Turnaround will come, says former Tees boss
STEVE Mcclaren is adamant QPR can turn things around after slipping to a clubrecord seventh straight defeat with a 2-0 loss at Boro.
The former Teesside boss, who got a decent reception after returning to the club he left in 2006, was left frustrated by two costly mistakes in the first half which Rangers failed to recover from.
With less than two minutes gone, Middlesbrough took the lead when Jonny Howson was left in too much space to make the most of Mo Besic’s pass.
Then in the 32nd minute Ashley Fletcher added Middlesbrough’s second when he fired into the top corner after another Besic pass picked him out.
Despite twof strong saves from Boro goalkeeper Darren Randolph, QPR could not get back into it and they are nine points clear of the relegation zone after the latest loss.
Mcclaren said: “We lost the game in the first 30 minutes to two errors, two goals and then against a very good Middlesbrough team, who have conceded the least goals in the Football League, it was going to be uphill.
“We have to keep fighting and show perseverance like we have been doing and get the first win of the year.
“We are very close, we need to really have a go on Tuesday against Leeds and then Brentford.”
Boro march on and have a six-point gap now to seventh spot, while they are chasing Leeds in second by the same number of points.
Boro boss Tony Pulis, whose side has now won three of its last 13 at the Riverside, said: “Pleased obviously to win at home.
“We have only lost one game this calendar year and that was Sheffield Untied with 10 men.
“It was a great run from Jonny. I thought Besic first half was excellent, that was like him last year. There are 13 games left. If we can get Besic up to that level that he was at last year, he and John Obi Mikel - that is an awesome pair in midfield.
“I thought we gave the fans a really good show in the first half. The movement was good but second half one or two looked a bit tired.
“Fletcher looked a bit tired, it was second-half syndrome. Britt Assombalonga tired off a bit as well.
“One or two did not have the energy to stretch the game.” MIDDLESBROUGH strengthened their grip on a play-off place in the Championship by piling more misery on Queens Park Rangers with a 2-0 victory. Goals from Jonny Howson and Ashley Fletcher got Boro on course for three points in the first half and Steve Mcclaren’s Rangers never looked like preventing a seventh straight defeat at his former club. That is now an unwanted club record for QPR, who should be just thankful they had a healthy cushion to the relegation zone before this ho ible run. Middlesbrough were despe te to improve a poor record f their own at he iverside Stadium, where they had won just two of their previous 11 matches. They made the perfect start when ing-back Howson, clearly enjoying playing on the right, as rewarded for is attacking mind with the pening goal. There as just one minute d 50 seconds gon when casually worked is way o he isiting penalty area un tected. mpressive mi elder Mo esic potted im nd picked ut ovely diag nal pass hich owson naged to orce eyond alkeeper oe umley, ho left is ine, o grab is rst ha since April. QPR almost levelled straight after but Middlesbrough goalkeeper Darren Randolph did well to turn behind an effort from Eberechieze at his near post.
From there on in, Middlesbrough took command. There was not much threat posed to Randolph’s goal for the rest of the half and it was no surprise when the men from Teesside extended their advantage.
Besic, who had already gone close himself with an effort which flew inches wide of the upright from distance, was allowed too much freedom in the opposition’s half and he made them pay.
The on-loan Everton midfielder turned and charged towards th box, rolled a pass into he eet of letcher unmarked n th left. The 5m striker, wh had not scored in the league this season, shifted the ball on to his left oot and he crashed a finish inside he op eft of near ost.
Almost instantly, ritt ssombalonga should have added a third, but wa denied by Lumley this time when he was faced with just the goalkeeper to beat as QPR’S five-man defence left too many gaps.
After the restart, Mcclaren put three up front for the second half. QPR ere still unable t seriously test andolph again, even though they did get nto decent positions down he flanks.
Middlesbrough should ave made it three with minute remaining when Assombalonga as enied by umley, hi time fter leverly-worked involving ewis ing an tewart owning n d around he rea. Middlesbrough had ready done enough despit a few long-range fforts at both nd and a save ro andolph to deny ls efor the final histle.