Thursday, September 15, 2005
Boro 2 FC Xanthi 0
Well, it was a win in Europe and a clean sheet and that's all that matters. 2-0 was probably the minimum expected from tonight's game and that's what we got in a mostly professional display on a breezy night at The Riverside. Patience and Possession were the watchwords in the first half, eventually paying off with George Boateng's tap in for the first goal before half time. We looked to be cruising, but the Greeks caused us significant problems at the back in the second half and should have equalised on more than one occasion - Emerson, the ex-Boro midfielder looking most likely to bring something about. But the storm again was weathered and when Mark Viduka's shot took a deflection to make the scoreline 2-0 with about ten minutes to go it was job done and a decent cushion for a fortnight's time.Not a classic, but when you see that Bolton struggled to come out 2-1 up at home and Everton, who were in the champion's league this time a few weeks ago, collapsed away to Dinamo Bucharest 5-1, you have to be relieved to at least have got the result - Easy games in Europe is something of a myth, but I'm confident we will make it to the group stages again without too much stress.
My MOTM:
George Boateng, for pushing forward and a rare goal - with Massimo Maccarone next best after another solid hour before being subbed.
