Monday, April 17, 2006
Boro 2 West Ham 0
More first team rest days and starts for Bates, Wheater and substitutes role for Massimo Maccarone. As Bernie Slaven said on Century FM commentary, we had maybe five or six who would start next Sunday, whereas they were almost full strength. Even so, it was obvious very early on who was most likely to win the day. It is getting hard to keep track of what happened in what game as the Easter schedule piles the pressure on the joints and the muscles and you have to wonder how much the players are on auto-pilot too?Franck Queudrue came back in, still sporting his bandages and looked like the first goalscorer of the afternoon with some delightful interplay with Viduka to burst through their defense, one two and just miss at the far post. The wait wasn't too long though before Jimmy Floyd fired in yet another bullet to put pressure on the Yak for seasons top scorer. At the break we looked totally in control. In the second half when Adam Johnson went down in the box it was all set for an easy afternoon. Jimmy was in charitable mood and allowed Maccarone to step up for the penalty, which he jst managed to squeeze past Hislop's outstretched right hand. Game over and a chance to ease of the pedals as the clock ticked down.
Everybody knows the FA cup semi will be a completely different game, but, to be honest, I can't see what they can do to live with us full strength, unless luck is the biggest factor of the day - and it often is, so I'm not counting any chickens, but if we score early it is ours to lose; they are average at best, and even though very tough when they have their backs up, so are we and I predict a similar scoreline at Villa Park come the Sabbeth. In the league, up to 13th and above Man City with 43 points and a game in hand. 50 points and a top ten finish are still a slight possibility, but now let's turn our heads to Romania...!
My MOTM: Matthew Bates, a classy assist for the first goal and solid at the back covering for the big boys.
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Portsmouth 1 Boro 0
Back to Fratton Park for the Yak and a game that was ten times more essential for them to win than us. Pompey have done miracles in recent weeks to put together a string of wins and draws to drag themselves out of the relegation zone and todays narrow win was enough to build a gap between them and the two midlands sides whose form is nowhere near as good. MaClaren made use of the squad to give starts to Brad Jones, Andrew Taylor and Matthew Bates and to give another youngster a chance later on in the shape of David Wheater. Altogether six players from the win against Charlton were rested, wisely.There were chances to clinch this one without too much effort in the first half, with Yakubu, understandably looking sharp against his old team. Both keepers were mostly redundant, however, and it took a bit of above average skill from Gary O'Neill, one of their better talents on the day, to win it. Jones, who had had a good game deputising for Mark Schwarzer up to that point, was blameless really and takes no shame from conceding. Going frorward in an effort to get back into it we looked in third gear until very late on when a chance fell to Wheater at the back post, missed by inches to make it a memorable day for him. Full time and Boro remain on 40 points in 14th place.
Next up: the FA cup dress rehearsal at the Riverside, as West Ham come up north to see what we are made of! You can bet the general effort will go up a notch or two as we strive to show them who's boss and strike the fear of God into them. Following two league defeats I feel it is important that we win this one to stay in the habit of success - we need to get the balance right and not risk too many key players. This schedule is intense and next Thursday and Sunday are the important ones...
My MOTM: Impressed by Brad Jones and Andrew Taylor who can share a weakly contested prize.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Boro 4 Charlton 2
With so many games recently it would be easy to make excuses for defeat in such important games, but Basle gave us the scent of winning, confidence and goalscoring ease. Charlton made a fast start from the blocks and the much talked about Darren Bent could have had two in the first ten minutes, forcing us into comeback mode again. But no, their early ascendence was snuffed out by a long range Rochemback free kick that curled, caught their keeper unsighted and crept in the net. "Operation Riverside" (Charlton fans attempt to turn the away disadvantage into a home game atmosphere) was derailed and then back on again in about a minute, when Bryan Hughes found himself totally undefended in the penalty area straight from the re-start. The makings of a good game, but quite frustrating.More possession and control led to our second from James Morrison, with a hint of an own goal from replacement defender Fortune. Either way we had the lead again and looked wary of letting it go so easily this time. A classic cup tie developed in the second half with chances for both sides until the pressure was relieved by Jimmy Floyd, a sweet move and a trademark netbuster to make it 3-1. Mirroring the first half, our celebrations were still echoing in our throats when they replied with a lucky goal, deflected off Gareth Southgate from a goalmouth scramble. Unphased, Morrison, Downing and Rochemback did everything right, as they had done most of the game, eventually presenting Mark Viduka with a chance 99% of all players in the world would not have been able to make - twisting one way then the other before placing it inch perfect for a decisive winner. The Aussie is in the form of his life and it was a delight to end the tie in that way.
