MIDDLESBROUGH v LITEX LOVECH, UEFA CUP GROUP D - FULL-TIME REPORT

Let's get the attendance out of the way first. Man, it was low. I knew most of the people who went. At least it will give the Geordies something to talk about. What happened in The Bill tonight, by the way?

As expected, Boro gave opportunities to several 'fringe' players with plenty of big guns on the bench, ready for the visit of Spurs on Sunday.

Jones, Queudrue, Riggott, Ehiogu, Bates, Morrison, Doriva, Kennedy, Johnson, Maccarone, Hasselbaink (Cattermole 82)
Schwarzer, Southgate, Boateng, Wheater Yakubu, Viduka

THE FIRST HALF

Three attacks in the first three minutes almost laid Litex to waste and in the process, we got a glimpse of the future.

Adam Johnson single handedly tore into Latex and how the ball never went in during the opening onslaught is a mystery.

Both the first high quality ball into Hail Massimo or the clever pass to Jimmy could have been converted with a better touch, or any touch in Hail Massimo's case.

Adam struck the third shot himself. It was the best of the lot and it drew an impressive save from Litex keper Vutov.

Hail Massimo wasted a good chance in the ninth minute after he intertwined well with Jimmy, who provided him with the chance that he blitzed wide. He could have done a lot better with it and his disappointment was evident.

Both teams came close within the space of a minute just after the quarter hour mark with Jason Kennedy almost scoring on his full debut. Immediately before that, Litex had won a free-kick outside the box that they almost converted.

It was Litex's first attempt on goal and it restored a little confidence in them. On twenty-six minutes, Brad Jones had to tip a cross over the bar that had somehow changed direction and become goalbound. A Boro goal was now overdue.

But it never came and never looked like coming for a long period leading right up to half-time. The early momentum that Boro had enjoyed was now gone and the game itself had gone sluggish. The hope was that Boro would come out with all guns blazing after the break and finish the match early.

HALF TIME FAN REACTION

"We took our foot of the gas in the last ten minutes there but we should see them off in the second-half"
Collective reaction from the ComeOnBoro.com chatroom.

THE SECOND HALF

The game was still at stalemate after six minutes of the second half and if a crowd had been present at the match, it would have started to become restless at this stage.

There were doubts creeping in about the inevitability of victory as well as Litex suddenly and without warning took control of the game. In a manic three minute spell, Litex forced Brad Jones into three saves and won a corner, Novakovic instrumental in all four moves.

Boro regained their control of the game but were left with the concern that Litex now knew that they could break at ease a Boro midfield that was starting to appear a little lightweight.

Novakovich could well be Boro bound in January, if rumours that we only sign players who have played well against us are to be believed but his team didn't create enough chances for him to put away for long periods. The threat was always present though.

In the seventy-fifth minute, the fans started to boo the team, as Boro were hardly playing at all now. There was no pace and no urgency in our game and Hail Massimo and Jimmy were not connecting at all. Mark Viduka and The Yak warmed up on the touchlines, ready to rescue the show.

INTO THE RED ZONE

Viduka and The Yak warming up must have frightened the team because suddenly, from our slumber we awoke.

Adam Johnson rediscovered the game that he had played in the first ten minutes and as Boro came to life, he found Hasselbaink who crossed for Hail Massimo who put it away this time, with a shaven skulled header that flew in. Nice!

MIDDLESBROUGH 1 LITEX LOVECH 0 (Hail Massimo 81)

Viduka and The Yak sat down again. Lee Cattermole warmed up instead and replaced Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. The substitution seemed to free up Hail Massimo and he duly sent Boro to the top of the group with a simply stunning goal that he drilled into the top corner from distance. Hail Massimo, hopeful hat-trick hero.

MIDDLESBROUGH 2 LITEX LOVECH 0 (Hail Massimo 85)

Viduka and The Yak went back to the dressing room. They'll be ready for Spurs on Sunday.

And hail Massimo will return to the reserves, ready for the resumption of the Uefa Cup in February. A competition that Middlesbrough can win.

HALF TIME FAN REACTION

"Maccarone's second goal was out of this world. Made up for a poor second half"
Collective reaction from the ComeOnBoro.com chatroom.


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