Cyprus
Winger
I have no axe to grind with Middlesbrough or their supporters, my late father-in-law was a big Boro fan so I always keep an eye out for their results. I work down here and, in the main, they are as good as gold with me. Apart from some good natured leg pulling this morning, which was only to be expected, there has been no real gloating as such. Indeed they have been very magnanimous in victory, just as they were pretty gracious in defeat last January so fair play to them. It's the way it should be.
Reflecting on Saturday, the sending off was a huge turning point but Middlesbrough were clinical and ruthless in their game and ran out convincing winners in the end, no complaints from me whatsoever.
For what it's worth, I thought that they put us to the sword with the extra man by exposing our soft underbelly and, in truth, the scoreline could have been more damaging had they taken their chances and our goalkeeper had to make some good saves.
Unfortunately I thought Mowbray got his substitutions wrong at half time in response to the sending off and our young team were given a harsh lesson on the day but I'm sure they'll learn from this disappointment, bounce back and continue to have a good season.
I was particularly impressed with Hayden Hackney and Isiah Jones but less so by the antipodean referee.
Last season in this fixture it could be argued from a Middlesbrough perspective that decisions went in our favour, this time they didn't, that's football, we take it on the chin and look forward as there is so much to be positive about at present.
The league is very strange but very competitive. I think we'll both be there or thereabouts at the end of the season and I'm sure after the international break it'll be a case of forgetting this game and moving on.
Reflecting on Saturday, the sending off was a huge turning point but Middlesbrough were clinical and ruthless in their game and ran out convincing winners in the end, no complaints from me whatsoever.
For what it's worth, I thought that they put us to the sword with the extra man by exposing our soft underbelly and, in truth, the scoreline could have been more damaging had they taken their chances and our goalkeeper had to make some good saves.
Unfortunately I thought Mowbray got his substitutions wrong at half time in response to the sending off and our young team were given a harsh lesson on the day but I'm sure they'll learn from this disappointment, bounce back and continue to have a good season.
I was particularly impressed with Hayden Hackney and Isiah Jones but less so by the antipodean referee.
Last season in this fixture it could be argued from a Middlesbrough perspective that decisions went in our favour, this time they didn't, that's football, we take it on the chin and look forward as there is so much to be positive about at present.
The league is very strange but very competitive. I think we'll both be there or thereabouts at the end of the season and I'm sure after the international break it'll be a case of forgetting this game and moving on.