‘Time for change in fortunes’

18 September 2010 09:53
GORDON Strachan is calling on his Middlesbrough side to play with the same energy that helped them beat Burnley when they take on Reading at the Riverside today.[LNB] Boro came from one-down on Tuesday to record only their second league win of the season after Tarmo Kink fired in a powerful free-kick in the 93rd minute.[LNB] The pressure has been building on Strachan and his players to turn fortunes around on Teesside and the Boro faithful will be hoping the win against Burnley will kick-start their climb up the Championship table.[LNB] While Boro's performances this season have been slated by fans, Strachan believes the football has been OK so far and maintains his side have been unlucky not to have more points on the board.[LNB] We had a terrific first-half against QPR and Barnsley and we played well against Millwall, said Strachan.[LNB] The football has been OK but the energy the other night was much better. Football can be unfair at times and life is like that too.[LNB] We can play well and not win games. We've dominated some teams with passing but that can be false sometimes.[LNB] It's about how well you pass and how much your passing hurts teams, and the other night our passing hurt them, which is very important.[LNB] The Scot also revealed he is awaiting fitness checks on several key players ahead of this afternoon's meeting with Reading, including the centre back pairing of Stephen McManus and David Wheater.[LNB] Mick (McManus) played with an injury on Tuesday but did well. I don't know about (David) Wheater, we'll see, he's missed training,'' he said.[LNB] (Gary) O'Neil didn't train today either and we'll look at him tomorrow as well.[LNB] We got a lot of knocks and bruises the other night which is good, because it shows we've been in a game and we've put ourselves about.[LNB] Boro will be hoping the win against Burnley will attract more fans to the Riverside today after just over 15,000 turned up on Tuesday night, but Strachan claims it isn't only Middlesbrough suffering from low attendances.[LNB] It's not just Boro, there's spaces everywhere, he said.[LNB] Middlesbrough's been the worst hit place in the country (economically) and all we can do to help them is try to entertain them at the weekend.[LNB] That's why we've been down because we're not entertaining the people that find it hard work to pay to come to games I don't think it's just this club but they have had some body blows here and that's gone against us football wise with attendances.[LNB]

Source: Northern_Echo