McClaren: Let’s stick and click together
MIDDLESBROUGH: Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren has called upon his tired team to` stick together after Tottenham denied the Teessiders all three points in a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Riverside Stadium.
England’s assistant manager admitted to being both “frustrated and angry� after Spurs twice came from behind to claim a share of the spoils.
But as Boro’s manager prepared for tomorrow’s League Cup quarter-final against Blackburn Rovers he said: “It’s time to dig in and stick together.
“Our season is still very much alive. We’re in the last eight of the League Cup, we’ve got a UEFA Cup tie against Stuttgart to come and the FA Cup starts next month. There are also a lot of Premiership games left to play.
“We’re capable of putting a great run together and we will always score goals. All we need to do now is start keeping a few clean sheets.�
Middlesbrough may struggle to maintain their current goalscoring record when Sunday’s two-goal hero Yakubu links up with Nigeria ahead of the Arican Nations Cup. The in-form striker made it 10 league goals for the season against Spurs but will be missing for a month from Jan 6.
Tottenham manager Martin Jol faces a similar problem, with Mido due to represent Egypt in the same tournament.
The Spurs boss added: “We are also concerned that Jermain Defoe could be missing for a few weeks. He twisted his ankle at the end and it looks pretty bad.�
Spurs travelled to the north-east in search of a fourth successive league win and the Londoners looked the more likely scorers in the early stages of a classic encounter.
Robbie Keane opened the scoring in the 25th minute after Mark Schwarzer spilled Lee Young-pyo’s cross. The Australian international came to claim possession but dropped the ball under pressure from Mido. Keane slotted home from 10 yards.
Boro levelled through Yakubu five minutes later and the African doubled his tally two minutes before the break when he deflected James Morrison’s shot beyond Paul Robinson.
Two goals in 13 minutes had seen the game swing in Boro’s favour but a Jermaine Jenas free-kick 17 minutes after the restart restored parity.
The England midfielder capitalised on Yakubu’s ill-disciplined foul on Edgar Davids on the edge of the area and curled a superb right foot shot beyond Schwarzer.
Robinson had kept Spurs in contention in the second half with outstanding saves to deny Yakubu and Morrison. But with 21 minutes remaining Franck Queudrue restored Boro’s lead after heading home Fabio Rochemback’s corner.
Tottenham levelled again in the 83rd minute when Mido headed home Michael Carrick’s corner. But substitute Defoe failed to claim a late winner after Schwarzer denied the striker with a point-blank save. – AFP
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