LEWIS WINGS IN TO HIT A BORO CRACKER
AUGSBURG 2 MIDDLESBROUGH 1: EX-RED STAR STRIKER HITS LONG-RANGE CONSOLATION
Former Seaham Red Star and Shildon forward Lewis Wing scored a superb, late goal for Middlesbrough last night.
But he could not prevent a 2-1 friendly defeat to Bundesliga side Augsburg in the Teessiders’ third and final pre-season match on the continent.
Pulis insisted that getting more minutes for his players, and their individual performances, was more important than the result.
The 60-year-old Boro chief said: “The game is about getting what we want and the important thing is getting what we want by the time we play Millwall and that in performance, in selection and everything else..
“They’ve all worked hard, there’s only a couple of the players who haven’t got on and I’ve given Adama (Traore) a rest, especially with the pitch.
“There was a concern at how sticky the pitch was, especially for Adama who can run with the ball and will run with the ball.
“That ball getting caught under his foot and then him getting clouted, we didn’t want that to happen.”
On his men’s efforts, Pulis added: “It’s not a case of impressing (me), it’s a case of them performing to the best they can at this moment, nearly two weeks before the season starts.
“It’s very, very important that they recognise when they are tired they need to push themselves and I think they did that (last night) and we looked the stronger team in the second half.”
Daniel Baier broke the deadlock with a brilliant, curling effort beyond Darren Randolph from the edge of the box.
Grant Leadbitter, on as a sub for fellow ex-Sunderland man Paddy McNair, forced the home keeper into a save from a well-hit volley, but Augsburg responded to go 2-0 up, with Andre Hahn converting a low Marcel Heller centre.
Wing roused Boro with a storming strike from long range into the top right corner of the net with two minutes to go, but Augsburg saw out the win.
Boro are next in action away to League One club Accrington Stanley on Saturday.
They entertain Sunderland at the Riverside Stadium next Friday night before heading to Millwall for their Championship