Weekend blues only get worse for Ranieri

Claudio Ranieri has suffered a weekend he would sooner forget. Embarrassed yesterday by revelations about the drunken antics of four Chelsea players at a Heathrow hotel, the Italian saw bad become worse when his team threw away a two-goal lead against Middlesbrough.

An Alen Boksic penalty in the final minute of injury time completed Boro's comeback, after first-half goals by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink had put Chelsea in what should have been an unassailable position.

"Totally out of order" and "irresponsible" were two of the phrases used by Chelsea's managing director Colin Hutchinson to describe the activities of John Terry, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Frank Lampard and Jody Morris in a hotel containing distressed American tourists the evening after the terrorist attacks in the US.

Ranieri stopped short of using such words to castigate his players after they threw away two points here, but the smile he wore when he shook Paul Ince's hand must have hidden anger. Graeme Le Saux's ungainly handball on a bouncing Carlos Marinelli cross conceded the spot-kick. Chelsea protested but could have little complaint.

"On television in my opinion it's not intentional," Ranieri said of the substitute's handball, which was given on the say-so of a referee's assistant.

The head coach kept his thoughts on the Heathrow Four private. But the players involved, who were with Leicester's Frank Sinclair, have been fined the maximum two weeks' wages, which will be donated to the families of victims of the US atrocities. Terry, Gudjohnsen and Lampard started this match and Morris came on as a substitute.

The quartet, who apologised for their behaviour but denied reports that they had abused people and exposed themselves, were given a dressing-down by Hutchinson for their bad example as role models.

This capitulation was hardly a great example either. For an hour Chelsea dominated, albeit sparking only intermittently, but had to settle for a third straight home draw in the league. Ranieri has apparently solved last season's away-day blues, winning two out of two on his travels, but that will matter little if the powerful form seen here last term disappears.

Before the first game, Ranieri had stressed the need for his players to have an unquenchable hunger. Their fightback at Tottenham suggested he was making progress, but clearly there is still much to be done.

Steve McClaren could at least leave with a smile. After four straight defeats to start his reign at Middlesbrough, his fortunes have picked up. Boro came from behind to win late at Leicester and showed great spirit here to extend their unbeaten run to four matches. While quality was not in abundance, Boksic was barely fit, and Gareth Southgate and Jason Gavin impressed at the back.

McClaren sensibly strengthened his midfield at half-time. Chelsea had dominated the first half. With Boudewijn Zenden and Gudjohnsen dropping back to pick up possession, Chelsea had plenty of ball but only the two chances from which Hasselbaink scored.

The Dutchman ran on to a Gudjohnsen pass and beat the on-rushing Mark Crossley inside three minutes, then scored from a Zenden corner.

That should have been that, particularly as Chelsea began the second half brightly. But they struggled to make clear chances and Boro scored with their first meaningful effort on target, substitute Robbie Stockdale netting from the edge of the area from Ince's half-cleared corner.

After Gavin had wasted a good chance, the penalty arrived and Boksic finished coolly. "Give the linesman credit," McClaren said. "He must have been under pressure not to give it, but he stuck to his guns when the referee had turned away." Man of the match: Gareth Southgate (Middlesbrough).

CHELSEA: de Goey; Gallas, Desailly, Terry, Babayaro (Le Saux 78), Zenden (Zola 89), Lampard (Morris 69), Jokanovic, Melchiot, Gudjohnsen, Hasselbaink. Subs Not Used: Dalla Bona, Bosnich. Booked: Melchiot, Hasselbaink, Jokanovic, Desailly. Goals: Hasselbaink 3, 37.

MIDDLESBROUGH: Crossley; Fleming (Marinelli 74), Cooper, Gavin, Southgate, Johnston (Stockdale 46), Greening, Ince, Mustoe (Wilson 74), Deane, Boksic. Subs not Used: Nemeth, Beresford. Booked: Gavin, Deane. Goals: Stockdale 61, Boksic 90 pen.

Referee: R Styles (Waterlooville).