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BLACKBURN HOME 5-2-05
Last time we played Blackburn, we beat them 4-0 at Ewood Park and Jimmy bagged a hat-trick. He's got the flu today, so there won't be a repeat of that but three points will do nicely this afternoon, however we get them.
Schwarzer, Parnaby, Reiziger, Southgate, Queudrue, Morrison, Parlour, Zenden, Downing, Christie, Job
Nash, Graham, McMahon, Bates, Doriva
Boro kicked off on a gloomy afternoon on Teesside with Bolo Zenden cast in the leading role. Determined to take advantage of having the spotlight, Bolo forged two early attacks as Boro's injury battered side took control from the first minute.
A determined Boro continued to stamp their authority on the match and on ten minutes, Joseph Job broke through and crossed from an acute angle, Malcolm Christie making no mistake from ten yards. Unlucky- the offside flag was up. Boro forced a corner straight after and The Riverside Roar sounded across the stadium. How good it was to hear it again.
During the early stages of Malcolm Christie's first appearance at The Riverside since November 2003, Job looked creative and Morrison determined. We were out to win this one... On twenty three minutes, the midfield started to switch around. Downing and Morrison were swapping positions and Zenden was dropping back to cover our weaker left defensive side. Parlour had no trouble covering the gap left by Bolo.
Ray won a free kick from which we started to up the tempo again and the third attacking wave saw Stewey Downing brush the post with a fierce shot that appeared goal bound all the way.
Boro were playing with a passion and a commitment that we had not seen for a few games and Franck Queudrue set the crowd alight on 35 minutes with a superb shuffle, finished off with a thundering shot. 1-0 Boro and we were great value for it.
A Blackburn attack late in the first half caused an anxious moment but Boro weathered the storm and it felt good to go into the break leading for a change.
Kenny Brown: 'Tempo is the in word today'
But we didn't start the second half in the manner in which we ended the first. Rovers rattled us too easily and we appeared unsettled. We didn't seem 'in the game' at all for the first twenty minutes until Morrison collected a Schwarzer throw and broke away. Nothing came of it but it sparked us back into life.
On 23 minutes, Danny Graham replaced Malcolm Christie who received a worthy ovation for the effort that he had put into his first half performance. Christie could threaten to keep the big two out for a while if he continues this form.
Minutes later, Doriva replaced Joseph Job, a move which brought howls of booing from the crowd who thought that Zenden was being removed. Doriva made up a five man midfield leaving Danny Graham as the lone striker...
With twelve minutes to play, Downing and Zenden combined well to almost produce the winner for Boro. We seemed to be sitting on our lead to a degree though and at this stage, were doing little to calm the tension.
Going into the final stage,s Boro started a neat move which was finished off with a Bolo header going just wide and nervous faces in the crowd hoped that we were about to up the tempo and play like we had in the first half again.
Yet Blackburn moved forward in waves, nine up for an 86th minute free kick but we took advantage and caught them on the break. Danny Graham's shot was blocked and as Ray Parlour stormed into the rebound, he fouled a defender. He then foolishly kicked the ball away and the ref had no option but to show him a second yellow followed by red.
Three minutes to go, 1-0 up, down to ten men. Blackburn had their tails up now and a scramble at the Boro end saw Southgate tackle and clear like he used to do in his peak. He kept us in it and Boro charged straight up the other end and we bombarded the Blackburn goal.
It was a rollercoaster ride, it was fast and furious and hearts were in mouths...
Matthew Bates came on for James Morrison just before the final minute began and as Blackburn won a throw on the far side, the tension was palpable...
And as the whistle blew, the cheers and songs were a halo of relief sounding a new beginning to our season.
This was the best Boro performance for a while and we can really use this as a springboard to a good run. Well done Boro!!
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