Source: Northern_Echo
Miller left frustrated by a lack of opportunites
LEE Miller has expressed his disappointment at his lack of first-team opportunities since making a £500,000 move to Middlesbrough in January.[LNB] The former Aberdeen striker has made just five starts since leaving Pittodrie more than three months ago and is yet to open his account for Gordon Strachan's side.[LNB] He is likely to be back on the bench this afternoon as Boro play their final home game of the season against Coventry, and admits he has been frustrated at his limited involvement since moving south.[LNB] I've been disappointed not to start more games, said Miller I know I can't expect to walk straight into the team.[LNB] Gordon Strachan knows what I am all about and there is a long way to go. I have two seasons to get in the team and bang in the goals.[LNB] The strikers haven't been scoring as many as we'd like.[LNB] We've been getting the chances, but need to start hitting the net, simple as that.[LNB] Football is as simple as you make it.[LNB] This afternoon's game became something of a nonevent when last weekend's 2-0 defeat at West Brom ruled out any chance of Boro scraping into the play-offs.[LNB] The Teessiders have not held a top-six spot since they won at QPR in December, and Miller admits an inability to grind out results from tight matches has hit them hard.[LNB] The season is long and hard, said the striker. There were a lot of close games we should have won, but we've not been able to close games out and we've paid the price for that.[LNB] We have players capable of going up, so it's frustrating.[LNB] The Championship is a hard league to get out of, so we need to pick ourselves up and kick on for next season.[LNB] We're building for next season and the manager will stamp his brand of football on the squad to make sure we go up.[LNB] Boro round off the current campaign with todays game and a trip to Leicester.[LNB] Strachan could opt to cast his eye over some of the club's fringe players, but Miller rejects the suggestion there is nothing to play for.[LNB] Everybody in that dressing room is hurting, he said.[LNB] We want to send the fans home with a result and a performance that lets them see what's coming next season.[LNB] Everyone is saying these two games mean nothing, but it means everything to the boys.[LNB] We want a performance for ourselves and the fans. The fans will be hurting and we need to get out and show them what a good squad we really are.[LNB]
