Kelly praises team’s work ethic in defeat

Photo: PICTURE by ALAN HOWARTH.

SURE STOP . . . David Cornell dives to his right to keep out Adam Clayton’s seventh-minute penalty.

DARREN Kelly couldn’t fault the effort of his men as Athletic fell to defeat against a crack Middlesbrough outfit last night.

Two goals from Cristhian Stuani and one from Yanic Wildschut, answered in added time by a Danny Philliskirk header, ensured the Championship side made it through to round two of the Capital One Cup at Athletic’s expense for the second year running.

While fulsome in praising the work put in by his side, on one level Kelly admitted he couldn’t help but admire the way slick Boro went about their task.

“We do things like that in training but when you are doing it on the stage, that’s what it’s about,” Kelly said of Boro, favourites for the Championship title in 2015-16.

“Some of their movement and quick play was great to watch and at times we couldn't deal with that.

“The one thing I always ask of the players is that they work hard, and they worked tirelessly. All credit to Middlesbrough. They are an excellent side and no doubt they will do very well this season.

“We finished well, which is very pleasing. Overall we created good chances but as we all know, it is about goals and we struggled to find them. We finished by making their goalkeeper (Tomas Mejias) produce a few good saves. It was good to finish on a positive.

Goalkeeper David Cornell gave Kelly food for thought with a performance that included a seventh-minute save from Adam Clayton’s penalty.

“It was a great save,” Kelly said, “but he’s more than capable of dealing with those kind of saves.”

In a game watched by two former Athletic bosses — Paul Dickov and Lee Johnson were both in the directors’ box — Kelly made four changes to the side that had drawn 1-1 at Walsall.

The most notable absentee was midfield man Mike Jones, but Kelly said he should return for the home match with Fleetwood on Saturday.

“He’s absolutely fine,” Kelly added. “Mike has a little niggle with his knee and it is a case of managing that.”