By Betting Zone
January 22 2007

Sam Allardyce berated El-Hadji Diouf for "stupidity" after the Senegalese forward was sent off for swearing at the referee during Bolton's 5-1 defeat at Middlesbrough.

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The red card, which means Diouf faces a two-match ban, rubbed salt in the wounds for Bolton who were taken apart by a classy Boro performance inspired by Stewart Downing.

Allardyce said: "It was not the best of days, that's an understatement.

"I've no complaints about the scoreline, we got exactly what we deserved, or the red card.

"It was silly that he persisted to talk to Alan Wiley. Quite what he's said or didn't say doesn't make any difference any more because it's not going to get changed now.

"It was stupid and it was one there was no need for. At that stage of the game we were out of it, dead and buried and the last thing we would want is to lose another key player via suspensions through his own stupidity and that's exactly what's happened.

"It's added even more to our problems."

England left-winger Downing created Middlesbrough's opening three goals - a Gary Speed own goal, an Abel Xavier header and Mark Viduka's volley - before striking a superb fourth himself.

Kevin Nolan replied for Bolton but Viduka's second made it 5-1 and six goals in five games for the Australian.

Allardyce added: "Downing, Yakubu and Viduka were the difference. We worked extremely hard on the training ground this week to nullify Middlesbrough's strengths and in the first 15 minutes never did any of it at all.

"We found ourselves 3-0 down and there was no recovery from there, try as we might.

"There was some terrific work by Downing and some terrific finishing.

"We didn't want him to produce the sort of quality he did so and our defending was very poor, unlike us.

"Middlesbrough's our biggest bogey ground in the Premiership - whatever we do here we don't seem able to get anything out of it."

Boro manager Gareth Southgate said self-belief was now flowing throughout his side.

He said: "We have scored 16 goals in five games and we want our players to attack and give fans that sort of football.

"If we can play in that manner and at that tempo, with that commitment, hopefully we can fill this stadium every week."

The Middlesbrough manager said it could prove to be a game of huge importance for 22-year-old Downing.

Southgate said: "It will have done Stewart the world of good - he doesn't realise some times what a good player he is.

"If he's in any doubt he just has to watch a video of that game. He was fantastic, they changed the full-back at half-time which was a compliment and he was still a massive threat in the second half.

"His pass with the outside of his foot for Mark Viduka's goal was top drawer and then he came inside and hit one with his right foot, which we have seen before. That was him at his best and I'm delighted because he doesn't realise what a threat he is to other teams."

Southgate confirmed he will open talks with Viduka about a new contract for the Australian striker, whose deal runs out at the end of the season.

He added: "He's almost unplayable at the moment - not just his goalscoring but his presence in the team, his build-up and his footwork. You talk about players being in the zone, he's there.

"We will open talks as soon as possible - he's doing his negotiating on the field and that's the best possible message he can give us. He's at the top of his form, enjoying his football - he's a big part of our team and we want him here."

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By Bettingzone.co.uk
Used with permission.