Gordon Strachan's latest devil dog moment

Gordon Strachan had another ‘drinking kestral and devil dogs’ moment after Middlesbrough’s 2-2 draw with Portsmouth yesterday.

Speaking to a manager after losing a two goal lead at home and after having had Barry Robson sent off is always fraught with difficulties.

Throw in the tension and frustration that ‘Boro supporters are feeling with the pre-season promotion favourites lying in 18^th place and it creates a lethal combination.

Asked by BBC Radio Tees how he was coping with the pressure the former Celtic boss joked: “Take drugs, drink and smoke, that kind of thing.”

Whilst manager of Celtic Strachan responded to a question about how he dealt with criticism from fans on radio or on the internet by claiming that those sort of people were ‘shell-suit wearing devil dog owners drinking kestral’.

Like most managers Strachan claims that he doesn’t read newspapers or listen to radio phone-ins with supporter message-boards a complete no-no.

As he demonstrated almost every week in his media conferences Strachan was well aware of virtually everything that was being said and written about him.

Confirming his long held suspicions about the media Strachan gave an insight into his thinking when he discussed criticism before the Portsmouth match.

He said: “When you were younger, you listen to everything on the television and radio, and read everything and drive yourself bananas. I am really well past that.

“Sometimes if you hear a wee glimpse of it, it can make you angry for a bit, but I would not say it is an indifference to me.

“A manager should be indifferent to criticism. Sir Alex (Ferguson) had a conversation with Sir Matt Busby and that is where I got it from.

“Sir Alex said ‘the papers are after me Matt’ and Sir Matt said ‘well don’t read them then.’ I am only taking something from Alex Ferguson and Matt Busby. There is no aloofness.”

Strachan has enough to contend with on the park after former Celtic target Liam Lawrence scored an 88^th minute equaliser for Portsmouth from the penalty spot.

Kris Boyd and Scott McDonald were paired together in attack but it was Matthew Bates and Robson that put Middlesboro two up at the interval.

Portsmouth on the back of two wins battled back with goals from David Nugent and a Lawrence penalty that saw Robson red carded.

Three weeks short of the anniversary of taking over from Gareth Southgate Strachan’s record reads: won 13, drawn 13 and lost 19 from 45 games in charge.

Elsewhere in The Championship it was a great day for former Celts with Paul Lambert (Norwich), Malky Mackay (Watford) and Roy Keane (Ipswich) sitting in third, fourth and fifth places.

Billy McNeill’s half-time team talk at the Tommy Burns Tribute match must have been exceptional as those three sat listening.

Norwich enjoyed a 3-0 away win over David James and his new team-mates at Bristol City with former Livingston winger Wes Hoolihan amongst the scorers.

Malky Mackay guided Watford to their third successive away win thanks to a 16^th minute goal from Danny Graham who had his contract extendedc in midweek.

At Portman Road Keane’s Ipswich recorded a 2-1 win over Leeds United although Darren O’Dea wasn’t in the side.

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