So, two semi-finals! Bloody hell! And we deserve it. Key players are coming to form at just the right time, and with a congested fixture list of six games in 14 days we are sure going to need that. We are one game away form another season in Europe through the FA cup, with Liverpool and Chelsea not needing their Uefa spot whoever gets to the final from West Ham and us gets the prize! On current form the Hammers must be terrified of us, with only a scrappy league win over us during our bad patch and our possible fatigue to pin their hopes to. As the boss says - we must take advantage of this position. I suspect the upcoming league games will be an opportunity to field some more youngsters as we prepare for the big ones. Exciting times regardless.
My MOTM: Praise to Morrison and Downing out wide, but Mark Viduka is different class just now and wins my vote.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Boro 1 Newcastle 2
Difficult fixture: to have a local derby at home shortly after the adrenalin rush of reaching a Uefa cup semi-final and shortly before an FA cup quarter-final replay - of course we wanted to win, but surely energy conservation and not picking up injuries had to come into it. Poor old Franck Queudrue then, who having bled for the cause in both of the last two victories, head tightly bandaged, got a third knock to the same spot from a defensive header early on. Nice to see bravery and battling, but that must put him out for a bit now. And for the rest, it certainly looked like we attempted to cruise through at about 80%, making it a pretty even contest, as we are clearly the better team at this point of the season.Ameobi caused us most concern in the first half for them, looking bright and fast onto the ball, getting in all sorts of positions. A goal came for them from a set-piece (an area of our game that needs real work in the run-in) before the half, and another in the second half from Ameobi's industry and guile. The game seemed dead for a few minutes until Boro pride kicked in and we decided to make a fight of it. Pushing forward more adventurously we piled a few shots onto the stats sheet before good old George popped up with a rare goal. The game opened up in the last quarter and an equaliser would not have been too surprising. However, a little fatigue crept in inevitably and The Toon held on for a mostly bloodless victory.
No big deal to lose this one now our premiership status for next season is assured and we must concentrate on the silverware. It was an opportunity, like the recent Charlton league game, to leapfrog a few teams we deserve to be ahead of, but it was not to be. We may well end up 15th or 16th this season and win two cups! I would certainly settle for that at this (or any) point, but so far we have won nothing and our season is in a strange limbo - success and failure separated by a very thin line.
My MOTM: Fabio Rochemback looked good, confident at last, but Boateng is our unsung talisman and deserves some credit just now.
Friday, April 07, 2006
Boro 4 Basle 1 (4-3 agg)
The greatest game played at the Riverside! We have heard that a few times this season but, speaking personally, this is it. Deflated but not totally flat following the first leg defeat in Switzerland we certainly had it all to do and set up the team with an eye to doing it. Two goals would bring us level and into extra time, three goals would win it, but an away goal from them would leave us needing four and facing an almost certain exit from our European adventure for this year. It is hard to criticise players who played every minute of the match like it was the last but we were almost too panicky at the start - looking dangerous going forward but rushing a little too much in the search for the killer pass. Ultimately this led to their break and the dreaded away goal, coming from Eduardo, one of their most promising players from the away leg.Rather than let our heads drop, however, we steeled ourselves to one hell of a battle in the run up to the final whistle and desperation seemed to lift everyone's game - it was do or die, and slowly but surely we began to do. Crucially Viduka used his sheer strength to make our pressure yield gold at last before half time - a platform to build on, even though three second half goals without reply were still required. Second half and it was all Boro as the Swiss began to run scared, sensing the fire in our bellies and banking on the odds-on likelihood of being able to shut us down before the end. Our response was to bring on a third striker in Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and go for broke. Shortly after and hope sprang eternal as Yakubu's ball put through Vids one on one with the keeper - quick sidestep and a lovely finish brought us within two with almost half an hour left. Practically every ball was ours - we camped out in their half and they remained backs to the wall. On came Massimo Maccarone to make it four strikers on the pitch, and to say I was on the edge of my seat is a monster understatement! Time ticked, nails were bitten as shot after shot was saved, deflected or missed. Just as I was cursing their man of the match, the keeper, up popped Jimmy with the cheekiest of chip / lobs from outside the area leaving him rooted and the Boro fans in ecstasy, screaming "one more" with ten minutes to go. Unbelievable stuff. Then their big centre half (who looked like Frankenstein's monster) was sent off and we were almost favourites to progress! Rochemback, Viduka, Yakubu all missed chances and the nerves were threadbare when fairytale took over and Roch's shot was parried into the bald Italian's path for a narrow angle shot... tipped, going towards goal... IN!!! At which point I ran two full circuits of the bar I was in, kissing strangers and spilling everyone's drinks!
