We didn't deserve to lose today. I won't say we deserved to win either - we didn't. A draw would have been a better outcome of a thrilling match, but it wasn't to be. Plenty of talking points though...
The penalties. Both were definate penalties without question, and both were very lucky to go in. Moment of madness from Joey O'Brien to handle in the area (he could have had a poker face and he still wouldn't have been able to conceal the guilt), but very unlucky for Jussi - thought he'd saved it at first but it just had enough power to squirm over the line.
The second penalty - I don't think Middlesbrough can have any complaints about either. Ehiogu (think it was him?) was all over Borgetti, another stone-wall penalty. Harsh on Schwarzer that the ball came straight back in Jay-Jay's direction, think that's the first time Jay-Jay's missed a penalty for us?
We were the engineers of our own downfall today. In the first twenty minutes or so, Middlesbrough's defence looked as helpless as lambs for the slaughter - a bit more pressure and they would have crumbled, no question about that. Schwarzer was in good form though, proving it as he made two good saves in a minute from Speed and Jay-Jay.
Stelios did well for his goal, although it was poor defending also. Good finish, and the whole game could have been a lot different had Joey not had that moment of madness. Viduka's goal was correct to stand - Hasselbaink was onside as the replays showed. Quality finish from Hasselbaink to put them 3-1 up as well, I thought it was game over at that point.
Credit to the lads, we came back. Thought that Hasselbaink was quite lucky actually - booked for kicking out at Kevin Davies, many refs would have shown the straight red for that. Didn't see us getting a third though - we just couldn't seem to carve out enough clear chances, so was a big surprise when Jaidi headed home.
And then a lapse in concentration right at the death, and Middlesbrough capitalise. Very unfortunate, very harsh (good cross though, completely beat our defence). You love the last minute goals when they go in for us, but you forget sometimes how painful they are when they go against us - twice in successive seasons now we've conceded in the last minute in this fixture, and twice it's cost us points.
Hope Pogatetz gets in trouble though for his antics. Kevin Davies certainly didn't mean to catch him with his elbow, he didn't lead with it. So why Pogatetz decided to start a confrontation over it I don't know. However, his targetting Davies when Boro scored the winner and as soon as the full time whistle went was downright pathetic. It was enticement, and if he'd done it to the Bolton fans, he'd be punished for it, ala Gary Neville against Liverpool. So by rights, he should be punished for this also.
It was a shame as it took away some of the sparkle from a great game for the neutrals.
With Blackburn winning yesterday, it was a shame to lose, but we're certainly not out of the hunt yet, not by a long shot. The downside is, Tottenham are almost certainly going to beat West Brom tomorrow, so our games in hand won't be enough to leapfrog them. And of course, look at three of the next four matches...