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BRIGGSY'S ANALYSIS - PORTSMOUTH AND WEST HAM 18-4-06
Portsmouth Overview.
Steve McClaren rang the changes for the trip to Portsmouth, making six changes in total. Despite being under strength we certainly didn't make life easy for the home team.
It was a fairly sloppy start with neither team testing the opposing goal. The first real chance fell the way of Portsmouth. A Todorov effort from outside the box was deflected agonisingly wide off Bates. This opened the flood gates for better chances for both teams.
A Yakubu tame effort from range barely tested Kiely. Then a beautifully crafted move gave Downing the chance to run at the Portsmouth defence. Stewey cut inside and went past two Pompey defenders, then a third before shooting for goal on his weaker foot. The shot was deflected into the side netting.
A D'Alessandro volley from range deflected kindly into the past of Todorov who looked destined to score, but Jones made a fantastic sprawling save down to his near post to put the ball behind. The resultant corner was cleared on the line, but the referee had already blown for an altercation inside the box.
As the half came to a close Yakubu had the perfect chance to put us into the lead. Boateng played the ball wide to Yakubu, the Nigerian came inside then turned Priske before seeing his left foot drive saved well by Kiely. Maybe playing the ball inside to Downing was the better option?
The deadlock was broken on fifty-four minutes. Both Bates and Ugo were dragged wide by Benjani and Todrov before the ball was played inside to a free O'Neil who had time to place a low shot past Jones. Just how important will that goal be for Pompey's survival hopes?
Then came the most delightful moment of the day. Christie replaced Doriva and got a rapturous reception from the away fans. And he almost had the dream return. He countered with Morrison who played the ball out wide to Christie who cut inside and hit a low shot on his weaker foot. Sadly ot was not good enough to beat Kiely.
Despite rallying late with extended pressure, it was too little too late and Pompey came out the winners.
West Ham Overview
The dress rehearsal for next Sunday's FA Cup semi-final took place at the Riverside yesterday and it was the Boro that gained a psychological advantage running out deserved winners by 2-0.
The new 'tinkerman' Steve McClaren again rang the changes, nine this time in total. The team was: Schwarzer, Bates, Wheater, Riggott, Queudrue, Maccarone, Johnson, Parlour, Doriva, Hasselbaink and Viduka. Special mention to Wheater who was making his first Premiership start, another great prospect from our youth team.
After a flat start the first chance fell to West Ham. A through ball from Katan was pounced upon by Marlon Harewood, but a fantastic save by the big Aussie denied the Hammers forward.
We took time to settle but had the perfect chance to sneak into the lead on twenty minutes. A surging forward run from Queudrue was noticed by Hasselbaink who delivered a perfect ball with his head, but the Frenchman failed to hit the target from close range when it looked harder to miss.
West Ham continued to have the share of the possession but failed to capitalise. We then squandered another goal scoring chance. This time Hasselbaink was the culprit. Jimmy was put through by Queudrue, but Hislop made a fantastic save.
The deadlock was broken not long before half-time. Bates, who had made a forward run, linked up well with Maccarone then cut the ball inside to Hasselbaink and he slotted home under pressure. It was a very well worked goal. We went in deserved winners at the break.
Christie then appeared from the dugout for the start of the second half to a good reception. It was his first Riverside appearance in fourteen months.
West Ham started brightly after the interval, but again they were punished on fifty-seven minutes. Young Johnson was fouled by Newton and the referee showed little hesitation in pointing to the spot. To the amazement of many Boro fans Maccarone emerged with the ball and placed it on the spot. The Italian gladiator made no mistake from the spot though. This was the start of a good spell.
It could have been three for Boro minutes later. Doriva played in Hasselbaink who engineered himself a goal scoring chance only to see his shot blocked. Then three successive corners went close, but we failed to get that third goal which would have put the result beyond doubt.
Pardew went for broke bringing on two strikers, Ashton and Zamora in the hope of better fortunes in the final third. But our backline held resolute till the end. Wheater especially was having a cracking game.
Sheringham had a great chance to make the final fifteen minutes nail biting for the home fans, but he couldn't direct his header on target. Sub Ashton followed suit moments later when he saw his volley from close range sail over.
In the final moments Maccarone was denied a brace by Hislop who made a save low down. Konchesky saw his effort down the opposite end saved by Schwarzer.
It was a fairly routine win in what I thought was an interesting game. The pressure was off both sets of teams. I think we ran out deserved winners and the win makes us mathematically safe in the league, so all the pessimists can sleep easy now.
This result was the perfect start to defining week for the club. Have we ever had such an exciting and potentially historic time at this club?
Three Semi-finals in eight days. Bring them on.
NOW HAVE YOUR SAY IN THE NEW HOLGATE MESSAGE BOARD
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