Away to Burnley

What a nice day for a football game I thought travelling down for the game with glorious sunshine. We arrived at Turf Moor a new ground for me. As I went to see what my seat was like a few rows from the back quite with steep steps and wooden Seats, I sat down and looked at the pitch it reminded me of Hillsborough. Steep with pillars.

Kick-off was approaching and the teams came on to the pitch just in front of us the tunnel being at our end. Two changes from the team that played against Barnsley on Saturday out went Andrew Halliday and Andrew Davies and in came our captain Matthew Bates and Julio Arca.

We started with a 4-5-1 formation with Rhys Williams getting forward to support the attack when he could. It was Rhys who had Boro’s first chance when he volleyed from 20 yards out, just wide. It was a lively end to end start.

Careless passing from Arca resulted in Eagles causing us problems down the left, he cut inside and hit a shot from the edge of the box which was saved by Paul Smith to the left and round for a corner. From the corner Boro didn’t mark up properly and Rodriguez was unmarked in the box to tap home a low shot. Only a minute later more sloppy passing and another error, Tony McMahon losing possession for Burnley to quickly turn defence in to attack. Rodriguez ran forward with the ball, skipped past a challenge by McManus and played a pass through to Wade Elliott on the right. The defence was stretched, Wade carried the ball inside, got past Joe Bennett and smashed the ball high into the net to make it 2-0.

Jay Rodriguez and Chris Eagles were causing us real problems. Some of it was our own doing gifting the Burnley duo possession. Burnley continued pressing, McMahon brought down Eagles and was given a yellow card. More pressure from Burnley’s Rodriguez on the right, he won a corner off Joe Bennett. Fox took the corner, whipped it in to the box and Michael Duff was unmarked at the back post to head home.

What a disaster, 3 down after 37 mins too many players not marking up. Really poor goals to concede from our point of view. Rhys Williams had a few early 50-50 chances in the first half and McDonald had one just before the break. We went into the break 3-0 down.

The second half kicked off with the same team that started the game. Tony McMahon hit a freekick just over. Burnley continued to cross the ball dangerously in to our box. Mowbray decided to use all his subs at the 60 minute mark. Off came Robson, McMahon and Thompson who all had poor games. On came Kink, Smallwood and Lita. It meant another reshuffle with Boro going to a 4-4-2 and Rhys going to play at right back where he had a successful time during his loan spell at Turf Moor.

Leroy Lita wasted no time to get into the action, he latched onto the ball in the penalty area and shot just wide. Burnley were still causing us problems and coming close to increasing their lead. Rhys Williams was getting forward from right back, he looked our best threat through out the game. We were coming up to the last 10 mins when Rhys broke forward. Just outside the box he passed to Lita, picking up a return after making a dash just inside the box. Rhys picked up the return ball and cracked a shot that hit the post and came out to Taylor who hit it in the net. After the loud non-stop singing from the travelling Teesside army, at least we had something to cheer about.

Boro went close again a few minutes later, Arca and Smallwood combined well to find McDonald who hit a shot 25 yards out for the keeper to parry and get at the second attempt with Lita arriving.

Boro play was disrupted by Scott McDonald getting caught offside on numerous of occasions. It was Burnley who continued to look more dangerous, Rodiguez who was announced as Burnley man of match, scooped up a loose ball from a Boro attack but then hit over from 18 yards out.

It could easily have been double figures for Burnley; there was a late scare in stoppage time. Paul Smith’s sloppy clearance went straight to Cork who hit a volley from 30 yards but Smith got back in time to save and keep the score at 3-1.

It was great support all game from us Boro fans we never stopped chanting for our team. There was even a loud send off for our players as they passed us to go down the tunnel. Yet it was a poor game by many of our players. We must bounce back at Hull on Saturday. I would like to see Richard Smallwood start as he impressed when coming on tonight and against Barnsley on Saturday, he looks so comfortable in the middle of the park. It will be good to have Marvin Emnes back from his ban to add to our attack too.

Time to bounce back and get some good performances in ready for next season.

