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BORO v BLACKBURN FULL TIME REPORT
Boro reverted to the wing back 5-3-2 system, easily our most successful formation of the season so far.
Gaizka Mendieta was welcomed back into the side, as was Mark Viduka, some good news to ease the burden of the loss of George Boateng.
Schwarzer, Pogatetz, Queudrue, Southgate, Riggott, Parnaby, Rochemback, Doriva, Mendieta, Yakubu, Viduka
Jones, Bates, Johnson, Kennedy, Hasselbaink
THE FIRST HALF
It was an extremely positive start from Boro and we could have taken the lead after two minutes when Mark Viduka sent in a sweet cross that Yakubu should have headed home.
Another chance came very soon afterwards when Mendieta, bizarrely playing on the left and not in the centre, turned and shot and it was fair to say at this stage that Blackburn were already rattled.
Even so, a David Bentley shot nearly gave them a surprise lead but Skippy was more than equal to the challenge.
After eight minutes, Fabio Rochemback nearly broke his Boro duck but took too long on the ball. From the next break, he was needlessly hacked down by dirty Zurab Khizanishvili who was deservedly booked by Uriah Rennie.
Rochemback struggled for some time with the resulting injury and there were fears that he would not be able to continue as he seemed unable to shake it off.
Boro should have had a penalty on eighteen minutes when Mendieta was hacked down in the box by dirty David Bentley but the linesman failed to signal for the foul. Yet again, Boro were on the end of a poor decision.
Just two minutes later, Mark Viduka went on the break and was fouled by dirty David Thompson, who escaped a yelow card.
And then unbelievably, Doriva was booked for an inocuous challenge on Kuqi. The tempo had dropped by this stage but we certainly had a game on our hands as the challenges continued to fly in.
On twenty-five minutes, Yakubu shook off another dirty challenge and played the advantage, setting up Gaizka Mendieta with a glorious opportunity that he blasted wide.
Boro continued to press Blackburn and yet again could have taken the lead through Yakubu when the striker made space for himself and sent in a belting shot that was unfortunately wide.
And right against the run of play, Shefki Kuqi gave Blackburn the lead on fourty minutes and it has to be said that Boro's midfield were guilty of not tracking back when Kuqi was on the break.
MIDDLESBROUGH 0 BLACKBURN 1 (Kuqi 40)
Blackburn were obviously boosted by the goal and went looking for a second straight away whilst Boro meanwhile were not exactly being forward at coming forward.
Blackburn were beating us to the loose balls now and generally showing more creativeness on the ball. There was work do at half-time...
HALF TIME FAN REACTION
"We can still come back from this..."
JohnHickton
"Bad managerial decisions, playing people out of position and a lacklustre attitude from the players."
Fiddler on the Smog
THE SECOND HALF
Boro made no changes for the second half but it was seven minutes before either team put two passes together. The first shot of the half came from Kuqi who nearly took full advantage of Boro failing to clear their lines.
But it was a terribly slow start to the half with Boro failing to get going and not showing the effort required to get back into the game.
Steve McClaren was doing all he could to encourage the team on but there was no momentum in our play and no desire to fight hard for the equaliser.
In the sixty-ninth minute, Boro switched to 4-4-2 with Fabio Rochemback making way for Adam Johnson. Franck Queudrue moved into midfield and Stuart Parnaby dropped back.
As soon as the changes had been made, Boro became the victim of another poor refereeing decision as Mark Viduka was brought down when though on goal. Inexplicably, no foul was given and referee Rennie waved play on.
The switch to 4-4-2 had most certainly a positive effect as boro looked a little brighter and more up for the match. Blackburn made a change themselves half way through the second period as David Bentley made way for Boro fan's favourite Craig Bellamy.
Bellamy made an immediate impact with his first move, turning our defence inside out with his pace. Kuqi, inspired by the arrival of the Welshman came close to making it 2-0 when he found shotting space in the box. Boro needed to wake up and fast.
Boro made a double change as we approached the last ten minutes. Doriva and Mendieta were taken off and Adam Johnson and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink entered the proceedings. Boro switched to three strikers up front.
Our new formation suited Blacburn who produced a move that started with Robbie Savage in his own half and saw Craig Bellamy rifling in a tremendous cross that Skippy should have held. Kuqi was there to pick up the pieces and tap home for his and Blackburn's second.
MIDDLESBROUGH 0 BLACKBURN 2 (Kuqi 80)
INTO THE RED ZONE
Nobody really believed that Middlesbrough could pull two goals back in the last ten minutes, least of all the eleven men on the pitch.
Blackburn believed that they could get a third though and Kuqi should have had a hat-trick as the game entered injury time. Captain Gareth made a tremendous tackle that was one of the few bright Boro moments today.
Yet another disappointing Boxing Day for Boro, yet another disappointing home defeat and yet another half hearted effort that belies the quality of the squad. Boro are now in a relegation fight and although it seems unlikely that we will go down, any more performances like today will probably mean that we deserve to.
FULL TIME FAN REACTION
"The rot has got to stop, somehow. We have no confidence at all and changes have to be made. It's not acceptable."
Mike Read
Final Whistle: 1653 - Report Online: 1656
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