Thursday, March 30, 2006
Basle 2 Boro 0
What happens to Boro when we decide we are very confident and surely the best team? We lose, that's what. It happens all the time! I can understand the excitement that we were only four games away from a Uefa cup final, but we have to win first. Basle are there in the last eight on merit, and whilst saying we underestimated them may be a bit harsh, I have to say that tactically we were a little off. OK so we didn't do too much wrong and were victims to an unlucky spell when the conditions acted against us. But no excuses.Delgado and Degan terrorised us all night, and in the first half especially always looked like getting something from their forward moves, as they appeared to relish the slippery pitch that Boro players were falling all over on. Their control and movement seemed generally better, although the home advantage was very evident. We had our chances, mostly squandered, but there was just a sense of it not being our night when just as thoughts of getting in at half time crept in we found ourselves victim to a one, two nightmare. Their first was more than fortunate, as captain for the night Chris Riggott ducked out of the way of a long range effort that dipped, curled, slid off the surface and caught Mark Schwarzer with his boots stuck in the mud and unable to leap in time. Before we had barely a chance to say "I don't believe that" it was two, as Degan zoomed down the right, taking advantage of Franck Quedrue's lethargy before sending the big Aussie the wrong way.
Leaving us torn between the absolute necessity of not conceding a third and the importance of an away goal in the second half. Riggot and then Ehiougu hit the woodwork, Jimmy came close, and Mad Dog cracked his skull open for the cause, but it was a Swiss night and we come back to Teesside with the proverbial mountain to climb. It is more a Ben Nevis than an Everest, it has to be said - we will be favourites to win on the night at the Riverside, there are certainly goals to be had against them, but whether we can score two or more without reply is another thing. Surely the only thing to do is fly at them gung-ho from the kickoff and hope for a hatful. It could be the end of a sweet adventure, but not quite yet...
My MOTM: Riggott - unlucky not to score, critical stop on the line to prevent them getting a third and obviously upset in interview afterwards (which is the attitude we need).
