Here, Neil Warnock dissects Saturday's result and speaks about the upcoming week...
By Glen Williams
Sunday 25th August
Q. Were you disappointed not to have won that game?
A. Yes really, I am. And we could have lost it at the end, couldn't we? Just by being a little bit sloppy, which we've been in both the away games so far this season, and it could have cost us.
But, you know, overall I thought it was a proper result, really. Yeah, I thought we had the best of the chances and the better play, but it's a hard place to come, here, as Middlesbrough found out.
Q. First point on the road this season, must be relieved to get off the mark?
A. I think it's the first clean sheet as well isn't it? It is lovely, it's tough here and anywhere in the Championship.
I kept the same team, I thought 'why not?'. We changed it in the two away games and got the three goals conceded in both of them. So, I thought let (Lee) Tomlin have an hour and see how we go.
Q. You obviously took Lee Tomlin off because it was a fitness thing?
A. Yeah. I think for an hour he's as good as there is, for the minute. He'll get fitter and fitter, it's just after the hour the opposing midfield players start pushing forward a bit, if we're not careful.
I just thought Junior (Hoilett) can do both roles, defensive and attacking, and I thought Junior had a good chance when he put it over the bar. Three games, we've had, in six days, so one or two tired legs.
Q. How hard is it to get to that required level of fitness for Tomlin?
A. Very hard. There's no games this week, well Friday, but he'll have a hard session, I think, on Tuesday. And he's been doing extra himself with the fitness guys. So I've got to take my hat off to him and (Omar) Bogle, he's been doing extra as well.
There's a game Tuesday night now in the cup (against Luton), I'm sure it'll give all the lads 90 minutes, the ones who haven't had 90 minutes so far.
Q. Robert Glatzel is still waiting for his first goal, will it come?
A. Yeah, I thought we missed him when he came off, but he was shattered. He's never played three games like this in six days, not in the German second division. I thought he did ever so well, but he can have a nice relax now and get ready for next Friday.
Tuesday is against opposition you're already familiar with in Luton...
Yeah, they've had a great result today and I'm sure they'll want to go further (in the Carabao Cup). We've got to give some of the lads a chance on Tuesday. It's such a hard league, especially playing Friday as well, I'll be making a lot of changes.
Q. It'll be nice to have a run in the cup won't it?
A. I'd like to win the FA Cup...
Q. How long will it take the squad to adjust from the Premier League?
A. I think, as Tony (Mowbray) said, 'I can see how you're just starting now' and I think we are. We've learnt a few lessons. I think we should have won at Wigan, we got battered at Reading, although there I thought if we'd carried on like we started... but you've got to give them credit, the lads, when we can play, we do.
For us, it was so unusual to face so many long balls? I'd get slaughtered (for that)! I thought we coped admirably.
Q. Is it a mental or physical change to come down to the Championship?
A. Well most of our lads are from the Championship, aren't they? That's an advantage that I have got. But it just shows what can happen. Last Sunday (against Reading), I'd never seen anything like the second half and the response I got on Wednesday was fantastic. Four points from two tough games and I'm delighted.
They're a good group of lads but they do disappoint me on times.
Q. When do you think the Championship starts settling down and looking like a true table?
A. Well they always say 10 games don't they? But you can see already, I know Fulham lost today but you look at the squad they've got. And Leeds, I think there's going to be two or three that will probably pull away at the top end if I'm honest.
We've just got to hang on to their coattails.
Q. Was there a lot of emphasis placed on defence this week? And how happy are you with that clean sheet?
A. Very much so. It was our own fault we nearly conceded at the end, dithering about, but we have worked hard. And it was really hot out there today and credit to them, (Alex) Smithies did well as well, so yeah really pleased away from home to get a clean sheet.
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