Team news

Strachan begins reign without Aliadiere New Middlesbrough manager Gordon Strachan will be without Jeremie Aliadiere for his first game in charge against Plymouth.

Strachan was officially unveiled at the Riverside on Monday and has been working tirelessly with his new squad all week as he looks to get off to a winning start against struggling Argyle.

However, his cause has not been helped by the news Aliadiere faces six weeks on the sidelines having undergone an ankle operation, leaving an already threadbare forward line looking even more lightweight.

On-loan forward Caleb Folan is still missing with a torn hamstring, while long-term absentees Chris Riggott and Andrew Taylor (both ankle) and Matthew Bates (knee) also remain out.

Experienced midfielder Julio Arca returned to the bench after suspension for last weekend's 2-2 draw at Preston and he will again be in contention, although Strachan may opt to hand the Argentinian a starting role.

Skipper Emanuel Pogatetz could also find himself with a starting place having been an unused substitute for the last two games after his recovery from knee surgery.

New Zealand international striker Rory Fallon is a major doubt for second-from-bottom Plymouth.

He suffered a calf strain in the 1-1 home draw with Ipswich last weekend and faces a late fitness test.

Argyle manager Paul Sturrock will be without on-loan Cardiff defender Darcy Blake, who starts a three-match ban after his sending-off against the Tractor Boys.

He also has problems at right-back, with David Gray doubtful after picking up an ankle injury against Ipswich, and David McNamee almost certainly ruled out after rolling his ankle in the midweek reserve-team game against Exeter.

Middlesbrough vs Plymouth

Last modified 22:13 31/10/09

Gordon Strachan challenged his Boro slackers to prove they’re fit for the battle.

Middlesbrough’s new boss was left in little doubt as to the stiff task he faces to guide the Teessiders straight back into the top flight after Jamie Mackie’s second-half winner condemned them to a fourth home defeat in five games.

Boro have won just twice in eight games to leave Strachan questioning the fitness of some of the squad he inherited from Gareth Southgate.

The Scot said: “While most of the squad’s fitness levels are fine, one or two need to do a bit of extra work and a programme has been designed with that in mind.”

Boro dropped out of the play-off places as Strachan’s first match in charge fell flat thanks to Mackie’s well-taken fourth goal of the season.

Adam Johnson’s 80th-minute penalty hit a post after Sean St Ledger was sandwiched by two defenders in the box and there was more bad news as Emanuel Pogatetz saw his injury jinx strike once again.

The Austrian international was carried off early in the second half with a nasty head injury following an accidental clash with Plymouth’s David Gray.

Boro couldn’t find a way back after Mackie out-muscled David Wheater to Gary Sawyer’s pass to burst through and slot the ball past exposed keeper Brad Jones after 64 minutes.

Shane Lowry led by example as Argyle defended heroically, but Paul Sturrock’s men had an amazing escape just after the restart.

After a great run and cross from Julio Arca, Kari Arnason stopped Wheater’s close-range shot on the line.

The danger wasn’t over as a ricochet sent the ball bouncing back towards goal off Romain Larrieu, before the Plymouth keeper’s desperate dive prevented an own goal.

When substitute Marcus Bent – making his loan debut from Birmingham – headed wide from Arca’s cross, Boro sensed it wasn’t their day as Mackie rubbed salt in the wounds with a cool finish.

Sturrock had words of comfort for his former Scotland team-mate.

The Plymouth manager said: “Gordon will get them promoted.

“He’s a good manager, they’re still high up in the table and they’ve got some good players. I’m positive he’ll be promoted at the end of the season.”