M'boro 09/10 - Poor

M'boro.........0

Plymouth....1
Mackie 64

GORDON STRACHAN'S first game ended in defeat as Plymouth kept a clean sheet for the first time this season, Adam Johnson missed a penalty and Emanuel Pogatetz was taken off on a stretcher,

Middlesbrough: Jones; Hoyte, Wheater (Capt), St Ledger, Pogatetz (Grounds 52), Arca (Yeates 87), O'Neil, Williams, A Johnson, Lita, Emnes (Bent 46). Unused subs: Coyne (gk); McMahon, Digard, Franks.

Plymouth Argyle: Larrieu; Sawyer, Gray, Lowry, Judge (Clark 81), Gow (Barnes 81), Fletcher (Capt), Duguid, Arnason, Mackie, Folly. Unused subs: Letheren (gk); Paterson, Timar, Mason, Sheridan.

Referee: Mike Russell

Bookings

Middlesbrough: None

Plymouth Argyle: Fletcher, 79, dissent.

Attendance: 21,141 (711 Plymouth)

Conditions: Warm and sunny with a gentle breeze.

Website Boro Man of the Match: Rhys Williams

M'boro 09/10 - Strachan for the job

Middlesbrough have confirmed the appointment of Gordon Strachan as their new manager.
The former Celtic boss, 52, succeeds Gareth Southgate, who was sacked last week despite Boro being just one point off the top of the Coca-Cola Championship.

The team were led on a temporary basis by Colin Cooper at the weekend and drew 2-2 at Preston. They are now three points behind Championship leaders and north-east rivals Newcastle.

Strachan began his managerial career at Coventry before moving on to Southampton, who he led to the FA Cup final in 2003.

The former Aberdeen, Manchester United and Leeds midfielder took charge at Celtic in May 2005 and after a nightmare start, when the team lost a Champions League qualifier 5-0 to Slovakian minnows Artmedia Bratislava, he led the team to three successive Scottish Premier League titles.

Southgate's dismissal came as a shock to those outside the club, with Boro chairman Steve Gibson renowned for giving his managers time to get things right.

The former England defender could not prevent the club sliding out of the Premier League last season, and Gibson revealed it was his fear that Boro would not bounce back at the first attempt which led him to sack Southgate.


Gibson last week told Middlesbrough's website: "When I sat down and considered our start to the season, I felt that the league table was actually more favourable than some of our performances.

"Then I looked at the important games against the teams immediately around us, and took those results into account.

"In general the results and the performances have not been to the level I would have hoped for."

M'boro 09/10 - Again!

Preston..........2
Parry 61 , Jones 90+2

M'boro...........2
Oneil 43 , Johnson 67

Billy Jones' injury-time equaliser denied managerless Middlesbrough all three points at Deepdale as Preston earned a 2-2 Championship draw.

Preston North End: Lonergran; Jones, Chilvers, Collins, Nolan, Carter (Brown 77), Wallace, Shumulikoski (Chaplow 56), Parry, Mellor (Elliott 89), Parkin. Unused subs: Henderson (gk); Hart, Hart, Mawene.

Middlesbrough: Jones; Hoyte, Wheater (Capt), St Ledger, Bennett, O'Neil, Williams, Digard, A Johnson, Lita, Emnes (Franks 89). Unused subs: Coyne (gk); Pogatetz, Grounds, McMahon, Arca, Yeates.

Referee: Andy Woolmer

Bookings

Preston North End: Wallace, 82, dissent.

Middlesbrough: Bennett, 52, foul; Digard, 86, foul; Johnson, 90+3, kicking ball away.

Attendance: 16,116

Conditions: Dry, relatively warm and breezy.

Website Boro Man of the Match: Gary O'Neil

M'boro 09/10 - Axed!

MIDDLESBROUGH FC have tonight announced that manager Gareth Southgate has been relieved of his position with immediate effect.

Football consultant Alan Smith will also be leaving the club as part of the change.

Chairman Steve Gibson said:

"This has been the most difficult decision I've had to make in all the time I've been in football.

"Gareth has given Middlesbrough Football Club magnificent service as a skipper and, in very difficult circumstances, as manager.

"I appointed Gareth in a situation that was greatly unfavourable to him.

"He is a good man and has all the qualities and integrity that we wanted in a manager.

"However, the time is right for change and that change has had to be made.

"Gareth will always be welcome at our football club. English football needs people of his stature and we feel certain that this experience will serve him well.

"Gareth deserves another opportunity once he has had the chance to rest and refresh himself."

The club will not be making any further comment at this time.

Now chairman Steve Gibson has made the decision to axe Southgate, the first manager he has ever sacked as Boro supremo. - Ariff Ahmad