So before this game even kicked off, and talk focussed on the possibility of going second in the league.

It was academic; what else can one say when there is just a possibility of such a result.

A game that was clearly affected by players not completely in prime condition. Hardly any surprise considering how much effort went into the QPR victory just two days ago.

Is there any other country that insists that second tier footballers have to cram eight games into nine days?

And City were lucky when the Palace game was called off because of a frozen pitch., They had a day off compared to many.

Paul Lambert has yet to be interviewed (or played on air), but he is bound to mention that we must keep our feet on the floor, and consider just where we have recently come from.

He is right, of course, but his players keep surprising one and all by turning in promotion-grabbing performances.

It was lacklustre, this game, and it could easily have been an easy victory had it not been for M'brough getting cocky abhout drawing level through an own goal.

Although lacklustre might be unfair considering just how much football has been played by the idiotic way that the Football League has crammed as much into the silly hiccup that happens when a religious holiday results in "extra" holdidays (Bank, or otherwise).

Middlesbrough applied the pressure and demonstrated the gap in class between a side not long out of the Premiership and a side just promoted from League One. However, the defending "underdogs" held them off.

As for the lofty position, second in the table, it might not last much more than 24 hours, as Cardiff City host Leeds Utd tomorrow evening.

Neither team is a particular favourite with City supporters, but a draw will suit us down to the ground.

So, if we take away everything about us performing far better than anybody could expect, a draw away to M'brough would have been a very welcome result.

As it is, listening to Canary Call, anybody would think we had just fallen on our swords against some Conference side in a cup competition.

To Paul Lambert and ALL the players. Well done and thank you.

Photo: Action Images

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