'What happened with the bobble was a total freak': Nobody blaming Dimi Konstantopoulos, says George Friend

George Friend believes Boro more than matched big-spending QPR and hopes fans can see beyond the result and to appreciate the display

No-one in the Boro squad is pointing the finger at Dimi Konstantopoulos insists George Friend.

Keeper Konstantopoulos was the victim of a cruel stoppage-time bobble that swung the game decisively in favour of QPR who ran out 3-1 winners.

But devastated defender Friend - who had fired inches wide just seconds before the fateful bobble - said the squad was united in support for the shot-stopper.

“No one is blaming Dimi for what happened,” said the lively left-back who lashed home Boro’s first half opener.

“He played really well and made some good saves but it can be a very cruel game.

“What happened with the bobble was a total freak and that’s putting it politely. It was horrible.

“It’s the moments like that that make football so cruel for the players, the manager and the fans.

“It really hurts when you have played well and you deserve something and then something like that happens,” he said.

“Hopefully we will get one of them soon that wins us the game and it turns round again.”

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In pictures: Boro 1 Queens Park Rangers 3

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The team were quick to rally around the distraught keeper explained Friend.

“Dimi was gutted and we all feel for him,” he said.

“Personally I went straight in and spoke to Dimi, gave him a high five and a pat on the back.

“He will be hurting right now but he’ll get over it.”

Friend believes Boro more than matched big-spending QPR and hopes fans can see beyond the result and to appreciate the display.

“We were the better side and I don’t think even QPR would argue that,” he said.

“I thought the first half was as good as we’ve played all season. To come away with nothing was gutting.

“I was devastated my shot at the end didn’t go in because that would have been 2-1 to us and that would have been a far fairer reflection of the game.

“Hopefully people will look beyond the score-line and read the match reports and realise that we played well.

“We can’t let it get us down, We have to take confidence from how we played and go to Huddersfield tomorrow and make amends.

“We have to go there and give it our all.”