Source: Northern_Echo
Boro must learn from derby defeat
GARY O'NEIL admits Middlesbrough need to take a leaf out of Newcastle's book if they are to rejoin the promotion battle in the top half of the Championship.[LNB] Sunday's Tyne-Tees derby defeat left Boro languishing in 14th place, their lowest position this season.[LNB] They are currently just one point closer to the top two than the bottom three, and need to arrest an alarming run of form if they are to feature in the battle for a play-off spot in the second half of the season.[LNB] Newcastle's situation is markedly different, and after failing to topple the league leaders at the weekend, O'Neil feels Boro could learn a lesson or two from their regional rivals.[LNB] The Magpies have been effective in both attack and defence this season, and while much of Boro's midfield play is as good as anything in the division, their failure to fire in either penalty area has been a key factor in their recent slump.[LNB] Newcastle are good at everything we're not, said O'Neil, who returned from a calf injury to regain the captain's armband at St James' Park. They're very good at attacking the opposition, and are also very good at keeping clean sheets.[LNB] We're not really doing either of those things well at the minute. We seem to be better than them in the middle of the pitch, but miles worse at either end and that's a concern.[LNB] We obviously need to address the situation, and I'm sure the gaffer's fully aware of what we need to do. But we're getting a bit short on time because we're slipping further and further away.[LNB] Sunday's performance was similar to a number of Boro's recent displays, with some slick passing foundering on an inability to either score or defend properly.[LNB] At one end, goalkeeper Brad Jones maintained his miserable recent run with another error in the build-up to Newcastle's first goal, while Justin Hoyte struggled to cope with the switch from right to leftback.[LNB] At the opposite end, both Leroy Lita and Dave Kitson wasted decent opportunities as Boro drew a blank for the third game in succession.[LNB] It was the same story again, said O'Neil. In between both boxes, I thought we were probably the better side and played the better football. We got into better positions than they did.[LNB] But at either end of the field, we let ourselves down.[LNB] We seem to be lacking a cutting edge, and there's only so long you can keep playing well and not scoring.[LNB] Eventually, it'll start to affect everyone. It's hard for the lads to keep clean sheets when we're not scoring goals at the other end. There's so much pressure on defending when you're not scoring goals.[LNB] Kitson is due to return to Stoke at the end of the month, with fellow striker Marcus Bent poised to head back to Birmingham.[LNB] Strachan would like to keep the former at the Riverside, although it remains to be seen whether James Beattie's fall from grace at the Britannia Stadium will affect the striker's position. Bent's situation could depend on whether the Boro boss lands any of his other transfer targets, most notably Rangers Kris Boyd.[LNB] Celtic full-back Mark Wilson is another player on Strachan's radar, but Boro completed their first piece of contractual business since the departure of Gareth Southgate last week when they took up their option to extend O'Neil's deal.[LNB] Having signed a three-year contract when he moved to Teesside from Portsmouth, O'Neil would have been free to talk to prospective employers from the start of next month had Boro not opted to sign a two-year extension that keeps the midfielder at the Riverside until 2012.[LNB] The club have decided to take up their option, confirmed O'Neil. I thought they would because, otherwise, I would have been available on a free transfer at the end of the season.[LNB]
