We are going to have to lick our wounds

Last updated : 15 September 2010 By Tony Scholes
Laws might have been unhappy with that late strike, but Gordon Strachan was delighted with his team's performance and knew it was going to be a good one from the first minute.

"You can't think too much about the game and sometimes you have to play from the heart," Strachan said. "We deserved to win, the performance was really encouraging. I didn't think we deserved to be behind but the players came through a mental and physical test to come back and win. I'm told it was four years since we last did that at home.

"I think the turning point was the very first minute of the game because I knew even then that they were playing with their hearts rather than their heads. There was an emotion in the game and we played from the heart. The energy and commitment we gave to the game has to be our benchmark.

"I think our performances are slowly getting better all the time. We were good in the first half on Saturday, that was the best we had played, and we were better again against Burnley. There was an energy there.

"I was celebrating for the players because they put so much into it. The football gods have not been good to us lately. This result has helped everyone of us who supports this club and wants the club to do well. Hopefully that will be a benchmark for the way we will play from now."

Laws was clearly unhappy about the award of that late free kick from which Boro won the game, but it certainly wasn't the only award on the night that looked decidedly 'soft'.

"The first goal from the substitute gave them the lift but the disappointing thing for me is that the free kick was 'bought' rather than anything else," said Laws after the game.

"It wasn't justified and we are angry because it cost us a goal. Lita was falling before anyone got anywhere near him. He plays for free kicks and he certainly got one in a key position but great credit to the player for striking it the way he did.

"We are disappointed and in the second half we were the better side and deserved the lead, but two wonder strikes have won it. We are disappointed with it but I suppose if we are going to get beat it has to be with a superb shot to beat our goalkeeper, who's not had a lot to do in the second half.

"Credit to them, if you don't shoot you don't score but we are going away from this game very disappointed not to have taken at least a point."

Laws added: "We are going to have to lick our wounds and march on to our next game. We have got a tough game at Crystal Palace but if the players put in that kind of effort we will certainly come away with at least a point. And if we play as well as we did tonight we will hopefully get the rub of the green.

"The boot is on the other foot now. I made the changes on Saturday and it worked and it certainly worked for Gordon tonight because the substitute has come on and scored two great goals for him.

"To go away disappointed shows that we are going in the right direction. This is not an easy place to come and they are a good side. It's an excellent squad of players they've got, but we have to move on from that. We can't let it ruin our season. We've had a good start."