Source: Northern_Echo
Strachan unhappy with referee
GORDON STRACHAN last night questioned the penalty decision made by referee Graham Horwood that proved the turning point in Middlesbrough's Carling Cup exit at Millwall.[LNB] Strachan was frustrated by the way Horwood chose to go with his assistant's flag, which was raised when Tarmo Kink appeared to shove full-back Alan Dunne to the floor just before the half hour, rather than make the decision himself.[LNB] The Boro boss walked off the New Den pitch with the officials at full-time, questioning why the penalty was awarded in that manner.[LNB] It was not that he disagreed with the controversial spotkick, which was scored by Steve Morison, just that he felt the man in the middle should have awarded it.[LNB] It's not a complaint. I get paid more money than my backroom staff to make tough decisions, I don't send my backroom staff in to tell a young player he is leaving on a free, said Strachan.[LNB] I do it. The referee gets paid more than the linesman so I think there was lack of responsibility from the referee to go with the linesman.[LNB] I tell my players that they must take responsibility.[LNB] That's what the referee should have done.[LNB] The result hurts but if you give it your best shot then that hurts. It's when you have let people down when it is hard to live with.[LNB] Middlesbrough were then left two behind when Liam Trotter added a second six minutes before half-time, which left Middlesbrough effectively out of the Carling Cup despite Scott McDonald's late consolation.[LNB] It was a smashing game of football and I am pleased with the part we played in after Sunday's match with Sheffield United, he said.[LNB] I will sleep better tonight after Sunday, which was not a good game and we didn't play well. We still want to enjoy our football and I would like to see improvement, but all in all we moved the ball well.[LNB] Having been encouraged, Strachan, who has a doubt over the fitness of Nicky Bailey's groin problem for Saturday, wants to see further progress made against Barnsley this weekend.[LNB] He said: We have four good players missing at the moment.[LNB] We are chopping and changing all of the time. Nicky Bailey played with an injury.[LNB] The lads take responsibility and I like that. I got them playing better. You never will know how long it will take. Blackpool thought they had cracked it.[LNB] Stephen McManus, Barry Robson and Kris Boyd have all been included in the Scotland squad for next week's European Championship qualifiers with Lithuania and Liechenstein.[LNB] Millwall manager Kenny Jackett hailed his side's character after victory over Middlesbrough.[LNB] The Lions suffered a 3-1 defeat at Elland Road on Saturday, their first loss of the campaign.[LNB] It was a challenge for us today given the Leeds result and a big challenge at that,'' he said. It's an opportunity for us and one we took.[LNB] You never want to go on a run of losses, you never want to lose at all and it is important, especially at the start of the season.[LNB] And against one of the bigger Championship clubs tonight we did want to equip ourselves well and put on a good performance.'' Jackett backed goalkeeper, David Forde, who also made an error against Leeds, to bounce back.[LNB] He made an error, but over the last two years he has been an excellent goalkeeper for us,'' he added.[LNB] He has got to put that one behind him now it didn't cost us because he has been a good goalkeeper for us and will continue to be.[LNB]
