Strachan: We deserved lucky break

24 January 2010 13:17
Strachan's side have been ravaged with injuries in the past few weeks, leaving him with just 11 fit senior professionals to field at the Riverside and a bench including three teenagers and four players who have never started a senior game.[LNB]Boro were outplayed for long spells by a polished Welsh outfit and trailed two minutes after the interval to a Gorka Pintado goal.[LNB]But they got a break just before the hour mark as a cross from Flood - making his home debut after last week's move from Celtic - swirled and dipped beyond back-pedalling Swansea keeper Dorus De Vries and curled into the far top corner.[LNB]"Yes, it was a lucky break for us," admitted Strachan. "But we've had more than our share of injuries and we've had to decimate the youth team just to turn out a bench so maybe we deserved that.[LNB]"Willo didn't mean that goal to go in and he would be the first to admit it but I think we deserve a wee break right now. And I think we earned it.[LNB]"We worked hard and we created a lot of chances, especially in the first half which was very pleasing.[LNB]"And after they scored we rolled up our sleeves and were terrific in forcing the game and winning the point and that was pleasing too.[LNB]"It was difficult for us at times because they had the extra man in midfield but between the two boxes there were some terrific performances."[LNB]Swans boss Paolo Sousa agreed that Boro's fightback deserved some reward.[LNB]"The draw was a fair result," he said. "They started off better than us, they created difficulties and it took a while for us to impose ourselves.[LNB]"We came out at the start of the second half and got the goal, which was a fine goal, and then we showed our quality in possession and our creativity.[LNB]"Then they equalised and then they began to believe the possibility that they may come back. Their goal agitated us a little bit and they had a good spell towards the end.[LNB]"Middlesbrough are a good team and they have quality and that is why I believe a draw was a fair result."[LNB][LNB][LNB]

Source: Team_Talk