LEO PERCOVICH expects to still be in control of Middlesbrough when they travel to Wigan Athletic on Wednesday, despite today’s 2-1 defeat to Blackburn Rovers having left the Teessiders in the Championship’s bottom three.
Percovich’s third game in temporary charge ended in defeat as Boro conceded first-half goals through an own goal from Darragh Lenihan and a brilliant long-range strike from Sam Gallagher.
Duncan Watmore pulled a goal back on the stroke of half-time, but despite a second-half rally, Boro crashed to a defeat that plunges them back into the relegation zone.
The managerial situation remains in a state of flux, with bookmakers having trimmed the odds of both Michael Carrick and Rob Edwards in the last few hours. Carrick is now favorite once again, despite talks between the former England international and the Boro hierarchy having broken down earlier this week.
Percovich spelled out his desire to be appointed on a permanent basis when he spoke in his pre-match press conference yesterday, and the Uruguayan is working on the assumption that he will still be in charge when Boro travel to the DW Stadium on Wednesday night.
“I am in charge today, and responsible for everything,” said Percovich. “I was leading the group today. I will be leading the group for what happens this week, and will be preparing the team for Wednesday.
“We can’t just wait to see if the club is going to make a decision, then switch on again. We are all connected, and it is my responsibility now to prepare the team for Wednesday. Then, we will see what the decision of the club is.
“This is a process of regeneration. We need to keep doing what we are doing, preparing the team for Wednesday, then we will see what is going on.”
Percovich was keen to take the positives from the Blackburn game, citing the way in which his players rallied after the break as proof that the dressing room is not broken.
Boro were much improved in the second half, and would have equalized had Chuba Akpom not somehow failed to score when presented the ball two yards out after Tyler Morton’s defensive header rebounded off the inside of the post.
“It was a very important moment when we went two goals behind,” said Percovich. “It was going to show whether things are divided or still united.
“If you are 2-0 down at home, then maybe at another club or with another squad, things would have cracked. But they stuck together to try to figure out the game.
“They were organized, they scored a goal, and then they dominated in the second half. We controlled the game after the team reacted, and that was a real positive.”
