We have to put Boro performance behind us - Emile Heskey

Emile Heskey has stressed the importance of building on their second half performance against Middlesbrough against MK Dons on Tuesday night.

Starting slowly at The Riverside Stadium, Wanderers found themselves 3-0 down at the interval in what was a challenging 45 minutes for Neil Lennon’s side. 

And while the Whites were still not at their best after the break, Heskey took solace from Bolton’s improvement in the second half. 

“It was one of those days - night and day - when it comes to the first and second half,” said the former England international. “In the first half we didn’t really show what we’re capable of doing and couldn’t get near them.

“But in the second half we showed what we are capable of doing and created a few good but not clear cut chances.

“Their first goal was crucial. When you’re playing your first home game then there’s going to be a bit of nerves, so we needed to take advantage of that and put them on the back foot.

“But we never managed to do that and they gained momentum from there. Then obviously the first goal came very quickly and we never really got going in the first half after that.

Heskey continued: “The manager said at half-time to put the first half behind us, it’s over, and we’ve got to go out and win the second half, so that’s what we tried to do.

“They are a good side but you’ve got to get amongst them and we did that in the second half.

“You try and nullify them and not put in a performance like ours in the first half. We faced an uphill struggle after that but we did come out in the second half and have a go.

“The goals will come, we’ve just got to carry on plugging away and keep creating. I think Gary and I have got goals in us. 

“Against Derby we were a little unlucky but hopefully they’ll start to go in and we can bounce back on Tuesday.”



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The goals won't come unless you start getting attempts on target and posts and crossbars are not the fking target!

Look Boro have spent money with intention to get back in the prem. We have spent nowt with no intentions to do anything except dodge relegation for another season. We are 22nd after two games which is exactly were the bookies had us. Nothing Neil can do IMO ....I'd get used to it lads....

It comes down to quality really doesn't it. And if we'd spent anything like what Boro have we probably wouldn't have got dicked so badly. "Momentum" and "on the back foot" etc are minor factors compared to this.

doffcocker wrote:It comes down to quality really doesn't it. And if we'd spent anything like what Boro have we probably wouldn't have got dicked so badly.

True, but occasionally a manager can find a bargain or revitalise an underrated player or two and knowing that we wouldn't have money to spend we are/were kind of banking on Lennon to use his knowledge of players, extensive contacts from his Celtic days and man management skills to produce something from nothing.

It's a lot to ask in modern times although Bournemouth did it to some extent in the last couple of seasons so it's not entirely impossible.

So far Neil hasn't been able to perform miracles but the signings he's made are mostly gambles with the potential to do well and without money he has little choice but to gamble on players.

We are desperately missing pace and finishing ability though - two things Boro have plenty of - and unfortunately raw speed and/or an eye for goal automatically puts a price premium on any donkey these days.

So if Neil is going to turn it around, he's going to have to find two or three new players that can enhance our goal threat and drill the shit out of the rest of them so that they are solid and resilient in the face of superior spending power.

It's a big ask and we'll find out over the next few weeks if he's up to the job but he's going to have to get the system right and improve player confidence before anything else can happen.

I don't think it matters to much who you stick in charge. Someone who can get the players "playing for them" is the only requirement. This team will never challenge with the finances the way they are right now and will be forever.

Well Emile, you lump of lard, we didn't. We repeated it.

Yeah Emile, you didn't put it behind you.