Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Boro 0 Blackurn 2
Things could barely have got worse following the midweek Carling cup exit and another home advantage, together with a higher level of commitment, would surely result in a good 3 points. There was a lot of confidence around that we could overturn that result with something to spare on our best day and we certainly set out to do that. A bright a sharp start going forward looked very promising, with Yakubu and Viduka coming close on several occasions in the first 10 minutes. The Yak especially had a cast iron chance he would put away four times out of five, shortly before a returning Gaizka Mendieta also missed a sitter from close range. It was looking like a matter of time before we took the lead but as time ticked away and the goal didn't come a sense of dread and an increasing lack of confidence crept in. This allowed Kuqi to pop up and bury the ball past a culpable Mark Schwarzer and make it yet another tough afternoon.Inevitably it was the visitors who doubled their lead not the Boro who fought back - the traditional Christmas curse well in evidence. Blackburn therefore enjoyed a quick double over us and we slump to only one win in eight! Whatever the excuses we must stop thinking we have a right to win games based on the talent of the squad. With George Boateng out for six to eight weeks again following an injury midweek the midfield looked very thin today, leaving a tricky conundrum for upcoming games. In short we just don't play with the energy or commitment that say Wigan or Man City exhibit week in week out; it is becoming the norm and not the exception. How things can improve as we travel to Bolton I do not know.
My MOTM: An unlucky Yakubu just scrapes it from a bad bunch.
