Strachan relieved after brace of Middlesbrough wins

Middlesbrough 3-1 Reading

Middlesbrough manager Gordon Strachan has admitted his relief that the club have emerged with six points from two eventful games in the last seven days.

Saturday's 3-1 win against Reading followed a 2-1 defeat of Burnley in midweek to lift the Teessiders up to 13th in the Championship.

"Any neutral supporter has been here in the last week will have enjoyed what they've seen," Strachan told BBC Tees.

"Fortunately for us in the last two games, we've been the winning side."

Strachan added: "We've had enough chances to win."

Meanwhile the former Celtic manager was keen to praise former assistant boss Gary McAllister who is to be confirmed as number two to Gerard Houllier at Aston Villa.

McAllister was a summer appointment by Strachan at the Riverside, but there are no hard feelings between the duo.

"It's disappointing to lose anybody we like working with, and like as a person, but the lure of the premier league is a bit too much sometimes.

"We'd all like to be back there ourselves and if there was a yes or no to get into that division we'd say yes.

"We wish him good luck, I enjoyed working with him and I'm sure he'll be very successful at Aston Villa."