Double Your Chances
BORO'S training sessions this week have concentrated on doubling the number of chances created as they look to end the current lean patch in front of goal.
Barry Robson's pair of penalties against QPR are Boro's only goals in their last four games, a run that has put the team's play-off hopes in severe danger. And Gordon Strachan says making more chances is a priority ahead of Saturday's visit from leaders Newcastle.
"Our strikers can't score with five or six chances so we've got to give them 10 or 12 and it's very hard work to do that," he said. "It's what we've been working on this week in training, to see if we can give them more chances.
"It's just finishing that we are missing because if you look into the stats, everything else is there. We need that wee bit of luck but we have to fight for that.
"We were comfortable at Cardiff, Nottingham Forest and Blackpool and we've done enough in those three games to have won them. But it's our responsibility to put the ball into the net, so it's our fault that we didn't win them."
However, the manager says it's impossible to ignore the extent to which a crippling injury list has contributed to Boro's current league position.
"I could probably pick the Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and West Brom team every week, because eight or nine times out of ten it's the same team," he said.
"It's been hard for us. We've had injuries to big players like Emanuel Pogatetz, Jeremie Aliadiere and even Jonno, when he was here, got a couple of bad injuries.
"Throw that into the mixture and it's hard to get that consistency you need. But you will get periods like that when things are up against you and you just have to get on with it."
Midfielder Willo Flood is a doubt after picking up a knee injury in last weekend's defeat at Cardiff.
"He will be struggling for a while I would imagine," said Strachan. "We're not putting a time limit on that. It's unfortunate because he's been playing very well since he came to the club."
But Boro have been boosted by the return of Australia international Rhys Williams, who replaced Flood early in the second half in South Wales.
"It's huge because we've only got four recognised midfield players," said Strachan.
Asked whether the 21-year-old needed to be given more time to regain fitness after a long absence with a pelvic problem, he said: "He does, but he's not getting it!"
Meanwhile, striker Scott McDonald trained yesterday and will be assessed ahead of the weekend's game.
"We don't know if he'll be available yet, we've got to have a look now at the reaction," said Strachan. "It would be great to get him back again. That was more bad luck for us, he's only played four games out of eight and in those four he wasn't fully fit."
