Jonathan Woodgate said his Middlesbrough side deserved to win an ‘unbelievable’ game at Luton where both sides had to settle for a point in a six-goal thriller to open the Championship season.
In his first game as a manager, the former Boro player watched as Ashley Fletcher gave his side an early lead with a headed goal.
But Luton roared back at the Teessiders, first with a collector’s item top corner rocket from Sonny Bradley – his first ever Hatters strike – and then a header from Martin Cranie for a debut goal.
Town keeper Simon Sluga then gifted Middlesbrough a second, letting the striker’s tame shot through his fingers.
In the second half Lewis Wing fired a top corner stunner to out Woodgate’s team back in front but a James Collins equaliser arrived in the 85th minute after Britt Assombalonga had missed a penalty.
“Unbelievable, what a game. What a game of football,” the Boro boss said.
“It was eventful, especially in the second half, we really went out to win the game. I thought we were excellent, especially how we controlled it in the second half. We pressed high, we left ourselves a little open, that’s how I want to play. I want to press teams and score goals.
“I want to score goals, without question. We need to tighten up at times, but I said all along we want to score goals and I want to win games. Tonight, we got a draw but I thought we should have won. It was exciting and I loved every minute of it.”
Middlesbrough looked to have weathered Luton’s spirited performance before the hour mark and fashioned a string of chances, only to see Sluga recover from his first half shocker to deny Assombalonga twice and Daniel Sanchez Ayala once, while Boro also hit the bar and squandered a spot-kick that would have made it 4-2.
Woodgate said: “It’s one of those things. Britt will take the next penalty and score, if he misses that one, he will score the next. He is my nine and I have a lot of confidence in Britt Assombalonga.
“He is going to score goals all season. He was disappointed, it’s my job to lift him and too right I will lift him. I will back him all the way.”
