Patient fans praised by Gordon Strachan

Published on Wednesday 9 December 2009 23:11

GORDON Strachan has paid tribute to the patience shown by Middlesbrough supporters after watching his frustrating side miss yet another opportunity to give him a first home victory since taking over at the Riverside.

The former Celtic manager, who has yet to record a win in front of the Boro fans since he took the job in October, expressed surprise at the 3-0 defeat to Blackpool, but thanked the fans' for their sympathetic reaction. "I think everybody is surprised to do so well the last couple of games," he said after the game. "It was one of those games where you're not proud of your performance, that's the lot of us.

"It's not just the players, I need to go back, the coaching staff need to go back and see how we approached this game. Did we do everything we can?

"And the players need to ask did they do everything they can to win a game of football?

"We'll look at that and there has to be answers, and there has to be answers quick because it is becoming a trend now; doing well away from home and not doing so well at home.

"And I find it surprising because the supporters are absolutely fantastic. They're very, very patient.

"At other clubs you do not get that time, so it cannot be from the pressure fans put on you at some clubs. There's no real pressure there."

Blackpool's 3-0 win, their first victory over Boro in 22 years, was sealed with a goal by former Rangers midfielder Charlie Adam, who waltzed through the home defence to wrap up the points.