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EVERTON v MIDDLESBROUGH, CARLING CUP, 26th October 2006
Schwarzer, Pogatetz, Riggott, Ehiogu (Bates 45), Queudrue, Parnaby, Rochemback, Doriva, Morrison, Hasselbaink (Nemeth 68), Viduka (Yakubu 77)
Jones, Kennedy
Whatever happens tonight, Steve McClaren could never be accused of not taking the Carling Cup seriously. The Boss named a strong line-up, albeit in an unusual formation.
It was 5-3-2 tonight with Pogosticks and Parnaby operating as wing-backs, French Franck restored as one of three centre-backs and a line of three across the middle.
THE FIRST HALF
Everton started brightly and it was Boro who needed to make the first clearance of the game, Parnaby blasting away the danger that had come from the left.
After nine minutes, Boro upped the tempo with Rochemback producing a great pass to find Morrison who was never allowed the space to get his shot in. It was a promising move and the only real attempt that Boro made on the Everton goal in the first fifteen minutes.
There were some signs of good fluid passing movements as Boro attempted to work the ball forward and the defence was looking fairly solid, French Franck bravely blocking a hard strike from Yobbo as the pace started to quicken.
Pogatetz got himself into the perfect positon as a four man move reached its peak with the Austrian receiving the ball and nearly hammering home. Moments later Mark Viudka left his marker for dead with a burst of pace and was unlucky to see his shot pushed wide by Nigel Martyn.
Boro's fourth presentable opportunity came on the half hour as Mark Viduka once again turned his marker and hooked an overhead shot in that Martyn did well to get to.
Fabio Rochemback was booked a minute later for reacting to the constant provocation by Mikel Arteta. Play resumed and Arteta broke away from the midfielder and almost found a way through to goal. He found a way through to Ugo Ehiogu instead and the stand-in skipper stopped him in his tracks.
But it was Boro who made the big breakthrough with six minutes to go before half-time. A wonderfully weighted thirty-yard pass from Mark Viduka split the Everton defence in two and gave JFH a clear run on goal.
Jimmy didn't hesitate and the shot was clean and true as it went straight through Nigel Martyn, driven home with confidence and purpose.
EVERTON 0 MIDDLESBROUGH 1 (Hasselbaink 39 mins)
Everton needed to replace the injured Marcus Bent and introduced Matteo Ferrari, an attacking player for a defender.
Mark Viduka's name entered the referee's book just before half-time as he charged back fourty-yards to bring down Kevin Kilbane. Whoever said he was lazy?
Boro's latest formation appeared to be working. We looked fluid, had created more chances, had the lead and were gaining in strength as the game went on.
But more important than any tactics or formations, the players looked motivated tonight. That is what has been most lacking of late and it was nice to see it back.
FIRST HALF FAN REACTION
"We have shape and look OK with ths formation. The front two look sharp and we should go on and win this."
Mr Kipling
"If we can stay one goal ahead, I think we'll win it."
Sherrers
THE SECOND HALF
Ugo Ehiogu was taken off at half-time and replaced by Matthew Bates. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink would be carrying the captain's mantle for the second half.
James Beattie got a shot in from an angle in the first minute after the restart which had Skippy saving on the line. He made no mistake in holding the ball and it was typical of how Boro snuffed out the danger all night.
Everton pushed forward and pushed hard in an attempt to level the scores early in the half but it was Boro who had the best attempt as the half sprang to life. James Morrison was unlucky not to see his efforts rewarded with more than a half chance at a swipe as the ball fell unkindly for him.
Chris Riggott would have made it two if he had got onto the end of a cross and Mark Viduka yet again foxed the Everton defence and created another chance for himself that led to another corner.
Boro were winning corners and throw-ins with ease now but were not really doing anything with them.
With half an hour to go, Everton mounted another spate of attacks after making another substitution with Van Der Meyde replacing McFadden and Everton starting to look hungry for a goal.
But Boro broke up their efforts and a super-fast breakaway culminated in JFH crashing a shot against the crossbar. That gave Boro the edge and Jimmy once again found the goal at his mercy a minute later but shot wide this time from probably the best chance that he had all night.
And two minutes later, James Morrison played JFH through and once again he shot wide when he should have scored. The Boss decided that he had seen enough and Jimmy was taken off, The Lizard coming on in his place. Our third skipper of the night was Mark Viduka.
Mark Schwarzer made a magnificent save from Arteta whose twenty-yard shot was looking goal-bound all the way until Skippy pulled off a dramatic stop. We snuffed out the corner and despite it all being against the run of play, it was a warning that we needed to heed.
The Boss decided to make another change. Mark Viduka was taken off and on came Yakubu. Our fourth captain of the night was Chris Riggott.
INTO THE RED ZONE
Everton never gave up the chase and we have Franck Queudrue to thank for keeping us in it. French Franck made a wonder tackle on Marcus Bent just as the striker was preparing to pull the trigger.
It rattled Everton's strike force but it didn't stop them coming forward. Van Der Meyde was looking dangerous as a supplier of quality crosses but Boro managed to get on the end of all of them and prevent damage being done.
Arteta hit the bar on eighty-five minutes and it was the last chance that Everton had in this cup-tie.
It has to be said that this was Boro's best performance for several games now. We had started well, gone ahead and held firm and looked like a solid settled team who believed in it's ability to win.
It's been a while since we have been able to say that and it feels good again. Like it did when we were getting to cup finals. And winning them.
FULL-TIME FAN REACTION
"Best performance for a while. I'm booking Cardiff now..."
Dave_Boro
Final Whistle - 2254 : Report Online - 2258
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