Published first on FMTTM Site

Home V Barnsley

Boro made five changes to the side that played Ipswich in midweek. Out went Seb Hines, Matthew Bates, Tarmo Kink, Julio Arca and Zemmama. In came Andrew Davies, Rhys Williams, Andrew Halliday, Barry Robson and Kevin Thomson. Some of the changes were forced with Seb Hines picking up a nasty double broken jaw injury. Credit to him for trying to carry on. (Brave defender) I wish him well with his recovery and it is now all about getting him ready for next season. The same applies to Zemmama who picked up a hamstring injury.

Barnsley started brightly and had plenty of procession. Boro were off the pace, not quick at closing the ball down. We were soon a goal down. We had plenty of warning signs with Barnsley having numerous attacks without having many direct chances and in particular Harewood was causing problems out wide using his strength. The opening goal came from a Marlon Harewood shot which was well saved by Paul Smith but he got a 2^nd chance to find the net which he did deflecting it off Andrew Davies and into the back of the net.

After so many changes due to injuries and Emnes 3 match ban we were limited up front. Young Andrew Halliday, the man of the moment had done so well in midweek against Ipswich, when he came off the bench and had a real impact scoring his first Middlesbrough goal and playing a big part in the other 2 Boro goals. Halliday started the game with our only fit forward Scott McDonald up front. It was difficult for them, they never stopped running working tirelessly chasing play down.

There were few chances in the first half, although Halliday went close when he lobbed the Barnsley keeper Luke Steele only for his effort to be cleared by Barnsley skipper Jason Shackell. At the other end, Barnsley were looking dangerous and looked like increasing their lead. Paul Smith saving from Harewood just before halftime meant we went in to the break 1-0 down. We needed to up the tempo 2^nd half and try get back in the game.

It was Thomson’s first start since Leeds United on New Years day. He played some nice passes at times but not surprisingly following his broken leg injury he pulled out of some 50/50 challenges. It’s all about him getting some minutes on the pitch and building his fitness and confidence up for next season.

Nice to see Willo Flood back in a Boro shirt after his injury in the opening game of the season, he was given a warm reception by the fans. He wasn’t on the pitch long when a moment of madness near the touch line saw McShane get his marching orders. Joe Bennett tried to restrain McShane but the madhead lost control letting fly with a flurry of punches and pushing Joe in to the advertising boards. Thomson got a yellow for his part in the flare up. Just before the chaos Tony was preparing a double substitution with Tarmo Kink and Richard Smallwood coming on.

Barnsley were now down to 10 men following the 18 man brawl which seemed to get the players and fans going. A couple minutes later and Tarmo Kink and Richard Smallwood finally got on the pitch replacing Barry Robson and Kevin Thomson who both need more games. Kink hadn’t been on the pitch long when he came close with a header just going over.

The equalising goal came from a cross on the right whipped in by Tarmo Kink who picked out Scott McDonald perfectly to head home past Luke Steele in the Barnsley goal. Nice to see Scott get a goal his work rate deserved, he regularly dropped back deep throughout the game, working tirelessly.

Also, I should mention Paul Smith, what a great loan signing he has been. I have always been wary with our loan signings of late not being a success. He made some great saves especially in the 2^nd half and we really should get the guy signed up! Another great performance and man of match display from Smith.

Good to see Richard Smallwood on the pitch for 20 minutes he really does look at home in the centre of midfield. I hope he starts against Burnley on Tuesday night.

We certainty were not at our best the pleasing thing is we have come back again, got a point and kept the run going. Looking forward to the trip to Turf Moor on Tuesday now. Up The Boro!

Published First on FMTTM Site

Home V Leicester City

Sven was back at the Riverside with his Leicester City side aiming to make a playoff place. The pressure was on for the Foxes to get a result after collecting only 4 points from the last 6 games. Last time Sven visited the Boro as Manchester City manager in the high scoring 8-1 end of season game. Would we see another high scoring game at the Riverside?

After Danny Graham’s scoring return for Watford in the previous home game another former Boro player was back at the Riverside, Yakubu providing a tough test for our players. We all know he is a handful with his strength, the forward used to do a fine job for us up front on his own. It seemed inevitable that the on loan striker would get on the score sheet.

In the Foxes line up was right back Kyle Naughton, one of our loan signings last season. He was in a head to head battle up against Joe Bennett who were both tweeting each other the night before with banter about the game.

