Boro couldn’t make the most of being handed a second chance in the play-offs
Hayden Hackney shows his disappointment after Middlesbrough were beaten at Wembley by Hull City(Image: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Kim Hellberg admitted he was devastated at being unable to guide Middlesbrough to promotion, after being thrown a lifeline earlier this week.
Oli McBurnie’s 95th-minute goal sealed a stunning 1-0 win for Hull City who can look forward to Premier League football next season, while Boro must face up to another campaign in the Championship.
After spending much of the season in the top two, Boro ran out of steam and were beaten in the semi-finals by Southampton, before replacing the South Coast club after they were booted out earlier this week.
Hellberg’s side ended the campaign with just two wins in 10, and their drop in form proved pivotal as the Tigers swept back into the Premier League after a 10-year absence.
“It’s been a very weird situation. There’s no excuse in that, it’s just been very tough, back and forth. That performance is good enough to win, it’s maybe just not sharp enough to win it,” the Boro chief said.
Despite dominating possession, Boro failed to have a single attempt on target in the game, while at the other end, McBurnie hit the bar and Sol Brynn was forced into tipping a Lewie Coyle header over with the Tigers carrying more threat, and so it proved in stoppage time.
“When you concede that little and create those half-opportunities, I think the game is there for you to take, but we didn’t do that. It will always come down to small margins. Today wasn’t our day,” he continued.
“It’s devastating. It’s been very unique because it’s been two heartbreaking losses in one week. It makes it very tough in terms of the emotional drain. It’s such a disappointing way for it to end.
“When the game ends, you also feel very empty. I’m disappointed, sad for everyone, but also very, very flat in emotions in terms of all the things you put into the year and training and the players, who have been brilliant. The supporters, too.
“It is a tough moment. It is a very, very tough moment. It’s a sad moment, and I wish I could have done better. That’s what it always goes to. I wish I could have done better through this period – find better solutions when we didn’t score those goals, put those games to bed.
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“I think we defend in a brilliant way. But we are not good enough at creating big chances from our possession. We have a lot of those moments where we drive the game forward, but don’t use those chances well enough to create big chances. We had some, but we should get more.
“That’s what football comes down to. It’s my responsibility, and I have to try after the break to develop myself and help the players better in those situations to create more, to score more, and to work forward. There is a time to be devastated and disappointed now for everyone. That is emotions.
“It’s been a rollercoaster for everyone in the football club. It’s been up and down, and there’s a lot of emotions that’s been back and forth. You have to look at the game and say, in many aspects, we did a lot of good things, but over 90 minutes, they scored one, and we scored none.
“So you just have to congratulate Hull for the win and the promotion.”
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