Middlesbrough’s unbeaten start came to an end after suffering a 1-0 defeat away at Norwich City on Saturday afternoon.
Middlesbrough manager Tony Pulis gave an honest assessment of the game in an interview with Middlesbrough’s official website not long after the final whistle, claiming it was ‘not his side’s day’.
“It’s disappointing, I thought we had a pretty good start,” he said.
“A couple of opportunities, a couple of chances, an array of corners and we dropped off after about 20 minutes and they came into the game, and they were the better team up until half-time and they were better after the break as well up until they got the goal.”
Norwich striker Teemu Pukki scored the only goal of the game in the 58th minute, poking home from close range. The goal earned the canaries just their second win of the season so far.
Pulis believes the goal could’ve been avoided, and Boro could’ve had their own chance to score from the penalty spot just minutes before, but the referee waved play on.
“If you look at the challenge on Britt (Assombalonga) down at the bottom end of the goal, it’s a penalty for me. The lad’s going past him and he’s brought him down.
“From there they get their goal and it’s a fortuitous goal, it’s going wide, the lad toe pokes it, hits Shotts (Ryan Shotton) on the inside of his foot and goes in. Not our day in lots of respects.”
Middlesbrough face Bolton Wanderers at The Riverside on Wednesday night, whereas Norwich play Reading.
