Strachan cancelled their plan to get on a specially-hired coach to take them for a Christmas party.
The Mirror: "The fiery Scot told the players to get on the team bus and head back towards Tees-side, with their coach following behind and waiting for him to have a change of heart.
"Strachan eventually relented an hour into the trip and the Boro boys headed for the capital - but the extra time wasted on the stand-off cost them dear.
"The Boro players dashed back to London but were too late for their booked meal and had to head out to a club to belatedly drown their sorrows."
2009/10 BORO RESULTS
MACCLESFIELD 0 BORO 3 (Arca pen, Emnes, Franks)
(1st half) Coyne, Hoyte, Huth, Williams, Grounds, Yeates, Walker, Digard, Cronesberry, Aliadiere, Martin. (2nd half) Coyne, McMahon, Bates, Hines, Johnson, Smallwood, O'Neil, Arca, Porritt, Emnes, Franks.
DUMBARTON 0 BORO 5 (O'Neil, Dunlop og, Aliadiere pen, Adam Johnson, Williams)
Jones (Coyne 46), Hoyte (McMahon 72), Bates (Wheater 72), Huth (Hines 72), Grounds (Taylor 72), O'Neil (J Johnson 72), Arca (Capt) (Williams 72), Digard (Walker 29), Yeates (A Johnson 65), Aliadiere (Franks 46), Emnes (Porritt 63).
CARLISLE 0 BORO 2 (Adam Johnson, Williams)
Jones (Coyne 60),McMahon,Taylor (Williams 72),Bates(Walker 24),Huth,Wheater (Hines 60),O'Neil,Arca(Hoyte 60) 60),Franks,Yeates (Porritt 72),A Johnson (Martin 84)
OLDHAM 2 BORO 2 (Williams, Huth)
Coyne; Williams, Wheater (Huth 64), Hines, A Taylor; Hoyte (McMahon 64), Walker (Yeates 54), Arca (Smallwood 79), A Johnson (Martin78); Aliadiere(J Johnson 78) Franks (Porritt 78) Substitutes (not used): Ripley
MILLWALL 1 BORO 1 (Williams)
Coyne (Jones 46), Hoyte (McMahon, 61), Huth, Wheater, Ground, Yeates, Arca (O'Neill 46), Digard (Williams, 61), Johnson, Aliadiere, Emnes (Franks, 81) Subs not used: Adan Smith, Seb Hines , Andrew Taylor, Josh Walker, Nathan Porritt Goals: Wheater OG 27mins, Williams 78m.
BORO 0 SHEFF UTD 0
Coyne, McMahon, Wheater, Huth, Grounds, Yeates,Williams, Digard (O'Neil 42), Adam Johnson, Aliadiere,Emnes (Lita 65).
Subs Not Used: Steele, Hoyte, Taylor, Arca, Franks.
SWANSEA 0 BORO 3 (Adam Johnson, Emnes, Tuncay)
Coyne, McMahon, Wheater, Huth, Williams, Grounds, Yeates (Arca 85), O'Neil, Adam Johnson, Lita (Franks 79), Emnes (Sanli 67).
Subs Not Used: Steele, Hoyte, Taylor, Hines.
SCUNTHORPE 0 BORO 2 (Adam Johnson 2, 1 pen)
Coyne, McMahon, Williams, Huth, Grounds, Yeates (Arca 84), O'Neil, Wheater, Adam Johnson (Hoyte 90), Lita (Sanli 74), Emnes.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Hines, Franks, Steele.
BORO 2 DONCASTER 0 (Tuncay, Lita)
Coyne, McMahon, Wheater, Huth, Grounds,Yeates (Aliadiere 72), Williams, Arca, Adam Johnson, Lita (Taylor 84), Emnes (Sanli 16).
Subs Not Used: Steele, Hoyte, Hines, Bennett.
NOTTINGHAM FOR 2 BORO 1 (Adam Johnson) Carling Cup AET
Coyne, Hoyte, Wheater, Huth, Taylor, Yeates,Williams, Arca (Bennett 106), Adam Johnson, Aliadiere (McMahon 83), Emnes (Lita 65).
