GIBSON HAILS BORO’S DEFENSIVE RESILIENCE
BRENTFORD 1 MIDDLESBROUGH 1: TEESSIDERS’ SHOW OF CHARACTER TO MAKE THEIR POINT
Centre-back Ben Gibson hailed Middlesbrough’s defensive resilience as the Teessiders secured a hardearned Championship point at Brentford on Saturday.
A 1-1 draw kept Boro in the play-off spots, with the visitors having to show character to make their point.
Adama Traore cut in from the left and rode two challenges before planting an unstoppable low drive just inside the near post for Boro’s opening goal at Griffin Park.
But Lewis Macloed beat Darren Randolph with an almost carbon-copy strike from the edge of the box to make it all square.
Boro had to withstand plenty of second-half pressure to record their point.
Gibson told mfc.co.uk: “We’ve done that well in this little run that we’re on and it was important that we maintained that.
“We showed during spells in the second half that we had to dig in and we did it really well.
“We’re disappointed with the goal we conceded, but ultimately, in the second half, the way we defended was brilliant and we snuffed out a lot of attacks.
“That’s something we’re going to need to do if we’re going to get out of this division.”
Boro boss Tony Pulis added: “I thought they were the better team, but we’ve worked really hard defensively and did a smashing job in restricting them to shots from outside the box.
“They are a decent side and Dean Smith has done a smashing job here. He keeps producing good players, sells them and producing new ones.
“I’m disappointed in some ways because we can play much better than that, but this is an old-fashioned ground with fans tight to a pitch which looks small... but they made it look very big for us.”
Pulis insisted he was not surprised by the Londoners.
“Every time Adama picks the ball up he gets fouled before he gets into motion. In the last few games the opposition have been quite content to bring him down, but to my mind he needs some protection,” he added.
“You have to turn up in this league because the opposition will always give you a game, but, to be honest,I can’t criticise our effort or commitment.
“Dani Ayala turned up to play today, and I don’t think any of us thought he was going to have a chance.
“It shows great spirit and how together the group are.
“He was fantastic, and Dael came on and was very good as well.”