Kim Hellberg looks to bigger picture despite Middlesbrough FC's frustration against Oxford United
Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg looked to the bigger picture after his side’s goalless stalemate against Oxford United.
After a dissapointing defeat to Coventry City in their previous game, the hosting of lowly Oxford at the Riverside presented an opportunity for a bounce-back.
Middlesbrough were dominant on home turf but could not convert their control into goals against their relegation-threatened opponents.
Post-match, Hellberg pointed to Middlesbrough’s generally strong form in his analysis.
Kim Hellberg looks to bigger picture
He said: “Everyone needs a lift. The performance was good enough to win, we always want to win so it is frustrating when we don’t.
“But we have to remember this group has taken 19 points from the last 24 and we showed again today we are a good team. There is still a lot of positive energy in the group.
“To not score from all those chances I am a bit frustrated, but the lads did everything they could, the stadium did everything it could. At the end of the day we should have scored a goal, they could have scored in the first half.
“Oxford defended a lot and played to their strengths, tried to take points from us and credit to the opposition for that. Having those chances, 25 or 26 of them, the frustration was more for us than anything else.
“The first half was not as good. The second half was as good as it could be against a low block to create those chances. You just have to score.”
The Oxford United view
Oxford boss Matt Bloomfield, meanwhile, said: “It is a really proud point. We were up against elite opposition. Middlesbrough, we watched at Coventry on Monday, and we knew we would be in for a tough afternoon if we weren’t on it and astute.
“Obviously we had to soak up pressure in the second half. The manager here has done a terrific job, they are so cohesive in possession.
“We have to understand our strengths if we go toe to toe with them, and their cohesiveness. We knew we had to have our game plan and the lads stuck to that and executed it.
“We have belief that is growing, if you said to me at the start of the day against top opposition that we’d hit the bar, the post and get a point then I’d be happy.”