Strachan Says 'Mental Strength' Got Boro A Point

Last updated : 08 February 2010 By Boro Mad

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Gordon Strachan: "I thought it was a fair result. Ipswich were the better team in the first half.

"We were getting used to a right-back playing in the middle of the park and a left-back playing on the left of midfield.

"We weren't ready for that type of game, with so many new players, and it was unsettling.

"Had it been a nice simple, passing game we might have been all right and we'd have settled in but it was ferocious to start with.

"The fact we then went a goal down so early on threw the guys who were playing out of position into a bit of shock.

"But our mental strength got better as the game went on.

"We showed we can play but we have to learn to be more professional in the first couple of minutes.

"Sometimes when a team score early on it's a brilliant goal and you can't do anything about it.

"But with this one we were so embarrassed, down the left-sided area, that we crumbled.

"It took us until half-time to settle everyone down."