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MIDDLESBROUGH v TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR ANALYSIS AND PLAYER RATINGS 30-4-07
Udayan Mukherjee
Middlesbrough v Tottenham Hotspur was perhaps the very definition of the phrase 'a game of two halves'. The first half and indeed the first two minutes of the second, were as flat a showing as you could have the misfortune to see. The rest, barring a defensive lapse late in the match, was as good as you could hope to see in terms of passion and desire.
In the end the two goals scored by the Boro were not a reflection on the chances created, while Tottenham may be justifiably pleased with their performance and may have added to their total of three. In the end, it was Spurs' strike force of Berbatov and Keane who were the undoing of the home side, giving Pogatetz and newly signed Jonathan Woodgate a torrid time.
The first exchanges were equal in terms of possession, but it was the Londoners who looked the most dangerous, with Berbatov particularly prominent, although his shooting was wasteful on a couple of occasions. Within twelve minutes, Spurs took the lead follwing some delightful play by Dmitar Berbatov who slid the ball in for Robbie Keane whose side-footed effort beat Schwarzer with ease.
Boro's passing and all round play at this time was flat and uninspired, with the likes of Downing and Cattermole trying their best but offering nothing in the attacking stakes. Downing was getting knocked off the ball far too easily, but made amends with a wonderful tackle after racing yards to catch up with a Spurs attacker who had escaped the whole defence.
The way Downing shouted at his team mates and the look on his face surely proved beyond a doubt that he does care for the team and his heart is not 'as big as a pea', a claim that has been levied at him in the previous two seasons.
Cattermole was ineffective, as he so often is on the right hand side, and following a misplaced pass he chased back and made a wonderful sliding challenge on the player who had dispossessed him. Unfortunately for Cattermole, he seemed to injure his wrist and had to be taken off after fourty minutes.
However, the introduction of his substitute Adam Johnson meant that Boro had an alternative attacking outlet. It was not long before Johnson would embark on a mazy run only for the resulting pass to Viduka finding the Australian tackled superbly by King as he aimed to pull the trigger.
Boro did have a presentable chance on the stroke of half time with Viduka shooting into the side netting, but the performance in the first half was unacceptable.
Middlesbrough looked to start the second half with real purpose but found themselves further behind two minutes in, with that man Berbatov stroking a smashing first time volley beyond Schwarzer. The goal looked to raise the Boro from their stupor, but Spurs nearly put the game beyond Middlesbrough's reach when Keane dinked the ball inches wide after being played clear by Malbranque.
Boro began to up their game with Fabio Rochemback looking particularly impressive. The Brazilian was sharp in the tackle and made clever and insightful passes. After sixty-four minutes, Gareth Southgate made a tactical change and swapped Andrew Davies for Julio Arca, while switching Captain George Boateng to right back.
Within two minutes, Middlesbrough had reduced the arrears, with a Downing dinking a ball into Viduka who headed home from eight yards. It was no more than Boro deserved and the Red tide began to swamp Spurs.
Minutes later, great build up play from Middlesbrough led to a world class save from Robinson, a keeper who seems to have his best games against us. Julio Arca played in George Boateng who had made a wonderful run to receive the ball on the overlap. The Dutchman's right footed ball into the box found Viduka who adjusted his feet before launching the ball goalwards. Somehow, Robinson twisted in midair and prevented a Boro equaliser.
However much Boro attempted to score, and there were plenty of presentable opportunities, the breakthrough would not come. The partnership of Arca and Rochemback in the centre was hugely influential in driving Middlesbrough forward, with nice neat football being played. The two players, on this showing, are probably worth a try. The fact that they could keep the ball effectively meant that cheap possession was not given away and so Boro could probe effectively.
It was Spurs, however, who delivered a sucker punch when a mazy run by Lennon found him in a position to cut the ball back to Robbie Keane who turned expertly and drove the ball beyond Schwarzer.
It was undoubtedly a hammer blow but Boro, to their credit, still came forward. Emmanuel Pogatetz rose to head home in the last minute, but it was too little too late for Boro.
Spurs were jubilant at the final whistle and deservedly so, for Boro were not at the races in the first half and were probably shaded in the match overall.
Player ratings
Schwarzer - Didn't really have very much to do except pick the ball out of his net twice. Can't really fault his performance or praise it so the generic '6' will have to do - 6
Taylor - Played well enough - 7
Woodgate - Bullied a little bit by the Spurs front two - 6
Pogatetz - Was decent, but like Woodgate seemed to let the Spurs frontline get the better of him. Great headed goal in the dying minutes (although it did take a large deflection) - 7
Davies - Ok, was subbed in the second half - 6
Downing - Got knocked off the ball too easily, but as always produced a few moments of magic. Tracked back effectively and set up both goals for the Boro - 8
Boateng - Not good at all in the second half, but upped his game in the second. Played well as a makeshift right full back with decent defending and buccaneering runs forward - 7
Rochemback - One of his best games for the Boro. In said second half, his passing, tackling and drive was all important to the Boro drive forward. Also played a reverse pass of stupendous brilliance. His shooting is still cack though! - 9
Cattermole - Ineffective going forward although got stuck in etc etc etc. I say it every week - he isn't a right midfielder. *Yawn*. Got injured and hence taken off after fourty minutes - 5.5
Yakuba - Ayigbollocks Yakubollocks- 5
Viduka - At times he was awesome. Brilliant footwork, great headed goal but should have scored at least one more - 9
Substitutes
Johnson - Very good and lively coming off the bench, but lost the ball one time too many - 7
Arca - Classy, dependable - 7
Dong Gook - Played OK, again not much to praise or criticise - 6
That's all folks,
Udayan Mukherjee
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