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FC BASEL v MIDDLESBROUGH - BRIGGSY'S VIEW
DOWN BUT NOT OUT
Boro travelled to Basel knowing they had a tough game in store. Basel
had
scored over ninety-two goals this season and had not lost two in a row
for
more than three years.
The conditions would certainly make for an
interesting game. Lashing rain welcomes the teams. Steve McClaren opted
for a
4-4-2 formation. Schwarzer, Parnaby, Pogo, Riggott, Queudrue, Mendi,
Doriva,
Parlour, Downing, Hasselbaink and Viduka.
We started brightly with Queudrue getting past three Basel players and
whipping
in a cross but sadly no Boro player could get on the end of it.
Parlour
stamped his authority on the game early on tackling hard on Basel
striker
Matias Delgado. Boro continued their bright start and Hasselbaink got
the
first notable opportunity. Mendi was the architect playing a ball
inside to
Jimmy, who lashed at the shot and dragged it wide, left of the
Basel
goal.
Basel replied with neat play by David Degen carving an opening for Adelino
Eduardo whose shot was gladly straight at Mark Schwarzer. Hasselbaink
had a
great opportunity to put Boro in front when he had a free kick after
twenty
two minutes. His powerful shot fizzed just wide of Basel's goal. If it had been on
target
it there would have been no stopping it.
Basel had a free kick down the other
end
moments later when a neat move provided Boris Smiljanic the chance to shoot
and
once again Schwarzer was right behind the ball.
Just over the half hour mark Mendi tried a long shot from range which
troubled the Basel keeper who could only palm the swerving shot up and
over
for a corner. The corner amounted to nothing. Boro were starting to gain a bit of
momentum now, keeping possession of the ball and trying to carve openings.
On
thirty-eight minutes Stuey Downing took on two
Basel
defenders on the by-line and put in an excellent cross which was put out of play
for a
corner which again amounted to nothing.
Stuey continued to work the flanks and
shortly after put
in another great ball to the box but Jimmy sadly couldn't get on the end
of it.
Minutes before the break Delgado received the ball wide left and cut
inside Ray Parlour then lashed a shot which took a nasty bounce which took it up over Schwarzer. The weather
conditions were certainly in favour of the Basel striker.
It went from
bad
to worse moments later. Eduardo played a defence splitting pass down
the
Boro left to Degen who was in yards of space and had time to pick his
spot
and shoot past Mark Schwarzer. It was a heart sinking moment. The half
time
whistle sounded.
Three minutes of madness in a fairly even game meant Basel went in at
the
break 2-0 up. What would have been
said in
the dressing room will not really be a secret. Get that away goal and don't concede. Another goal
for
Basel would almost certainly signal the end of the tie.
One thing
McClaren
would certainly have pointed out is that we must ask more questions of the
Basel
keeper. In these conditions you will certainly cause problems.
Boro started brightly again at the beginning of the second half and we
certainly looked more direct in attack. Five minutes after the break a
great
cross from Queudrue set up Hasselbaink whose downward header was pushed round the post for a corner.
Minutes later Doriva shot from range and it was deflected wide for a corner. The corner from Mendi was inch perfect
for
Riggott and the Boro centre back cracked the Basel crossbar. This was much
more
encouraging.
Downing continued to be a potent threat, with a pacey run down the
left but
his cross could only richochet off the Basel defender. Despite Boro getting
the
better of the early start to the half, Basel reminded the Boro that
they could
still be dangerous as a Delgado free kick from an acute angle clipped the
crossbar and went over.
Our central midfielders seemed very flat going
forward and we weren't causing Basel many problems. But having said that I
thought
they contained Basel very well, with very few chances given away.
Pogo was then involved in a nasty clash of heads with Basel player
Petric.
Pogo had to be taken off and was rushed to hospital. It was later
revealed
he had broken his nose and fractured his skull. I think I speak for
every
Boro fan in wishing him a speedy recovery. Ugo was on to replace Pogo.
With twenty minutes to go Basel were given the perfect opportunity to
kill
off the tie. A good move once again down the Boro left hand side gave
the
opportunity to Degen to play a ball inside. There was a dummy from the
advancing Basel player and the ball came to Scott Chipperfield who hit his shot
past
Schwarzer but Riggott was on hand to make a goal line clearance. Just
how
vital could that prove to be?
We pushed forward as the game came to its climax, in search for the
crucial
away goal. Basel seemed content on sitting back ensuring we didn't
score.
All our hard work nearly paid off in the final minutes. A Downing
corner was
inch perfect for Ugo. Ugo rose and his header seemed to be destined for
the
back of the net but the Basel keeper made a very good save. The final
whistle sounded on a disappointing night in Basel for the Boro.
They were two evenly matched teams on Thursday night but with Basel taking their chances, they are now firmly in the driving seat. It's a disappointing result, but it's far
from
over yet. We missed both Southgate and Boateng badly and the
energy of Cattermole again was sorely missed.
We can turn
this
around. Their defence to me looks suspect and we didn't ask many
questions
of them which is something we must do in the return leg. We've got the squad to
beat
them. We've beaten much better teams than Basel, for example Manchester United,
Arsenal,
Chelsea and Roma.
For me the problems lie in the belief of the players. If we go into the
second leg believing we can win the game, that's half the job done.
We
also need the fans to believe it too. We need a packed Riverside next
week
and we have to get right behind the lads from start to finish.
Anyone
remember the League Cup semi-final against Liverpool in 1998? We need
that
atmosphere and that start.
Keep the faith.
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