Markus deals with it on hoof
ADEN FLINT reckons Middlesbrough proved they can be a real force – when they have a go.
Tony Pulis’ men have slipped off the automatic promotion pace after just two wins in eight games.
But after going down to 10 men when Mo Besic was sent off, then going behind when Charlie Mulgrew converted the resulting free-kick on 22 minutes, Boro launched an excellent comeback.
Flint said: “The red card took the wind out of our sails. But I thought our character and team spirit helped us grind through.
“When we came in at half-time, we just said we had to regroup, keep a good shape behind the ball and have a real go.
“We just decided we had to go for it really.
“We can build on this. The character has always MARKUS HENRIKSEN says Hull did well to deal with Millwall’s ‘hoofball’.
On the day City boss Nigel Adkins celebrated one year in charge of Hull, his side snatched a draw through Henriksen after Lee Gregory and Aiden O’Brien had put Millwall in front following Kamil Grosicki’s early opener.
The result moved Hull three points clear of the drop zone and Henriksen said: “We knew what to expect against Millwall – they just hoof the ball forwards towards their strikers.
“They just want to put the ball in the box. They don’t play beautiful football.
“We defended well and we should be happy with the point. When you’re 2-1 down, to come back and equalise, we’re satisfied.
“We showed character. It was a tough battle but we have to be a little calmer on the ball. Then we could have taken them to the cleaners.”
Hull went in front in the been there but I think it shone through even brighter today.
“For people who maybe didn’t think we had that strong a character in the team, it just showed what we’re all about. We can build on that.”
Pulis was adamant Besic should only have got a yellow card.
But half-time sub Britt Assombalonga curled in a stunning equaliser.
Rovers boss Tony Mowbray said: “We hit a post, got into good areas. Boro’s goal was brilliant.
“We didn’t show the resilience that we have done on the road.
“There is frustration in the dressing room. We should not have dropped points. We needed a second goal. Boro are so solid, even with 10 men.” sixth minute through Grosicki but in the 22nd minute James Meredith’s looping cross from the left was nodded in by Gregory.
The Lions then took the lead in the 54th minute through Aiden O’Brien’s 20-yard drive.
But Hull grabbed a point on 73 minutes when Henriksen headed in from close range.
Millwall striker Gregory, who hit his eighth goal of the season, said: “It’s frustrating as we were the better team.
“Conceding goals when we’re on top is silly and we need to cut that out.
“In the last 15 minutes of every game we seem a bit nervy. We just need to get over that last hurdle. I’m sure we’ll work on that.
“Because we did so well last season, we were expected to do better this term. We’ve been knocked down a peg or two so we need to go back to what we did last year.”