Gordon Strachan rues bad luck as loss to Leeds cranks up pressure

MIDDLESBROUGH fans were calling for the head of Gordon Strachan at the weekend after they went down 2-1 at home to Leeds to leave the pre-season title favourites floundering in 20th place in the npower Championship.

The former Celtic manager was targeted by large sections of the crowd at the Riverside after a sixth defeat of a dismal season, but reacted to the mounting pressure surrounding him by insisting: "Don't feel sorry for me".

The Scot said: "The ones I feel sorry for are the players and the fans. It's surreal. I understand how the supporters reacted because they are scared when their team is not winning. They have a right to voice their opinion and they are disappointed right now. So are we.

"I expect there to be a reaction and it is down to us to deal with it.

"I feel sorry for the players too because they have put everything into the game and got nothing out of it.

"Things go against you sometimes - deflections, injuries, decisions - but it has been like that all season for us, every little mistake they make has been punished."

Leeds took the lead after 12 minutes as Sanchez Watt got down the right and crossed for the unmarked Davide Somma to slam the opener from 10 yards. Boro had a strong shout for a penalty when Kris Boyd was bundled over but protests from players and a furious Strachan were waved away.

They stepped up a gear after the break and levelled after 52 minutes through Boyd but Leeds won it with a superb strike from Luciano Becchio.

United manager Simon Grayson insists his former Elland Road team-mate can handle the heat.

"Yes Gordon is under pressure but he is tough," said Grayson. "He's a fighter, he was as a player and he is as a manager. He can handle it.

"Middlesbrough may be having a tough time right now but they have some very good players and I'm sure Gordon will get them playing as a unit and getting the results they need to get out of this situation.

"As for my team, they played very well. They worked hard and created some good chances and both of the goals were well taken.

"Now we need to keep up the momentum because we have some big games coming up and you can't afford to relax in this league.

"They are all big games in the Championship and to get through them and to keep progressing you need consistency, and I think the Boro game was a good start in that."