Middlesbrough 2-0 QPR: The Daily Mirror match report

According to local legend Gordon Strachan walked into a pub last week in the village next to Middlesbrough’s training ground and was asked by the barman: “How can I help you Sir?“

The Scots dry response was: “A couple of decent strikers please.”

Strachan is breaking down barriers after a difficult, defeat strewn, start to his managerial tenure. The lack of a regular goal-scorer aside, GS2 had a plan to rebuild his squad in Janaury, and it appears to be working.

Chairman Steve Gibson admitted before this game that selling star winger Adam Johnson to Manchester City “meant having to take a big step backwards,” but in the six games since he left Boro have started to stagger forwards again.

Three wins and a draw since Johnson joined Stewart Downing as a Teesside exile to dazzle the Premier League again, and Boro are a solid enough to conjure a journey to the play offs from a season that looked forlorn.

Admittedly it took two penalty kicks (one controversial) to dispose of QPR and creativity and thrills were in short supply, suggesting Gibson and Strachan are both right to hint that more work needs to be done.

However true to his plan Strachan has remodelled Boro into a robust, and increasingly consistent side with experience and cunning.

No, not spectacular. But a plan is a plan and no one was complaining among the 17,565 crowd. From technical fancy football under Southgate that was sporadic in materialising, to a hard working team ethic founded on tough defence.

In the dark days before Christmas when all seemed lost, Strachan promised he knew what worked, and asked for patience. Gibson added on Saturday: “I’d like to pay tribute to our fans for the tremendous patience shown during an undeniably difficult 12 months. We lost our long held place in the Premier League and had to ensure we are financially stable.

“Gordon Strachan has made great strides forward. We feel we have stopped the rot and our worst days  are behind us. We need to put together a winning run to ensure we qualify for the play-offs. Promotion remains our aim. We can punch above our weight again.”

One of Strachan’s Celtic imports Barry Robson took both first half spot kicks, won by Jeremie Aliadiere and Leroy Lita. Other than that goal-mouth action was sparse.

And another defender Stephen McManus put in a flawless performance showing what an astute addition he was in January.

Strachan said: “We’re still in there with a chance of the play offs. It was a huge win. For the work that they have put in over the last few weeks, to get nothing, not get a win, would have been hard. It was a test of their character, which was fine.

“I thought Mick (Stephen McManus) was very good. He didn’t lose his cool at any time, there was no panic, he held a good line. The goal that they scored - the offside one - we might not have been able to cope with a couple of months ago but Mick is holding a good line. His communication is excellent.

“And Barry’s attitude was excellent. That was what we bought him for. He is enthusiastic, sometimes too enthusiastic.”

QPR stand in boss Mick Harford admitted he could be on his way out, with Neil Warnock tipped to take over this week. “There’s a lot of speculation. The fact is there’s a Manager’s job up for grabs, and this is a good club with good fans and, as you saw, a good bunch of players too.

“I have openly said that the Club needs a Manager to come in and stabilise the place. I believe the current set-up is the right situation now for the Club to move in the right direction, with the new Chairman Ishan Saksena coming in. The Club is in good hands, and they want to take QPR forward.”

Maybe Strachan can order a couple of pints to celebrate next time he’s in that Hurworth boozer.