Are we on the road to greater things now?

The FA Cup, not Pochettino’s cup of tea.

Even though we didn’t play well, the story of our season so far, we did, however, have a full-strength team (albeit Kane). This is something you wouldn’t have seen if the moaner was still in charge. His only interests were the League, a top-four finish and Champions League continuation. Pochettino should have learnt to walk before playing with the grown-ups.  OK, he got us to the Final of the Champions League, but that had a lot to do with other teams falling on their swords. And then when we did grace the final, he cocks it up with his team selection. What a divvy, but we loved him (a nod is as good as a wink to a blind man).

Like all matches, the day always starts off positive (that is the day of the game), at least under Mourinho.  It did under Pochettino at first, then the last season or so things started to deteriorate (his moaning, team selection etc.). But now a new era and a new philosophy have taken grip of our team. But with the same players (oh!).  Mourinho has got his work cut out for him. But have confidence, it can only get better (at least that is what we are counting on).

Did we miss Kane? Well, I thought Son was a bit jaded and if the team had gelled a bit better – and they did near the end – we might have gone home with the spoils and not questioning Kane’s invisibility (even though it was invisibility with injuries).

Mourinho said he would not forgive himself if he had named a weakened team against a side who had won their previous four Championship games. But even his first-choice XI - with Son Heung-min returning from suspension - was only enough for a draw. But to be fair, cup matches are not known for giant-killings for nothing.  Not that any giants trod on any toes on that day. Things will be different the next time around where we will be on our own turf.

Our team haven’t won a trophy in more than a decade - since Woodgate scored the winner for us in the 2008 League Cup final against Chelsea, with Boro assistant Robbie Keane also playing in that game.

In Mourinho, compared to Poch, we have a manager who has won plenty of trophies (experience), including the 2007 FA Cup with Chelsea, as well as domestic cups in Spain, Italy and Portugal. Boys and men! I am talking about Pochettino and Mourinho here (you can work out which is which… no prizes though!).

Nevertheless, we were suffering plenty of defensive problems - and have conceded first in eight of 12 games in charge; including at the end of Mourinho’s spell at Manchester United. We also have only kept one clean sheet in our last 17 matches. So, and as I said, he has a lot of work to do to repair Pochettino’s weak walls…

Our defenders appeared to switch off as Fletcher controlled Saville's ball before the midfielder ran through and finished. He was borderline offside, but there was no video assistant referee at the Riverside to try to dissect it down to the nearest millimetre or armpit. We deserved our equaliser though, as Moura headed home before the Brazilian was frustrated by Mejias on a couple of occasions.

There isn’t really that much to add on that shitty day. The crowd was down, for both Middlesbrough and Spurs. Obviously, those supporters that would usually embellish such events decided that the warmth of their homes was a better option than gingerly going where they believed the result would be predictable. In Cup matches nothing is predictable (think Colchester), other than the same old tired food catering areas where forced habitués were forced to swallow the same old creepy food (but to be fair, some liked it!). So congratulations to those that stuck their heads above the parapet.

It may not look like much from a fans point of view, but behind the scenes, progress is being made. New tactics are being unearthed, the players are happy and eager. Now we just need to cement some sort of uniformed consistency. We will get there, and maybe on the way pick up an FA Cup or something (wouldn’t that be nice? At least Mourinho’s tenure will start where others were unable to tread).

When Pochettino was in charge depression was taking over, since Mourinho graced our land I’ve been feeling more positive. The trouble is, from a fans point of view, it looks even more depressing (results-wise). Probably that was why there was a screening about mental health before the match. They probably thought if this game goes pear shape then focusing on Danny Rose might help (it probably helped us all after the last couple of results!). I can now see lemmings jumping off a cliff. I know what you are thinking, why would lemmings jump of Cliff when he can give you a mouth water rendition of “A summer’s holiday”? I think I got you there!