Source: Northern_Echo
Strachan still refuses to write off promotion
GORDON STRACHAN last night insisted that promotion can still be achieved this season after witnessing Middlesbrough lose for the fourth time in his seven matches in charge.[LNB] Disgruntled Boro fans are growing more and more frustrated after witnessing their team drop from a point off the top two in mid- October down to nine shy of second-placed West Brom as Christmas approaches.[LNB] Middlesbrough could even have climbed into the playoffs with a victory over Cardiff yesterday, and Strachan feels Premier League football can still be on the agenda next season.[LNB] The former Celtic manager is reluctant to share his reasons for Boro's failure to stay in touch with the leaders since taking over from Gareth Southgate, but he is confident that things will turn for the better.[LNB] The chairman wants promotion, that's for sure.[LNB] That has not changed, said Strachan. No, it is not on track on the evidence of the last two games. But I have my ideas, you will turn them into excuses. So I am not telling you.[LNB] When chairman Steve Gibson sacked Southgate in October one of his major reasons was because he could envisage Boro's promotion charge blowing up. That, though, is exactly what is in danger of happening now.[LNB] Successive defeats to Blackpool and Cardiff since the emphatic 5-1 win at QPR nine days ago have raised question marks about the direction Middlesbrough are heading.[LNB] But after witnessing Chris Burke's fluke 30-yard freekick evade his entire backline to secure Cardiff three points Strachan is publicly remaining confident.[LNB] We deserved a bit more than that. They got some pride back from the other night against Blackpool,[LNB] said Strachan. There were some terrific performances.[LNB] The footballing gods have not been kind to us but life's like that. I won't blame anyone, I don't do that. We had people who didn't deal with it. We didn't expect that.[LNB] Regardless of the manager's view, there is no disguising the frustration being felt in the stands. The jeers that met the final whistle were reminiscent of full-time versus Blackpool and the latter stages of the Southgate era.[LNB] There's booing. It's a disease that's picked up, any team that loses gets boos these days, said Strachan, whose side go to leaders Newcastle on Sunday.[LNB] He added: I was OK with most of the game, but we lost our way when Adam Johnson got injured. I don't think we deserved to get beat overall.[LNB] Yes we got a reaction. We can walk away with heads held high, unlike Tuesday. We are not slinking into the ground.[LNB] They gave it a right good shot in terms of effort.[LNB] Johnson looked like he could win the game. He is a terrific player and we didn't replace him. Johnson had to be replaced with a hamstring injury and will be assessed this morning, but Strachan drew comparison with a similar injury sustained by Marcus Bent, who took two weeks to recover.[LNB] There are also concerns over David Wheater's knee, after he headed for the dressing room in some discomfort.[LNB] There are, however, little concerns for Cardiff boss Dave Jones.[LNB] The Bluebirds are up to third in the Championship, two points adrift of West Brom, and the results made the players feel that it was worthwhile paying for their easyJet flights from Bristol to Newcastle, having moaned about going on the coach.[LNB] It was a hard-fought win but I was pleased at the way we dug deep, said Jones.[LNB] If you put the ball in the right area, the keeper will be caught in two minds but I don't care how they go in as long as they do.[LNB] We are all in it together. It says everything about our players that there was no moaning in the build-up, they just got on with it.[LNB]
