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MANCHESTER CITY AWAY 15-5-05
Final whistle: 1659 - Report online: 1705
Schwarzer, Parnaby, Southgate, Ehiogu, Queudrue, Parlour, Boateng, Doriva, Zenden, Hasselbaink, Nemeth
Knight, Cooper, Reiziger, Morrison, Downing
A draw in Manchester this afternoon would seal Middlesbrough's place in next season's UEFA Cup. Not your typical last game of the season scenario for Boro. Form team City had never beaten Boro in the Premiership. Nervous? You will be.
The First Half
City went for it from the off and a shot had flashed across the Boro goal within the first minute. Their second corner arrived on five minutes and it led to the third scramble in the Boro six-yard box.
Sibierski was unlucky not to give City the lead on fifteen minutes as he turned Captain Gareth to create the chance for himself. One minute later, Shaun Wright Phillips carved through our defence and chipped the ball over the beaten Skippy only for it to sail slightly high.
With twenty-three minutes gone, Boro had not strung two passes together and had made no suggestion that they were about to. But when the ball did eventually break, a free kick was won inside the City half.
It was scrambled and another immediately followed. JFH eyed up the target and with one almighty smash, the ball was in the back of the City net. Against the run of play? Definitely.
It was almost a carbon copy of the free-kick that Jimmy had scored against City in the clash at The Riverside back in December. It certainly settled the nerves, along with the once noisy City crowd.
Boro were certainly more assured after the goal but Franck gave us a worry when he was shown the yellow card for a second clumsy challenge on Shaun Wright Phillips. A direct order was boomed down the McPhone. 'Calm down'.
We did that, and with City rattled and unsure, it seemed that a second goal would kill the match and send us back into Europe.
Fan Reaction
"The job's half done. Excellent. Keep it up lads!"
Benedict_XV1
"One shot, one goal, that'll do. Europe here we come! "
Holy Smog
The Second Half
City started the half in the manner that they had started the first. An immediate attack had Boro's defence rocking and from another, they simply went missing. Just sixty seconds in, City had an equaliser when Wright Phillips interacted well with Joey Barton and Skippy was given no chance from Musampa's drive.
Musampa was buoyed by his third goal of the season and was happy to take on two or three red shirts at a time. Boro needed to excert some authority on the proceedings.
Steve McClaren's solution was to revert to 4-5-1 and Downing replaced The Lizard nine minutes in. Boro immediately looked more comfortable and the confidence started to grow with every Stewey touch.
Boro won their first corner of the game on sixty-four minutes as Morrison warmed up, probably to replace Ray Parlour. Ray was almost sent off before the substitution was allowed to take place as a second mistimed tackle in five minutes should have resulted in a second yellow. We were lucky to still be playing with eleven men.
And once again, Boro's defence were found napping as City broke through, Musampa blasting wide when he should really have scored. Boro were sitting back far too deep and broke forward so occasionally that it was impossible to see where a second goal might come from.
Into The Red Zone
Content to dig in and with ten players embedded in our own half, Boro introduced another defender, Michael Reiziger, into play with James Morrison leaving the field injured. That makes it four times that we have substitued a substitute this season.
Hearts were well and truly in mouths when a Distan inswinger flashed across the goal and Stuart Parnaby was left flat out in the back of the net as Bolo Zenden cleared off the line.
David James was so bored that he changed his shirt with an outfield player and switched to centre forward, sub-keeper Nicky Weaver taking his place in-between the sticks. It was bizarre.
Rob Styles added five minutes on and Boro upped the tempo, Downing going close after breaking through the defence. But the ball went straight up the other end and as the cross came in, the referee inexplicably pointed to the spot. It was a ridiculous penalty and no way should it have been given.
Robbie Fowler, formerly the greatest striker in the country, stepped up to take it and hit it clean and sweet. But the greatest living Australian leapt like a salmon and kept it out. He should be given a medal.
He now has the chance to win a special one next year because Boro are back in the UEFA Cup. Now let's go and win it!
Fan Reaction
"This is as good as the Cup Final, I think. We're back in Europe- where we belong! Nice one Boro!"
Smogsaway
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