THE most amazing comeback I have ever seen was complete - forget Liverpool in the Champs league final, this was better! I have not felt such a surge of sport related joy in years - truly magnificent!!! One late corner and an all too near miss from the visitors to give one last heart in mouth moment that would have been too cruel for words. We did it, but more importantly we deserved it - we were the best team and proved it in the hardest way. And now a semi-final with Steaua Bucharest. No fear - is our name on this cup or what?! Mustn't get carried away but with football like this how can you not? Glory that I will never forget and a match that goes straight to the top of my list of great Boro games ever. Wonderful!
My MOTM: Every man Jack of them! Talk of lack of commitment buried forever - incredible team effort.
Monday, April 03, 2006
Man City 0 Boro 1
What a story and what a season it has been for eighteen year old Lee Cattermole! No Boro fan could deny that the tears shed at the end of the 4-0 defeat by Villa and then the howls of badge-kissing joy yesterday are not exactly what every football supporter wants to see from one of its players. The entire football league are jealous of our youngsters at the moment and it is this young man's time to take the spotlight, deservedly so. Stepping in for more experienced players earning several times his wage, because of injury, Cattermole has outplayed them all. Now alongside James Morrison, he is a must pick ahead of his inconsistent seniors.The first half of this match was pretty dull, both sides struggling to get a decent chance in on the opposing keeper - City just didn't appear to be trying and Boro looked a little weary if much more willing. After the break though it was a different matter as Downing, Rochemback, Yakubu, Cattermole and Boateng all found their passing boots and began stringing together move after move. The inevitable goal came from Downing's pinpoint pass on to the head of Cattermole for a never to be forgotten debut strike. And it looked like only the beginning - a dozen or so clear cut chances for the Yak, Parnaby and notably Morrison went astray in mostly unlucky circumstances, or through the guile of David James in goal, City's best player by a street on the day.
One nil did the job though and as the boss said, let's save the goals for Thursday, we will need them. It was certainly an encouraging display second half and playing that well must give us a chance at least against the Swiss champions in the game of the season so far. Praise should go to captain Chris Riggott and stand in keeper Brad Jones for the clean sheet (his best performance all year in my opinion) - perhaps it was their performances that won this for us rather than the attackers? Still in 14th place, but level on points with Pearce's warhorses now, and still closing in on that top ten place that will allow us to be as proud as we deserve to be.
My MOTM: Who could take the occasion away from Lee Cattermole? Effort, enthusiasm, toughness, determination and now finishing - good on you, lad!!!
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).
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Boro 4 Bolton 3
We've played a lot of games recently, but not too many home league games, so it was nice to play host to Bolton - a team we have a good record against in recent times. They had European aspirations, but we had a good run of form to boast - it was 50/50 who would come out on top. With the worst possible of starts, conceding in the first 3 minutes, it looked very quickly like their day. But with in form strikers like Jimmy Floyd and Mark Viduka no team is safe! A penalty from the Dutchman that wriggled under the body of their keeper brought a sigh of relief to the lips of player and fans alike. It was soon added to by another from the Mark Viduka classics collection to give us a deserved half time lead.Jimmy made it three one with a typical opportunist's goal early in the second half and from then on we went down a gear and into cruise mode. Bad idea. Bolton came back with trademark grit and determination, exploiting the less than committed defending that began to creep into our game as we clockwatched, hoping for the game to end with us still in front. We got a big wake-up call at 3-3 and Bolton can consider themselves unlucky not to have taken at least a point from the game. But it was academy graduate Stuart Parnaby that sealed it for the Boro with only seconds to go - a perfect cross from substitute Yakubu tapped in by him before George Boateng, following up behind, had a chance for the glory.
