|
MIDDLESBROUGH v FC BASEL - VIDUKA TO MAKE HIS MARK
By David John of Bettingzone.co.uk
Steve McClaren has worked some magic at Middlesbrough in recent weeks.
He has got his side to turn around some embarrassing league form and watched them progress to the last eight of the UEFA Cup.
But now he really has to pull a rabbit out of the hat if they are to make the semi-finals of the latter.
A 2-0 reverse at Basle sees Boro up against it at the Riverside tonight.
In-form striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink summed up succinctly what must be done.
"Score three goals, concede none," he said in an interview as he labelled the game their own 'Everest'.
You would have to say that the task does not look beyond Boro.
Four goals against Bolton in the Premiership recently suggests that Boro's attacking options are more than capable.
Hasselbaink has notched eleven goals since the turn of the year (only bettered by Thierry Henry) while Aussie Mark Viduka has looked exceptionally sharp of late.
Throw in the threat of Yakubu as well and it has hard to see them not troubling the Basel defence.
It is at the other end that raises slight cause for concern.
A clean sheet will be vital and the return of stalwart Gareth Southgate - who missed the first leg in Switzerland - could be key as he teams up with Chris Riggott in the heart of defence.
Both sides come into the re-match having won domestically over the weekend, Basle keeping up the pace in the Swiss First Division ahead of FC Zurich.
Mladen Petric scored and reported his side are now in a relaxed frame of mind as they travel over to the north east.
Boro are odds-on to win the game and an early strike could give them the necessary momentum.
Viduka, who had played so well against Bolton, was somewhat of a passenger in Basle but this could be his chance to right the record.
Having not been used on Sunday at Manchester City, he should get the nod to start the game and merits modest support at 6/1 to hopefully open the floodgates on the night for his side.
BACK TO BASEL MATCH PROGRAMME INDEX
|
|
|
|
