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| Chris McCann had our only shot on target |
I can accept a defeat to a better team; I've seen enough of them in my fifty years plus of watching Burnley, but this was just a miserable ninety minutes that lacked all the things you need. There was no tempo, no movement of any note, the passing was shocking, the team lacks any sort of experience or leadership, and there appeared to be no real desire whatsoever.
It certainly wasn't just me that had those thoughts either. As I left at the final whistle, and that was long after some had decided enough was enough, everyone looked shell shocked at what they'd witnessed.
On my return home, I saw written on the message board from one poster: "No shape, no tempo, no possession, no central midfield, nobody wanting the ball, not a clue how to press a ball as a team, players arguing with themselves, no experience, no quality, no leadership, No options to change the game - nothing.
"As bad as you could ever have the misfortune to see. We'd best hope this Shotton's some player, and he can play left back, both central midfield positions, left wing and maybe right back as well."
I couldn't disagree with a single word. It was if it was no more than a training exercise and I bet Tony Mowbray and his Middlesbrough team couldn't believe their luck. They look a decent side, but I'll bet a pound to a penny they don't collect an easier three points all season, and I'll bet a midfield with Barry Robson and Nicky Bailey, hardly world beaters, will have an easier afternoon.
It had all started well enough too, up to about two or three minutes past three o'clock. The pre-match lunch and chat in the Bridge had been enjoyable and we arrived at the ground with the team news confirming that we'd start with the same eleven who had done so in the win at Derby.
The only changes were on the bench where new signing Junior Stanislas replaced the recently departed Wade Elliott and Marvin Bartley, back from suspension, took the place of Alex MacDonald who missed out.
We started the game remarkably given what was to follow. Keith Treacy made a surging run before releasing Ross Wallace right from the kick off. It came to nothing other than Boro's Stephen McManus suffered an injury that forced them into an early substitution.
"That's their game plan out of the window'" someone said, but in truth it didn't matter. Former Burnley loan player Rhys Williams dropped into the centre of defence but they were so underworked for the afternoon it made little difference.
Nothing else much happened in the first ten minutes or so but we were the more progressive of the two teams I'd say. Then Middlesbrough scored and that, as they say, was that.
The aforementioned Robson got in a cross from the left that went beyond the far post from where Justin Hoyte chipped it back in. Brian Easton headed away but only to Bailey a couple of yards outside the box. He volleyed it towards goal. Ben Mee tried to clear, it bounced two or three times and nestled in the net as Brian Jensen went down far too late.
A poor goal to give away, but at some stage a goal was going to come. We don't keep clean sheets. That's game number 17 in the league now since the last one at Hull when a Nathan Delfouneso goal gave us a 1-0 win.
The rest of the half was something of a shocker for us and the only time we ever threatened a goal was when David Edgar scooped over after Mee had headed down a right wing corner. There were a couple of yellow cards each, all deserved, and by half time you felt sure this was a game we were most unlikely to get back into.
Unlikely became certain just a few minutes into the second half when we conceded again. Left back Joe Bennett, who could consider himself fortunate to still be on the field, did what no Burnley player all afternoon wanted or threatened to do; he run at the defence.
Past Kieran Trippier he played the ball out to Scott McDonald. He looked as though he could be offside but television pictures have confirmed the flag staying down was the correct decision. Jensen parried his shot right into the path of Bennett, who had continued his run. He made no mistake. It was 2-0 and we got the first exodus from the Longside Upper.
We shuffled the system, which seemed to confuse even more. We brought on three subs, including latest signing Stanislas, which made little difference other than a three or four minute lift of enthusiasm.
We did get a shot on target. It came from captain Chris McCann and was our only on target effort all afternoon. Apart from that, we just sat waiting for the final whistle.
It was one mighty relief when it came. I vowed a long time ago I wouldn't leave before the end of a game since missing a last minute Ralph Coates goal at Leeds. Shell shocked, I left and on my return home couldn't even get myself up for Bolton going toe-to-toe with Manchester United.
I'd no intention of watching any football. I'd had enough for one day and so settled down with the Last Night of the Proms. Apart from the odd Hooray Henry it was thoroughly enjoyable; at last something to enjoy on a miserable Saturday when we can only hope today's performance was no more than a one off.
Shotton next week anyone?
The teams were;
Burnley: Brian Jensen, Kieran Trippier, David Edgar, Ben Mee, Brian Easton, Ross Wallace, Dean Marney (Marvin Bartley 70), Chris McCann, Keith Treacy (Junior Stanislas 59), Charlie Austin (Zavon Hines 70), Jay Rodriguez. Subs not used: Lee Grant, Andre Amougou.
Yellow Cards: Keith Treacy, Ross Wallace, Jay Rodriguez.
Middlesbrough: Carl Ikeme, Tony McMahon, Matthew Bates, Stephen McManus (Faris Haroun 4), Joe Bennett, Justin Hoyte, Rhys Williams, Nicky Bailey, Barry Robson (Julio Arca 80), Marvin Emnes (Merouane Zemmama 85), Scott McDonald. Subs not used: Tarmo Kink, Malaury Martin.
Yellow Cards: Joe Bennett, Barry Robson.
Referee: Mark Haywood (West Yorkshire).
Attendance: 15,220.