Source: Team_Talk
Boro boss hits out at Brown 'malice'
Middlesbrough manager Gordon Strachan has accused Portsmouth's Michael Brown of targeting Kevin Thomson during Saturday's Riverside clash.[LNB] The Boro midfielder returned from injury against Portsmouth on Saturday to make his first start since breaking his leg against Leicester in Boro's second league game of the season.[LNB]But the Scot's comeback lasted just eight minutes as he hobbled off after being on the receiving end of two heavy challenges by Brown, with neither seeing the 33-year-old receive a booking.[LNB]And Boro boss Strachan hit out at Brown, saying the former Manchester City and Wigan man set out to test Thomson's leg.[LNB]"The referee deemed it alright to kick somebody in the shin about four feet off the ground and then it was deemed OK to clatter him again," he said.[LNB]"That seems to be OK, that. Just target somebody who comes back from an injury and give him a couple of wallops to see how his leg is coming on."[LNB]However, Pompey boss Steve Cotterill leapt to the defence of Brown, claiming he has never advocated targeting players and that Brown was unlikely to know about Thomson's injury.[LNB]"I have never, ever targeted a player on his comeback," said Cotterill.[LNB]"And I don't think Michael Brown knows Kevin Thomson."[LNB]Boro led 2-0 at half-time but Pompey fought back to claim a 2-2 draw at the Riverside and go a third game unbeaten.
