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MIDDLESBROUGH v READING ANALYSIS AND PLAYER RATINGS 25-2-07
Udayan Mukherjee
Hello and welcome to the new ComeOnBoro expert match analysis. Boro v Reading ia a game which could be misconstrued as an anti-literacy drive by the citizens of our wonderful town.
This in itself wouldn't really surprise this writer due to the amazing number of people who walk around the town centre believing that wearing reebok classics and caps at preposterous angles is a good look. This also leads this writer to move the white reebok classics he unfortunately owns into the cupboard out of sight, despite the fact that they are 'comfy'. Honest guv'nor.
After several games in which Boro have not quite got the grasp of keeping hold of a lead, we finally held out against a very good Reading side in a match that looked comfortable since Mark Viduka put us into a seventh minute lead.
The goal itself was not a surprise due to the openness of the game from the onset, with only an absolutely magnificent last ditch tackle from Jonny Woodgate preventing a certain goal for the visitors. A long ball over the top made Emmanuel Pogatetz flap around like a fourteen year old with a copy of Zoo and while Reading's Shane Long muscled his way in, the unflappable Woodgate came in with a wonderfully timed sliding tackle.
Soon after a free kick flighted in from the left by Stewart Downing was met by Pogatetz at the far post and Viduka, after an initial heavy touch, netted an audacious backheel.
The rest of the first half saw sporadic amounts of action, with Boro enjoying more possession, and Reading gamely going for an equaliser. The visitors' best chance came via the head of Stephen 'I'll break yer face' Hunt who headed wide when found alone at the far post by Saltburn's own Graeme Murty.
Middlesbrough managed a disallowed goal from Yakubu and a deep dross from Cattermole which almost caught out Hahnemann in the Reading goal when it hit the bar.
The first half saw a decent Middlesbrough performance, but brought the feeling that things were a little too easy. And so it proved:
Reading came out all guns blazing at the start of the second half with Boro seemingly happy to pick them off on the break. However, whereas in the first fourty-five minutes Boro players found each other with passes, there were needless passes going astray with George Boateng and Yakubu the main culprits.
After weathering the initial storm, Middlesbrough soon found their rhythm in the second half as the game opened up once more. Julio Arca seemed to find his feet in the middle of the park with some wonderful bits of skill and insightful passing.. The strikers came to life once more, with both Viduka and Yakubu having decent efforts saved by the Reading goalkeeper.
The link up play between the two was once again superb, and it was this link up that produced the second goal. Viduka fed the ball to the feet of the Yak in the sixty-ninth minute, who expertly turned his marker and blasted into the top corner from a tight angle for a truly memorable goal and a surely unassailable lead.
Reading began to press once more to attempt to salvage something from the game, and the introduction of Dave Kitson, a man with almost radioactive hair. The introduction of Kitson and the play of the impressive Nicky Shorey led to another rally from the royals, and the inevitable goal came with three minutes of normal time left from John Oster via a deflection from Jonathan Woodgate.
The goal for Reading came two minutes after the introduction of new signing Lee Dong Gook, who came on to rapturous applause. The Boro faithful did not have to wait long to get a glimpse into the qualities of Dong Gook. As Reading pressed on, Boateng fed Stewart Downing on the left hand side of midfield who pressed on and whipped a wonderful cross which Dong Gook allowed to drop before stroking it towards goal. Unfortunately the shot hit the post, denying the new signing a dream debut.
Dong Gook had another opportunity from distance but was less impressive this time as his shot in injury time bothered the pigeons more than Marcus Hahnemann in the Reading goal. All in all a good result for Middlesbrough characterised by periods of good play from both sides, and made memorable for the introduction of a Korean Superstar who could yet go on to be a superstar on these shores.
Player Ratings
Schwarzer: Gave a decent account of himself on the tenth anniversary of his signing from Bradford. Handled well, but understandably couldn't do anything about the goal. 6
Andrew Davies: Solid, made some decent tackles, gave Shorey a good game but was not terribly busy. 6
Andrew Taylor: Another below par game for the youngster. Didn't do anything catastrophic, but gave Reading too much joy down the right flank. 5
Jonathan Woodgate: Immaculate performance at the back. Organised and controlled the defence and prevented a probable goal early on. 9
Emmanuel Pogatetz: Played OK, made a few mistakes, but got stronger as the game went on. Provided an assist for Middlesbrough's first goal. 7
Stewart Downing: Good running and a number of great crosses, invaluable to the team. 8
George Boateng: Tireless display in the heart of the midfield, but as always gave the ball away too often. 6
Julio Arca: Started off the match with little impact, but gradually imposed himself. Showed some nice touches. 7
Lee Cattermole: Limited going forward, but passing was sound and defensive work immaculate with a number of crunching challenges that got the crowd off its feet. 7
Mark Viduka: Held up the ball superbly, showed great awareness and skill, scored and made a goal. What more could you ask for? OK, maybe you could ask for Alistair Griffin not to kill 'Hallelujah' by Jeff Buckley/Leonard Cohen, but that's not the V bombers fault now, is it? 9
Yakubu: Caused the Portsmouth defence problems and scored with a brilliant finish. On the downside he gave the ball away far too cheaply at times. 8
Subs
James Morrison: Did reasonably well when he came on, but impact was limited. 6
Lee Dong Gook: Not given much chance to impress, but nearly scored with his first touch and showed the confidence to hit an effort from thirty yards. 7
Sign him on...
Nicky Shorey: Tireless display bombing forward from left back, although I am reliably informed that he was nowhere near as good as usual.
That's all folks...
Udayan Mukherjee
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