Tony Mowbray was forced into a few changes, with Bailey failing a late fitness test and Robson missing out with a hamstring injury. The reshuffle of the team saw Rhys Williams move from defence to midfield and Hines and Davies back into the centre of defence. The engineroom was Taylor and Arca out wide and Rhys Williams, young Richard Smallwood in the centre of midfield.

Boro didn’t have the best of starts conceding in the 4th minute when Leicester crossed a freekick from the left. The ball came out to Wellens who drilled the ball in low from the right side of box and Yakubu converted a simple tap Boro guilty of not the best marking in the world.

The game was end to end and within 10 minutes we were back in the match following a great assist from Richard Smallwood. Good to see him get another start. Smallwood

did well to win procession near the centre circle, carried it a few yards and slotted a cracking pass through to Marvin Emnes who drilled low in to the net for a great finish!

The action continued to swing from box to box but with half time approaching, we would surely be going in level at the break or so I thought. Then in first half injury time Leicester won a corner on the Boro right, it was crossed over and headed back towards goal. It looked to me as if our on loan goal keeper Paul Smith was fouled by Yakubu and between Yakubu and Bamba the ball rebounded in. I expected the goal to be disallowed. It wasn’t and what a bad time to concede a goal, a real blow going in at half time a goal down.

The second half under way it didn’t take long for Leicester City to increase their lead. Within 3 mins of restart, Vassell lobbed the ball forward which beat the whole Boro defence and Yakubu only had Paul Smith to beat from 12 yards out. The ex Boro forward slotted it low right into the corner of net.

Boro were now 3-1 down and the way the game was going I felt there were more goals in the game, it was still end to end. I remembered that we had previously come back in the 2003/2004 Premier league season against Leicester in a 3-3 game when Ian Walker was in goal. We needed to score the next goal to have any chance of come back.

　

There were some good one two’s played on left between Joe Bennett and Rhys Williams. Rhys was bursting forward in his midfield role and this time played a one two with Arca, he controlled the ball flicked it up and volleyed it from 20 yards for a superb goal. Like his performances since his return from injury, Rhys is proving a top quality player who is versatile in different positions. Which opens up another debate where his best position is?

Only one goal away from a come back the fans really got behind the team as we attacked towards the North Stand. Zemmama came on for the young and impressive Smallwood who is settling in to the team well. Meanwhile, Kink replaced Taylor as we pressed for the equaliser. We got a freekick, Zemmama took it I thought it was in, so close. It hit the post. Then Arca took a shot from 20 yards out which was blocked by Bruma with his arm. The ref awarded a pen after the Boro fans had appealed for it.

Leicester were using every delaying tactic in the book and it seemed an age before Arca finally got to take the spot kick. Yakubu went over to the goalkeeper for a word probably to tell him which way to go from his time training with Boro. Arca stepped up, but it wasn’t a great pen, probably after too much thinking time it was hit to the right at a comfortable height for Weale the Leicester goal keeper. Bruma was still arguing his case about the pen and was giving his marching orders after receiving his 2^nd yellow card.

McManus came on for the last 20 minutes but he didn’t have to put up with Yakubu for long as he was subbed. Yak had put his weight and strength about all afternoon now it was time for us to push players forward. Hines went up front to add more height. Emnes and Hines combined in the box from a narrow angle Emnes hit the post the ball bounced back in to play and the Leicester goalkeeper Weale grabbed it.

It was getting close to full time were we going to regret missing those chances? The board went up with injury time to be played, 6 minutes time added on. We all roared them on, Come on Boro. Halfway through the allocated 6 minutes we won a corner. Just near where I was sitting in the North East Corner Tony McMahon came over to take the corner. A decent cross from Tony McMahon was met by McManus who got a great connection and hit it like a bullet. What a cracking header and great for McManus to get a goal after all that time out, it was especially frustrating hardly playing under Mowbray with that ankle injury.

Another goal feast for Sven and all at the Riverside, a thrilling entertaining game ending in a 3-3 draw! It had everything, the play was end to end, 6 goals, a pen and a sending off. This Boro team don’t give up and are not scared to have a shot. What a great come back from Boro. There is plenty of fight and character in this side Mogga is putting together. Up The Boro!