Mowbray sticks to his guns

Manager Tony Mowbray insists he won't compromise his own footballing beliefs despite falling attendances at the Riverside.

Boro are currently in mid-table after a rather mixed start to their campaign but do have the boost of a victory at Watford last time out - which was their fifth in ten league games so far.

However, attendances at home have continued to fall this season and the recent draw with Derby County set a new league low of 13,377 for the club.

Mowbray has though maintained that he has no intention of his side suddenly becoming more direct in an effort to thrill those still watching and entice back a few more.

"Football is what it is, there's a balance between having the ball and having a threat," he told the Northern Echo. "I don't see that punting the ball up to the centre-forward and relying on taking the second ball is a type of football that will take anybody, anywhere.

"There is a balance to be had. Sometimes you have to keep the ball, sometimes you have to play it forward," Mowbray continued. "You sometimes have to keep it, move it to the side and wait for something to open up.

"I understand that sometimes supporters just want the ball played up front, but if it keeps breaking down when you do that, and the opposition keep breaking on you, then it is also disappointing when the ball ends up in your net."

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