Subs Not Used: Steele, Grounds, Hines, Franks.
BRISTOL CITY 2 BORO 1 (Adam Johnson pen)
Coyne, McMahon, Wheater, Grounds, Taylor, Adam Johnson, Arca, Williams, Yeates, Lita, Emnes (Aliadiere 71).
Subs Not Used: Steele, Hoyte, Walker, Hines, Bennett, Franks.
BORO 3 IPSWICH TOWN 1 (O'Neil, Aliadiere 2)
Coyne, McMahon, Wheater, Hines,Taylor (Grounds 41), O'Neil, Williams, Arca (Yeates 77), Adam Johnson, Emnes, Lita (Aliadiere 61).
Subs Not Used: Jones, Hoyte, Bennett, Franks.
SHEFF WED 1 BORO 3 (Purse og, Aliadiere, Adam Johnson)
Coyne, McMahon (St. Ledger 82), Grounds, Wheater, Hines, Williams, Adam Johnson, Arca, O'Neil (Hoyte 90), Aliadiere, Emnes (Lita 71).
Subs Not Used: Jones, Yeates, Bennett, Franks.
BORO 0 WEST BROM 5
Coyne, McMahon, Wheater, St. Ledger, Grounds,Yeates, Williams, Arca (Digard 57), Adam Johnson,Emnes (Lita 67), Aliadiere (Folan 32).
Subs Not Used: Jones, Hoyte, Hines, Bennett.
COVENTRY 2 BORO 2 (St. Ledger, Williams)
Jones, Hoyte, Wheater, St. Ledger,Bennett (Grounds 64), O'Neil, Williams, Arca,Johnson (Yeates 74), Aliadiere, Emnes (Lita 53).
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Folan, Hines, McMahon.
BORO 0 LEICESTER CITY 1
Jones, McMahon, Wheater, St. Ledger,Bennett (Digard 86), O'Neil, Williams, Arca (Yeates 62),Johnson, Aliadiere, Emnes (Lita 62).
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Grounds, Hines, Franks.
READING 0 BORO 2 (St. Ledger, Lita)
Jones, McMahon, St. Ledger, Wheater, Bennett,Yeates (Arca 70), O'Neil, Williams, Johnson, Lita (Emnes 88),Aliadiere.
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Hoyte, Digard, Grounds, Hines.
BORO 0 WATFORD 1
Jones, McMahon, St. Ledger, Wheater, Bennett (Hoyte 55), Yeates (Arca 74), O'Neil, Digard, Johnson, Lita, Aliadiere.
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Pogatetz, Emnes, Grounds, Williams.
PRESTON 2 BORO 2 (O'Neil, Johnson)
Jones, Hoyte, Wheater, St. Ledger, Bennett,O'Neil, Williams, Digard, Johnson, Lita, Emnes (Franks 90).
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Pogatetz, Yeates, Arca, Grounds, McMahon
BORO 0 PLYMOUTH 1
Jones, Hoyte, Wheater, St. Ledger, Pogatetz (Grounds 53), Arca (Yeates 87), O'Neil, Williams, Johnson, Lita, Emnes (Bent 46).
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Digard, Franks, McMahon.
CRYSTAL PALACE 1 BORO 0
Jones, Hoyte (Arca 69), St. Ledger, Wheater, Grounds, O'Neil, Williams, Osbourne, Johnson, Lita (Franks 77), Bent.
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Yeates, Emnes, Bennett, McMahon.
BORO 1 NOTTINGHAM FOREST 1 (Lita)
Jones, Williams, Wheater, St. Ledger, Pogatetz, Arca (Digard 66), O'Neil, Osbourne, Johnson, Lita (Franks 76), Kitson (Bent 57).
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Taylor, Yeates, McMahon.
PETERBOROUGH 2 BORO 2 (Kitson 2)
Jones, McMahon, St. Ledger, Wheater, Pogatetz,Yeates (Hoyte 75), Arca, Osbourne, Johnson, Lita, Kitson.
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Taylor, Riggott, Digard, Emnes, Bent.