'We need to understand' - Middlesbrough FC boss Kim Hellberg frustrated after Birmingham City draw
Kim Hellberg has reflected on Middlesbrough’s 2-2 draw with Birmingham City
Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg insisted his side “need to understand game management” following their 2-2 draw with Birmingham City.
Boro went ahead via Max Arfsten in the Midlands but Birmingham overturned the deficit through Liam Millar and a Riley McGree own goal.
Adilson Malanda managed to salvage a point for the visitors late on, although Hellberg was unable to hide his frustration.
Kim Hellberg reacts
He said: “I think everyone knows we need to concede a little bit fewer goals, my mum at home watching the game can say that we need to concede fewer goals, but how are we doing that?
“The game today, for example, in that spell I don’t think we’re conceding chances, but we give away a massive amount of set-plays from diving into tackles.
“We give away throw-ins instead of if we can clear it 50 yards higher up and then it’s not into the box.
“That frustrates me a lot. So there’s also managing those spells, absolutely, we have to work and do that better.
“We need to understand game management, how we suffer through those periods of time in a better way. I think it’s how do you do that? That’s the thing you work with and how do you summarise that to conceding fewer goals?
“So, in general there’s things to work on, it would be odd otherwise, and there’s things that are very, very good and a lot of praise for the players.”
Birmingham City boss on Middlesbrough’s leveller
Blues goalkeeper James Beadle spilled a Sebastian Berhalter cross and allowed Malanda to strike late for Middlesbrough.
The former Sheffield Wednesday stopper was backed by his boss Chris Davies post-match.
Davies said: “The players are telling me that they thought that he had the two hands on the ball.
“I haven’t seen the slowed down image of it, that would be the one to see but it’s scandalous if he’s had two hands on the ball and it’s been missed, that can’t happen.
“But it was a sickening way just from that deep set-piece, just whipped in one bounce. James has saved us many times and he’s a fantastic goalkeeper, he’s had a really good season.
“Like I said to him, these things happen. He knows, he’s disappointed with that, but he’s had a really good season.”