Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg delivers verdict on Swansea penalties and side's performance after 2-2 draw
Reaction from Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg after his side’s 2-2 draw against Swansea at the Swansea.com Stadium.
Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg had no complaints about the two penalties his side conceded against Swansea and praised his players for fighting back to earn a point in South Wales.
Boro were held to a 2-2 draw at the Swansea.com Stadium as they missed the chance to move back into the Championship’s automatic promotion places.
The visitors made an excellent start when Alex Bangura, who was making his first start since January, fired them ahead in the 12th minute. Bangura then conceded a penalty, which Swansea striker Zan Vipotnik converted, before the full-back was forced off with another injury setback.
Vipotnik subsequently scored a second penalty just before half-time following a foul from Boro keeper Sol Brynn on Eom Ji-sung. Yet Boro rallied in the second half and earned a point when they were awarded a penalty of their own, which was dispatched by Tommy Conway.
“First 15/20 minutes outstanding,” said Hellberg when assessing his side’s performance. “I think we come to a ground where everyone had struggled to play against Swansea, their way of playing. They are a good team on the ball. I think we were outstanding with so many players away to keep that control. We play through, we play over, play round. Brilliant.
“For five minutes it’s a little bit tougher when they get their penalty. It’s of course a clear penalty for 1-1. Then I think we are back to taking control of the game. Then it’s a new penalty, 2-1, so it’s tough to go in 2-1 down after that first half.
“We fight back in the second half. I think it was very good. We create a lot of opportunities, show a lot of desire, character. It could be easy after that first half to put blame on people or each other. They didn’t, they just fight through it and show a lot of character in that second half which was very strong.
“Overall I think we were very close to winning this game and maybe should have but 2-2 is the result and we played a very, very good side.“
Reflecting on the penalties his side conceded, Hellberg added: “To be honest everyone knows. You can see on the players when they concede those penalties, you can’t concede those penalties. It’s very, very simple. They know that, I know that, you know that. Then we have to move on.
“Bangs (Bangura) scored a goal and I think his first 20 minutes is unbelievable, and Sol does a very good save at the end so that’s what you can do. You make mistake, everyone does it. I do it every day and how you grow from that is the key. That again shows character because it would have been so easy to put blame on people after those two pens but instead we go together.“