admin‘The frustration was’ – Kim Hellberg takes positives despite Middlesbrough’s draw with struggling Oxford
Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg insists his squad will not require a morale boost ahead of Tuesday’s clash with , despite their frustrating stalemate against at the Riverside Stadium.
Oxford arrived on Teesside having won just once in their previous 10 fixtures, a run that has left them second from bottom in the standings.
However, their disciplined and determined display against one of the division’s automatic promotion hopefuls offered encouragement to head coach . In truth, the visitors might even have taken the lead during a lively first half.
Middlesbrough dominated possession with nearly 75 per cent of the ball and fashioned 25 or 26 attempts on goal, yet they failed to convert their superiority into a decisive breakthrough. The resulting point further tightened their hold on a promotion place, particularly after rivals Millwall and Ipswich both slipped to defeats.
Reflecting on the outcome, Hellberg admitted there was frustration but remained upbeat about his side’s trajectory.
He highlighted that the team has collected 19 points from the last 24 available, underlining the strong form they have shown in recent weeks.
While disappointed not to capitalise on their dominance, he stressed that the overall performance warranted victory and that the belief within the group remains high.
Hellberg acknowledged that Middlesbrough should have made their pressure count, especially in a second half where they relentlessly probed against Oxford’s deep defensive block.
He conceded that the first half lacked fluency but felt the response after the interval was as good as could be expected against such resolute opposition. Ultimately, he maintained that converting chances is the only missing ingredient.
Oxford, to their credit, defended resolutely and played to their strengths, seeking to frustrate and snatch opportunities on the counter. Goalkeeper Jamie Cumming produced an excellent stop with his right leg to deny Tommy Conway midway through the second period, epitomising the visitors’ resistance.
Yet the game could have unfolded very differently before the break. Stanley Mills rattled the crossbar with a powerful strike from 22 yards, while Myles Peart-Harris struck the foot of the post from close range, underlining the threat Oxford carried despite their limited possession.
Bloomfield expressed pride in his side’s resilience, describing the draw as a significant achievement against top-level opposition. Having studied Middlesbrough’s recent performances, including their outing at Coventry earlier in the week, he knew his team would need to be tactically sharp and disciplined.
He praised the hosts’ cohesion in possession but commended his own players for absorbing sustained pressure and standing firm to claim a hard-earned point.
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