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MIDDLESBROUGH v LIVERPOOL, Premier League, 13th August 2005
Schwarzer, Reiziger, Southgate, Ehiogu, Queudrue, Mendieta, Parlour, Boateng, Downing, Hasselbaink, Yakubu
Jones, Bates, Doriva, Nemeth, Viduka
Hail falls around the Riverside on this August afternoon as people walk once again through the Ayresome Park gates.
The tension crackles in the air as the teams take to the field, blaring noise from the crowd ringing in their ears. Bolo Zenden glances over at his old team mates and Yakubu glances over at the opposition. Yakubu has the clearer intent...
The First Half
Zenden brought Skippy into the action early with a speculative shot that posed no problem for our keeper.
Yakubu's first touches looked much more convincing, despite Boro taking longer to settle than the European champions.
We didn't need to be settled to hold off Liverpool in the first ten minutes as tentative was the watch word of the opening period of play.
And it didn't take long before the game became scrappy and uneventful. Morientes did well to release a ball from midfield and Steven Gerrard showed a glimpse of the threat that we faced today with a quick shot that sailed just over the bar.
Boro broke immediately from the restart, four red shirts bursting forward to create our first real move of the match. It came to little but at least we had now stirred.
Stewey Downing won our first corner of the game on twenty-seven minutes, an effort that once again came to nothing but Boro were alive now and in a good position to start creating more opportunities for the front men.
Mark Viduka began to warm up just after the half hour mark. This was to avoid him getting a splinter in his arse and being possibly sidelined for three weeks.
Boro kept probing and with confidence growing, Boro nearly opened their account with a goal from an unlikely source but Ugo Ehiogu's strike went over the bar.
It was the closest either side had come to scoring and it signalled Boro's intent.
And with just injury time minutes remaining in the first half, Boro produced a brilliant piece of build up play which led to George Boateng finding himself with a sight of goal at thirty yards out. His shot was unlucky not to find the net.
Boro went into the break as the better side and if we could just step up one gear in the second half then this game would be ours.
Fan Reaction
"It's not great so far but we are better than them and we will win. So it'll do."
Harry Haverton
"We have them rattled in midfield and if we can get Yak released, we are there."
Smog Gets In Your Eyes
"Can't string more than three passes together, very pedestrian, no urgency..."
Benedict_XV1
The Second Half
Deja-vu? Not quite, but Steven Gerrard's wonder-hoof from far out had visions of Anfield four months ago...
And two minutes later he did exactly the same and although neither shot gave Skippy any trouble, this show of confidence from Liverpool was worrying.
Boro didn't panic and instead upped the tempo as first Queudrue went close and then Mendieta was caught offside in a second consecutive sweeping move.
An injury to Franck Queudrue interrupted our rythym but we were fighting harder for possession now and looked hungrier. But Liverpool were still dangerous.
Even more so with the introduction of the imposing Cisse. We brought on The Lizard for the apparently injured Mendieta. Mark Viduka warmed up again.
And then he took his tracksuit off and took to the field of play, resplendent in his aura, focused in his ambition and very, very welcome in our team.
It was JFH who had made way for the V-Bomber and the team instantly benefitted from his presence. With a new found confidence, we surged forward but found our moves broken up again as Liverpool wrestled with us for control of the pace.
With eighteen minutes to go it was Boro playing the attacking role when Liverpol caught us on the break. Accidental contact was made by Ugo Ehiogu when dispossessing the onrushing Gerrard but we can have no complaints about the sending off.
Yakubu was withdrawn as we reshuffled and Matthew Bates took Ugo's place in defence. The hole was evident, especially to Steven Gerrard whose free header should have given Liverpool the lead.
The last fifteen minutes were a different matter now and Liverpool had the advantage.
Skippy maintained our clean sheet with a magnificent save from Steven Gerrard, his sixth attempt on goal in ten minutes.
Into The Red Zone
Tempers started to fray with ten minutes to go. Boro's ten battling men were determined not to let anything past them and Franck Queudrue was at his biting best.
He nearly gave away one free kick too many but Steven Gerrard was tiring now. And he still needed to conserve energy to drive the team coach home and wash all the kit as well. And do all the press on Sunday morning.
Boro won't make the headlines for this workmanlike performance. It was dogged and committed and the whole team deserve credit for keeping Liverpool out today.
Especially Michael Reiziger, whose excellent late tackle on Zenden spared our blushes.
A massive four minutes were added on and a huge rallying call from Steve McClaren stirred the troops. We nearly added a late one with one final bursting attack but it wasn't to be.
We'd have done it with an extra man on the field.
Fan Reaction
"We held Gerrard throughout and that was key to our point today"
Lillibet M
"A significant game and a significant point. Bloody rubbish ref though!"
Harry
Final Whistle- 1910. Report Online 1915
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