To score four goals against a good team is wonderful, but to concede 3 again, with at least 2 of them completely unnecessary, is a typical reflection of our season. We continue to remain vulnerable at the back, opposing teams know that, and pretty soon we will surely be in for another Arsenal style kicking if we don't shore it up. Regardless of that though we have reached the dizzy heights of 14th again, leapfrogging Villa and Fulham - two teams we are most definitely better than and deserve to stay above from here on in. Newcastle and Man City are next in the firing line - the latter of which we face next weekend. We need to beat them 6-0 to go ahead of them on goal difference (not going to happen), but we have a game in hand on those two teams and should be above them soon enough with a good result on Sunday.
My MOTM: Mark Viduka - at the top of his game, bringing out the tricks and holding up play to great effect.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Charlton 0 Boro 0
Bad luck as much as bad play has given Charlton two wins over us this season, and with a semi final at stake you could be sure they would be hungry for a third. But Boro are beginning to believe (at last) that they can beat anyone on their day and came to the Valley with a lot of bravado. Charlton themselves had only had one win in seven before this (against the Boro) so weren't exactly settling the world alight in their traditional end of season slump - leaving the door wide open for us to go through.In reality it was a very even affair, with both teams scrambling in midfield for moderately skilful scraps. If anything, Charlton showed more spirit, especially in the first half, but chances for both teams were rare. Yakubu had a very early open header go way off target, and Schwarzer turned away a limp close range effort to leave things at stalemate. The second half was much the same and I heard myself screaming for two substitutions: Morisson for Medieta and in form Viduka for Hasselbaink. My first wish was granted not before time, as the Spaniard made one wayward pass too many. But Viduka came on for Yakubu (probably being wrapped in cotton wool for the Uefa cup), leaving the two most experienced strikers to try and steal something late on. Viduka's influence was immediate, his expert hold-up play leading to some of our best chances, including a few for himself. But it was Morisson who had the most glaring chances go astray in the last fifteen minutes - on the night it was just destined to go to extra time.
With 3 of the four ties being decided in 90 minutes it was inevitable that the team that needed a reply least got one. The tie will be held up until 12th April due to the congested fixture list and offers a terrific incentive to the eventual winner in a relatively soft match-up with West Ham, as Chelsea and Liverpool contest the main event - at least in the media's eyes! Myself, I couldn't be happier to be away from the limelight. With a home tie for a place in the semis and a fifty fifty game on neutral territory to come I will be disappointed not to reach the final. And if we do, even a defeat would mean a Uefa cup spot for next season! There is a lot at stake!
My MOTM: Ugo Egiogu - bloodied for the cause and one of the best defensive performances in months from him, beating Schwarzer to the prize by a bump on the head.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Blackburn 3 Boro 2
It could have been so much better in the league this season. A point never better demonstrated than in our last two away games at Charlton and today at Blackburn Rovers - two games that we should have won, but in the end didn't even get a draw out of. Not 6 points, not 2 points for trying, nil points - and that's our season!Blackburn have gone on a great run since beating us twice at the turn of the year and must have felt good about facing us again, despite our terrific cup runs. Craig Bellemy was touted pre-match as their biggest threat and so it proved, with 2 top notch goals sandwiched either side of a soft free kick from Pederson. Defensively, then, we have gone back to the bad old days of conceding too many in unnecessary circumstances. When you add to it all that their winner came when down to ten men, you just want the season to end now so we can regroup, sign some new names to strengthen the backline and start again from scratch. Going forward has not really been a problem, however, and today was no different with it being Viduka's turn to shine: three awesome goals in three consecutive games for the Aussie, who is hitting form at a key time for us. Rochemback also doubled his total with a fine effort to draw the game level with more than twenty minutes to go, but it was not to be.
It is worrying not to be able to tie up a game against ten men, and a timely reminder that with this squad any kind of complacency can lead to suicide. The top ten now seems a very long way off. But at least the relegation zone is as equally unlikely with a good ten point cushion and the bottom four all looking dreadful at the moment. To the cups our focus goes then, and first up is a quick rematch at the Valley against Charlton. There are some big teams left in the hat, but I don't count Charlton as one of them, to be honest - they are very beatable and with the right team selection and attitude I fancy us to win and win well to make it to the semis. Big game. Very exciting to be in the shake-up at the business end.
My MOTM: James Morrison, back with avengeance, picking up where he left off by being involved in everything we did right.
