Middlesbrough Reaction: Coyle critical of defending

Last updated : 27 August 2013 By Paul Farrington

Manager Owen Coyle had no choice but to highlight his sides poor recent defensive record following the 2-2 home draw with Middlesbrough.

Speaking to the club's official website after the game he said: “We go into every game wanting to win, especially at home so it’s disappointing to drop two points.

 
“I thought we started the game very well, scored a penalty to take the lead and should in all honesty have been awarded another two spot kicks which would have put us out of sight.
 
“But we allowed Middlesbrough to come back into the game, have a bit more possession and took our foot off the gas when we should have been pushing on to put the game to bed.
 
“Middlesbrough’s first goal is easily avoidable and just as we were enjoying our best spell of the second half they scored again, with a long ball forward which we should have dealt with better.
 
“We were indecisive at the back and got punished, but the response from the team was fantastic to get back level and push forward late on to try and score a winner.
 
“Overall we need to defend better; we’re one of the division’s top scorers, but we’ve conceded five goals at the other end and we need to get that out of our system quickly.”
 
Next up for the Latics is the tricky visit of Nottingham Forest to the DW Stadium on Saturday.