Soccer: Venables frustrated with bore draw in cup

Terry Venables has admitted his Middlesbrough side were well below par after being held to a goalless draw by Wimbledon in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

"I thought they deserved what they came for and they got it," admitted Venables. "They worked very hard for it.

"We tried to keep playing football in conditions that maybe weren't conducive to it. "

He added: "Wimbledon have got a good away record this year, and when you know the game is going to be hard like that, you've got to take your chances.

"I thought we had a good one after five minutes. Hamilton's (Ricard) header was one we should have put away, and the save their keeper made just on half-time was quite amazing. You've got to give credit to the goalkeeper, it was quite special.

"We didn't want a replay, but I suppose we'd rather have it than go out. We can't complain, we're still in there fighting and maybe we'll surprise a few."

Sections of the home support in a crowd which amounted to just 20,625 expressed their dissatisfaction in no uncertain terms on the final whistle, but Venables insisted that no-one was more frustrated than himself and his players.

"I understand all our frustrations, but it's best that we all pull together," he said.

"There was a section of the crowd that was frustrated with certain parts of the game, but I don't think it's going to help, put it that way.

"I hope the run keeps on going. That's what we want to do, and I'm no different to anyone else.

"But we'd like to win some of these games. There have been times even since I've been here when we've been on the wrong end of a few decisions, and a time when we got the good side of a decision.

"We've just got to keep on playing and keep on battling our way through it."