Mowbray left ruing the errors that have cost Boro (From The Northern Echo)

Mowbray left ruing the errors that have cost Boro

8:00am Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Middlesbrough By Steph Clark

HAVING watched his side throw away two wins in the space of four days, Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray admits his players must cut out silly mistakes if they are to maintain their promotion push.

Against Sunderland at weekend, Barry Robson was the hero-turned-villain when he scored before giving away the ball, which lead to Fraizer Campbell's equaliser.

And frustratingly for Mowbray, history repeated itself last night when Tony McMahon put Boro ahead with ten minutes left against Leicester City before gifting Jermaine Beckford a late equaliser.

With Boro on course for their first win since the turn of the year, the defender played a short back pass to Jason Steele, which allowed Beckford to nick the ball and slot home from close range.

The result did put Boro back into the play-off places, but Mowbray admits his side should have left the King Power Stadium with the win.

"We're disappointed again, we put ourselves in a good position with time running out, but the nature of the goal they scored was hugely disappointed," said Mowbray.

"Ultimately if we are going to move forward we have to stop shooting ourselves in the foot, we've done it a few times now.

"It's not a criticism of the players, it's about concentration levels. We've come here to play a team that has been flying.

"We gave a poor goal away early on and got ourselves back into it then in a winning position we conceded a bad goal at the death, but we have to move on.

"The decision making of footballers can be crucial. It happened with Barry Robson on Sunday and he's been a shining light for us.

"Today it was Tony, he scored a terrific goal and then to do that, it deflates everyone a bit, but we have to keep going. We've broken our run of defeats, it's just a bit frustrating it wasn't three points."

Leicester boss Nigel Pearson was sent to the stands just before the start of the second half by Gavin Ward, alleging that the referee barged into the hosts' dressing room towards the end of the interval.

When he emerged, he was informed by the fourth official that he had been sent off for what he said to Ward.

Pearson was furious following the incident and has vowed to challenge any action the Football Association might take.

"I don't know what really happened," said Pearson. "I was talking to my players and giving them instructions for the second half when I was rudely interrupted.

"I didn't see who it was that barged into my dressing room but I told them to get out - and that may be a euphemism for what I actually said.

"When I am talking to my players in my space and someone tries to interrupt me and talk to me when they have not been invited to do so, that is rude.

"In future what I will do to avoid any repeat of the situation is lock the dressing room door."

Former Boro skipper Pearson added: "I am all for the Respect Campaign and things getting back to how they were. When I was a player people could say what they wanted without all this red tape.

"Respect is a two-way thing and I look forward to reading the referee's report. I can't wait. It will be interesting.

"I was furious having to watch from the stands and I can't wait to see what the reaction to all this will be.

"If the FA have to get involved then I will be appealing, there's no doubt about that. I can't wait to see what happens."

The Foxes boss was also unhappy with a number of decisions including an incident involving Lukas Jutkiewicz and Sean St Ledger and Mowbray admitted he was also not satisified with certain decisions.

"To be honest it was a shambles in the technical area and on the pitch. It's not for me to criticise the referee, he had a difficult night is probably the best thing to say.

"It got to the stage where he couldn't make a decision for a period in the game, but we have to live with it."

Mowbray confirmed that Tarmo Kink has had his contract terminated by mutual consent.

The Estonian international, signed by former boss Gordon Strachan, has struggled to get into the side this season and has now become a free agent.