.[LNB] And then, with confidence dealt a sever blow within the home ranks, Ipswich made the most of gaps that had opened up to claim a deserved lead.[LNB] David Norris fed Edwards on the right, the ex-Sunderland winger's centre was perfect for Tamas Priskin to dive and turn beyond Coyne with a terrific header.[LNB] And when Jon Stead, another former Sunderland player, emerged from the bench to clinically strike beyond the Middlesbrough goalkeeper with 14 minutes left, it was all over.[LNB] Hardly the start an optimistic pre-match Riverside crowd was expecting. Now it's time to start all over again for a defeated and disappointed Strachan.[LNB] MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2): Coyne; Hoyte (Kink 60), Wheater, McManus, Bates; Flood (Arca 11), Robson, Thomson; Bailey; McDonald, Kris Boyd. Subs: Steele (gk), Lita, Miller, Williams, Grounds.[LNB] IPSWICH TOWN (4-5-1): Fulop; Peters, McAuley, Smith, Kennedy (Ainsley 90); Edwards (Lambe 64), Norris, Leadbitter, Hyam, Walters; Priskin (Stead 74). Subs: Murphy (gk), Brown, Healy, Hourihane.[LNB]
