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CHARLTON v BORO, FA CUP QUARTER-FINAL - BRIGGSY'S ANALYSIS
The Buzz Remains
Boro went into this game looking to advance their chances of
silverware
this season. Only Charlton stood between us and a place in the
semi-finals.
The Boro lined up in a 4-4-2 formation. Schwarzer, Parnaby, Ugo,
Southgate,
Queurdue, Mendi, Cattermole, Boateng, Downing, Viduka and Hasselbaink.
Boro started the game with a bit more impetus and had a great chance to
take
the lead with just three minutes gone. Franck Queudrue whipped in a great
ball
from the left that found Yakubu who had a free header but directed it
high
and wide.
Charlton started to come more into the game, but Boro
certainly
weren't making life easy for them, chasing down every ball. Charlton
went
close on fourteen minutes, when a powerful volley from Matt Holland
went
just wide of the Boro goal. This was the start of a Charlton onslaught.
Bent won a free kick on twenty minutes and Hreidarsson stepped in and hit
a low
shot that Mark Schwarzer saved down to his right. He won't have seen it
until late. Kishishev hit a mis-cued shot high and wide from ten
yards when really he should have done better. Queudrue made a late ditch
interception to prevent Shaun Bartlett a sight of goal from a Jerome
Thomas
cross.
Just before the break Bent misses a sitter. Schwarzer punches
the
ball out of defence but injures his knee in the process. The ball is
played
back into the box and Bent screws his shot wide.
Boro were certainly the happier team to go in at the break with
Charlton
kicking themselves at the missed opportunities. We need to create more
in
the final third. Mendi wasn't giving us that outlet on the right that he
should have.
Defensively we were sound, putting in a very determined effort as a
defensive unit. The keeper Mark Schwarzer was once again on top form
proving
to be our saviour on numerous occasions. But we're still in the game.
The second half started with neither team really taking the initiative,
although Boro showed a lot more than their first half poor display.
Stuey
Downing, who is still looking to capture a World Cup place, carved an opening on fifty-four
minutes.
The young winger cut inside Luke Young from the left and played a
dangerous
ball across the box to Mendi, but then the Spaniard was penalised for
hand
ball.
Stuey was proving to be a handful for Charlton and most of our better chances
came
from the left. Charlton took precautions for this and doubled up on
Downing
on every possible occasion.
The hour mark passed and the game was still a stalemate. Cattermole paved
an
opening minutes later but his shot from just off centre flew over. He
should
have at least tested the Charlton keeper. On sixty-three minutes we saw
the
introduction of James Morrison for the poor Mendieta, a change that was long
overdue
in the eyes of many Boro fans. Neither side were creating any notable
chances and both sets of defenders seemed to be controlling the game,
breaking
up any forward play from the opposition.
Viduka made way for Yakubu, who also wasn't having one of his better
days.
Southgate made a vital interception to stop Bent when he turned
Parnaby
and looked almost certain to unleash an effort on goal. The Boro were
keeping the ball upfront with the introduction of Viduka, instead of
just
seeing it coming back all the time.
Neat interplay between Hasselbaink
and
Viduka carved an excellent opening for Boateng but he had just strayed
offside.
The game was a little more open now with both teams
going
for it. Neither team wanted a reply and with
fifteen
minutes to go substitute Dennis Rommedahl cut inside from the right and
hit
a fearsome shot on his weaker foot which just went over.
Both teams were again determined in defending as the game petered out.
The
game was played in a fair fashion, with the only card of the game
coming on
the eighty minute mark for Queudrue.
Boro's best chance came with
minutes to
go from sub James Morrison. Parnaby played in Morrison who cut inside
the
defender and hit a scuffed shot which the Charlton keeper parried out
for a
corner down to his left. The full time whistle sounded and brought an
end
to a disappointing game. Unlike in the league fixture Charlton were the
better team on the day, so maybe justice was done?
For me the most important thing from the game was to ensure we were in
the
draw for the semi-final, and that's one positive we must take from the
game.
It keeps the dream alive.
The game was certainly a night for the
defenders. Both sets were on top form and prevented neither team from creating
many
clear cut chances. From a Middlesbrough point of view you have to be
pleased
with a clean sheet, after conceding goals left, right and centre of
late.
These games are never easy, especially away from home against another
Premier League team. Lets not forget, this game was Charlton's season.
You
have to be delighted to still be in the line-up for the semi. It keeps the
dream
alive and the buzz is still there.
The Draw
The draw proved to be very kind to us today. We'll play West Ham in the
semi-final if we get past Charlton. This must give us that extra
incentive
now. We've got an excellent chance to go all the way in another cup
competition.
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