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BIRMINGHAM CITY v MIDDLESBROUGH, Premier League, 23rd August 2005
Schwarzer, Reiziger, Ehiogu, Southgate, Queudrue, Morrison (Bates 89), Parlour, Boateng, Downing, Hasselbaink (Maccarone 72), Viduka (Job 74)
Jones, Doriva
THE FIRST HALF
The last time we played here was on Boxing Day. We lost a dire game and we lost Mark Viduka to injury for several months.
Tonight, he starts only his second game since then. There was plenty of back up available with Job and Maccarone on the bench.
We looked different with Morrison in Mendieta's place. More fluent, more solid and more assured, despite the game not taking on any pattern in the first ten minutes.
The first two meaningful shots of the game came within a minute of each other as first Nicky Butt forced Skippy to stretch and then JFH shot wide from what looked like a gilt edged chance.
It sparked the game into life and Boro's confident defence began a move. Michael Reiziger played a neat ball to JFH who was sitting deep and Boro charged forward.
James Morrison led the line and it was he who played the final pass to Mark Viduka who crashed the ball into the roof of the net.
The sound of a floodgate creaking open was heard across the West Midlands.
Birmingham City 0 MIDDLESBROUGH 1 (Mark Viduka (14 mins)
Boro had the bit between their teeth now and Viduka should have doubled his season's tally when an opportunity presented itself from a botched clearance by Taylor.
If anything, he had too much time to think about it, allowed Upson time to tackle and the chance was gone.
Boro held their own for the rest of the first half without producing anything dramatic. Skippy was called into action a couple of times but there was never a real threat from Birmingham.
But with time ticking away in the first half, The V-Bomber showed what a world class talent he is with a goal that should be framed.
With his back to goal, he received the ball on his chest, controlled it, turned and took on two defenders, all in one move and then blasted it into the top corner of the net.
Birmingham City 0 MIDDLESBROUGH 2 (Mark Viduka 44 mins)
It was a world class goal from the V-Bomber and there are no superlatives worthy. Mark Viduka is back. Middlesbrough are back. Now the season begins.
FAN REACTION
This is bloody great. Viduka's killing the lot of them. They got booed off...
Smoglodger
It's just a question of how many now. Viduka hat trick for deffo, a couple for Jimmy and then Massimo can have a go.
Mike in London
THE SECOND HALF
Birmingham made mass changes for the second half. Desperate measures call for desperate times.
It took them a while to get going but Birmingham's new formation did try to break us down. However, they were as confident as the Blues fans who started to file out of the stadium after sixty minutes.
Steve Bruce spent most of the second half standing on the touchline shaking his head. His team managed to create little and on the rare occasions that they did get past our defence, Skippy was always there and made the saves look easy.
Boro were not exactly sitting back on their lead but they weren't exactly breaking a sweat either. It felt as though we could up the temp and grab another whenever we pleased. And we did.
It was made by Stewey Downing who went on a mazy run down the left and slowed it down at just the right time and gave the Brimingham defence no inckling that he had French Franck in his sights.
Franck's run was timed to perfection and his shot was reminiscent of his strike at Highbury last season.
Birmingham City 0 MIDDLESBROUGH 3 (Franck Queudrue 71 mins)
JFH was withdrawn just after the goal. Jimmy is not on form at the moment, is found out of position too often and can't shoot straight.
Massimo Maccarone replaced him and a few minutes later, Mark Viduka was replaced by Joseph Job.
Maccarone played a glorious ball to Job in the 79th minute and the Cameroonian was unlucky to be called offside. Boro have strength in depth now.
INTO THE RED ZONE
It was easy to play out time in the last ten minutes and we effectively killed the game off.
A few probing runs by Stewey Downing never really got off the ground but Downing has already silenced his critics with his performances this season.
Steve Mc withdrew James Morrison and gave Matthew Bates a further taste of Premier League action.
A defender for an attacking midfielder at 3-0 up with two minutes to play and dominating... best to play it safe I suppose...
FAN REACTION
Easy win and we can go places from here. Watch out Charlton!
Harry
final whistle 2139 - report online 2142
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