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. 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.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.And Boro boss Strachan hit out at Brown, saying the former Manchester City and Wigan man set out to test Thomson's leg."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."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."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."I have never, ever targeted a player on his comeback," said Cotterill."And I don't think Michael Brown knows Kevin Thomson."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.

Source: Team_Talk