Middlesbrough blow chance against 10-man Fulham

Fulham goalkeeper Marek Rodak was red-carded by referee Peter Bankes in the 17th minute for deliberate handball when he came rushing out of his area to stop Jonny Howson from going through.

Woodgate said: “I’d have preferred it to be 11 v 11, I know that sounds strange.

“That’s because we had the game plan set out for how we wanted to play and I thought we executed that well and we had chances before he was sent off and once he was sent off, especially after half-time, we sat back and didn’t have the creativity in the team to break it down, it’s as simple as that.

“I wanted them to move the ball quickly through the pitch and they were taking time with their passing, they weren’t moving it the way I wanted them, from side-to-side quickly and getting balls into the box, that didn’t happen.

“We lacked that creative edge to break them down. From what I saw, I haven’t seen the replay, was it a red? I wished he’d stayed on.

“What plusses can you take out of that? Before the game would you have taken a point against Fulham? Probably, because they are a really good team.

“But when you have the opportunity then it turns itself on its head and that’s an opportunity missed because they went down to 10 men. We’ve got to capitalise on that.”

Lewis Wing hit a post and Paddy McNair rolled an effort straight at sub goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli in stoppage time but otherwise Middlesbrough were toothless.

Fulham chief Scott Parker believes his side have proved they have the character to stay in the promotion mix.

Parker was delighted with the way his side climbed up to fifth with the goalless draw, having successfully held struggling Boro despite playing 73 minutes with 10 men.

Fulham, who could have won the game had Aleksandar Mitrovic turned a second-half header home, battled away to keep Middlesbrough at bay and send their hosts into the relegation zone.

Parker said: “It’s probably the proudest I have been of my team since sitting in this position.

“l think this is a massive moment for us, it feels like a massive moment for me. Part of me is disappointed because I felt in control, but we limited them to a very few chances.

“I think their first effort on target was in the last attack of the game.

“We will appeal the red card if we need to appeal.”

Middlesbrough: Pears, McNair, Ayala, Fry, Howson, Tavernier, Wing, Saville (Browne 64), Coulson (Johnson 68), Assombalonga, Fletcher. Unused substitutes: Mejias, Dijksteel, Clayton, Bola, Liddle.

Fulham: Rodak, Odoi, Mawson, Ream, Bryan, Onomah (Bettinelli 19), Reed, Cairney, Ivan Cavaleiro (Le Marchand 84), Mitrovic, Reid (Knockaert 81). Unused substitutes: McDonald, Johansen, Sessegnon, Kamara.

Referee: P Bankes (Merseyside).