Hellberg rues the misses but Boro remain on course

KIM HELLBERG does not think Middlesbrough's players will need much lifting ahead of Tuesday's visit of Leicester, despite failing to see off struggling Oxford at the Riverside Stadium.

- KIM HELLBERG

THANKS: Boss Kim Hellberg applauds the Boro fans

Oxford have now won just one of their last 10 Championship games and such form has them sitting second from bottom in the table.

But United's display of resilience to keep out strong automatic promotion contenders has heartened Oxford boss Matt Bloomfield, whose side could easily have gone ahead in the first-half.

In the end Middlesbrough, who recorded almost 75 per cent of the possession but wasted numerous good positions to open the scoring, earned a point that strengthened their grip on promotion.

Hellberg, knowing Millwall and Ipswich below them both lost, said: