Kim Hellberg had mixed feelings after watching Middlesbrough come from two goals down to claim a point against Millwall at the Riverside Stadium.
Just days after watching his side edge a seven-goal thriller on Teesside, Hellberg had to rely on Boro scoring two goals in the second half to avoid defeat against the Lions.
Millwall’s summer signing Tairyk Arconte opened the scoring in the 11th minute by striking low and in off the near post and strike partner Lyndon Dykes added the second nine minutes before half-time when he turned in Derek Mazou-Sacko’s flicked pass across the face of goal following a corner.
But Middlesbrough, who made three substitutions at half-time, recovered. Exciting winger Amario Cozier-Duberry, on loan from Brighton, pulled one back shortly after the break before Will Lankshear headed in his eighth of the season at the back post from Luke Ayling’s cross.
Hellberg, whose side could have climbed top of the Championship but failed to capitalise on 80 per cent of possession before and after those goals, said: “It was a weird game because they didn’t create many chances but scored two in the first half, and we were not doing things we want to; it was below our standard and this game was on me.
“Amario was the best player in the first half, continued second half, you can see the quality he has. I am very happy with him, but we are putting ourselves in tough situations.
“In the first half we were below our standard, energy-wise and in general, but the group keeps showing the character they have is very strong; to come from two goals down and create chances, which we have done since we started the season.
“I had a lot of players who did brilliantly against Norwich, who maybe didn’t have the energy tonight. I got some decisions wrong, that’s on me.”
While Middlesbrough sit third, Millwall moved up to 11th after avoiding a fourth defeat from their last five matches.
And manager Alex Neil, whose side had shipped eight goals in their previous two away defeats, said: “There are very few times that I would say I’d take a point before the game because I set out to win every game, but after the last two away results we had to set out to be hard to beat.
“Normally we would deal with the goals we have conceded tonight, but I can’t fault the lads for their effort.
“From our perspective, we came here to stodge the game up, hit on the counter.
“Everyone connected with Millwall knows we are down to the bare bones, we have 14 injuries, and I have to try to give the lads the best chance to win a game.
“There was a long time left on the clock after (the equaliser); we had to rally.”
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