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MANCHESTER UNITED AWAY 3-10-04
Written by Laurence I'Anson
So many connections with Man United over the years has meant that throughout the club there is so much knowledge about them. This results in us always seeming to know what their next move is and so we usually get something from the fixture.
Last season Boro travelled to Old Trafford on the back of a 0-1 home defeat to Blackburn. To overturn that and win 2-3 against Man Utd. away from home was majestic. The goals too were majestic with two headers, yes two headers from the star man Juninho.
The winner was, in my opinion, one the best team goals I have ever seen the Boro score, if not the best. If I can recall correctly it was started in our own half next to the touchline. Good work by Parnaby who conducted a one-two with Mendi who in turn switched the ball to Doriva. Doriva then played in Joe Job who quickly turned and nutmegged both Silvestre and Phil Neville, to slot in home past the dithering Tim Howard in the corner. "Magnifique!", as Queudrue would say!!
This seasons trip to Old Trafford was to be just as exciting. We were looking to build on three wins in six league visits to Old Trafford but it wasn't going to be as easy when we had no fewer than five first team players out.
However, we now know who Stevey Mac is going to call upon when Boro get a load of injuries..the youngsters. Debuts were being handed out willy nilly. Tony McMahon got his league debut and James Morrison got his full debut while Danny Graham appeared later on. Stewy Downing and Stuart Parnaby also started in a very young team- all home-grown players may I add.
My particular day started at 11am when I set off to the north west with my brother Joe and my Dad's friends Stuart Kennedy and Ailsa Murphy, all season ticket holders.
Stu kindly drove us there and we reached Manchester at around 1.20pm. However we had reached the wrong side of the city and so we had to ask for our way to the ground. Funny how all the people we asked for directions to Old Trafford, all said "follow the smell that surrounds it!!!"
I was told before hand that most of the people that live in Manchester support City and for me personally this theory was put into action. I now really do believe that 80-odd% of their fans live out of Manchester.
We were directed to a (closed) retail park where parking was secure but cost a fiver. This was followed by a short taxi ride that was offered free by a scouser who again hoped that we would win the game by a large margin.
By the time we were near the ground it was way past my hunger limit. So we all stopped off for a pizza and a drink at Pizza Hut just a few hundred yards from the ground. We were joined in there by quite a few other Teessiders who had the same idea. After filling ourselves up with ice cream we made our way down Sir Matt Busby Way towards the away end.
Now for a little story. Our good friend Ailsa who was on this particular trip is pretty scared of horses. In fact she is very scared of horses, especially those large police ones. Only at Liverpool last season did she have a problem when they were stood opposite the visitor's turnstiles. But when there are four or five eight foot horses accompanied by a number of policemen occupying our turnstiles then we have a slight problem. I had to ask all five of the horses (not literally) to move well away while Ailsa slowly creeped around with the others towards the entrance to the stand. We have also agreed that she isn't going to any more away games this season in the league due to the fact that she has never seen Boro win away from the Riverside in the league.
We took our seats on the back row of the sectioned off corner right next to the home following and right in front of some posh looking people in the boxes directly behind us.
The match got off to a balanced start and after previously thinking we may have a tough game on our hands, considering the team selection, my thoughts were turned to a more positive result. The youngsters started and composed themselves well while the following Boro fans were in loud and constant vocal action in response to the silence from the home fans.
The measly little scoreboard read thirty three minutes gone and the score was still 0-0, however there had been a number of chances for United but with such brilliant defending from our back-line we managed to hold them at bay. Suppose all the Boro fans would have been happy with that at full time but things were to change fairly quickly.
Stewey was in full swing on the left hand side when the ball was then swept across field to youth team-mate Morrison. After he disposed of Argentine Heinze, he put in a fast low cross that ran right through the United penalty area. There at the back post was Stewey Downing to finish off the move he started. A rising finish into the roof of the net from six yards. Boro fans went mental. Boro top was in full swing over my head. EIO!!! EIO!!! EIO!!! EIO!!! Man U fans kept quiet. 0-1 to the mighty reds! A rendition of "We are the finest team in football" broke out and we were in dreamland at Old Trafford, again.
This beauty goal was followed by a good spell of Boro pressure which included a bit of trickery from Boateng who did a number of flick ups whilst on the move. This in turn lead to a decent bobbling Nemeth shot which was a tester for Roy Carroll.
The game pretty much levelled itself out and United were on top until half time as the Boro defence and midfield slammed on the attacking brakes which usually happens when we go ahead. There were a few good chances for them including a good Van Nistelrooy chance from a corner which he put wide of the mark.
For me personally, half time had a fair bit of excitement. While checking my flag at the front of the stand, a bit of Teesside aggro started out as two men, arguably drunk off their heads argued fiercely with top United stewards over a complaint from a disabled fan. Bit pointless in my opinion but who has control when they're drunk?
Second half was time for us to contemplate the score and inevitably Man U came out attacking and looking for that equaliser. There were a number of close shaves as Boro defended brilliantly. Gary Neville shot over from about eight yards and another when Nistelrooy had a header which fortunately for us hit the bar.
It wasn't all them though as Boro did have a few chances to increase the lead, notably when Mendieta had acres of time and space inside the opposition penalty box after quality combination work from Morrison and Nemeth. All he had to do was put the ball into the back, front or side - not bothered where really - of the net. But what did he do? He skyed it into row thirty behind the goal. It would have won us the game and given us another win at Old Trafford.
From that point onwards Boro faced a barrage of attack as we knew that we had had our chance and didn't take it. And as usual when we sit back on a lead, the result is a goal against us. It could have come from any chances for Van Nistelrooy or Giggs, but it arrived from Leeds reject Alan Smith when he popped up from eight yards to head home an equaliser from a right-wing cross which both Cooper and Doriva could have prevented from getting to Smith.
However this didn't dull our vocal chords and we cheered on the lads in the hope of a victory, however late. By this time Danny Graham had come on for the superb Downing and had a half chance himself when he shot wide from edge of the box.
Overall, an excellent match with a first-class Boro performance where we came tantalisingly close to another victory against Man United. A premiership record attendance of 67,988 fans were there to see it, and so yes, I am a record-breaker! This was also more than the recent Manchester United vs. Arsenal game. Who are Arsenal?!?!
No such problems with horses on the way out, as the massive crowd of fans were quietly muttering away to themselves, apart from the odd Boro cheer. It took an hour to get out of Manchester as we listened to the moaning United fans on the Manchester version of Century FM's talk show. My fellow friends agreed it was pleasant listening!!
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