|
NUNEATON 1-1 BORO FULL TIME MATCH REPORT
McClaren named a strong team to face a Nuneaton side who were unbeaten in more than 20 games. Yakubu and Viduka started up front but Hasselbaink was not even on the bench. As expected, Schwarzer is dropped in favour of Brad Jones. McClaren also adopted a 4-4-2 formation.
Jones, Parnaby, Bates, Southgate, Pogotetz, Morrison, Doriva, Cattermole, Mendieta, Yakubu, Viduka, Schwarzer, Taylor, Wheater, Johnson, Maccarone
THE FIRST HALF
Nuneaton came straight out of the blocks and tested Brad Jones on a few occasions, particularly Jez Murphy who forced two good saves from Jones. One of these came from a Cattermole mistake as Boro's defending was decidedly dodgy.
In the sixth minute Parnaby ran down the right and aimed for Viduka in the box but the ball drifts harmlessly past the post.
Nuneaton applied significant pressure on the Boro backline after this, pressure that was only exasperated by our nervous defending. But on 14 minutes Boro's early nervousness was dispelled as Yakubu leads a charge into Nuneaton territory and wins a free kick about 20 yards out after being tripped by a Nuneaton defender. Mendieta stepped up to take it, launched it over the wall and straight into the top right hand corner.
NUNEATON 0-1 MIDDLESBROUGH (Gaizka Mendieta 15)
On 17 minutes a lack of communication between the Nuneaton goalkeeper and centre-half almost let Yakubu in but his shot hit the goalkeeper and went up into the air, for the keeper to gather at the second attempt.
Shortly after Nuneaton were down to ten men when David Staff went off injured. Despite receiving treatment he was substituted for Stuart Whittaker some five minutes later. Meanwhile the game was end-to-end with Boro largely relying on attacking on the break after soaking up Nuneaton pressure.
Boro then won a corner after a promising move on the break which resulted in a deflected shot from Yakubu but the referee noticed a foul in the box and gave Nuneaton the advantage.
On 24 minutes Viduka fed the ball to Morrison on the inside-right who entered the box and twisted around both Nuneaton defenders. He forced a good save out of the Nuneaton keeper which is cleared by a Nuneaton defender.
On 26 minutes one ball beats the back line and Jez Murphy tries to lob Brad Jones in a one-on-one attempt. Jones parried it over and nothing resulted from the subsequent corner. Nuneaton applied further pressure before Boro break and Morrison forces a save out of their keeper.
Three minutes later a good passing move results in Yakubu finding Pogatetz who had made a good run into the box. Pogatetz shot was weak but this was the first time a Boro player gambled in the box by launching a promising run.
On 33 Mendieta launched two good balls into the area but they were cleared by the goalkeeper and Nuneaton captain respectively. Nuneaton broke from this but the move petered out in the final third. But they were on the attack a minute later with a good cross being put in to the Boro box which had to be cleared by Doriva for a corner. It was cleared to 18 yards only for Whittaker to launch a stinging volley towards goal, which was acrobatically clawed away from the top-right hand corner by Jones.
From the following corner Boro clear but concede a free kick, which was assuredly collected by Jones. After this, Parnaby was booked instead of Cattermole for a late challenge on a Nuneaton player.
On 37 another piercing attacking run from Quailey resulted in another ball being launched into the Boro box and yet another near-miss by the non-League side. At this stage Nuneaton were starting to grow in confidence and were far more assured than their more illustrious opponents. Boro at this stage had problems stringing more than a couple of passes together and were on the back foot at the moment.
But on 40 minutes a ball over the defence was latched on to by Morrison, who passed to Yakubu whose tame shot was easily saved. A minute later a Yakubu run resulted in the ball being passed back to Mendieta who saw his effort sail just over the bar. A further minute on, and a one-on-one between the Nuneaton keeper and Yakubu resulted in a comfortable save due to Yakubu's inability to chip his adversary.
As the half petered out Yakubu wins a corner for the Boro but despite the Nuneaton defence sleeping in, it is eventually cleared and nothing comes of it. Boro attack once more, an attack that eventually results in a Mendieta shot that goes out for a corner.
From this Morrison and Parnaby conducted a one-two which resulted in the latter testing the Nuneaton keeper with a shot.
In stoppage time Nuneaton could have had a penalty after the ball hit Cattermole's arm but the assistant's flag was already up for an offside call. A minute later the referee's whistle called an end to the half.
FIRST HALF FAN REACTION
'It's been fairly end to end. It's worrying though for professionals vs bin men, teachers, driving instructors.'
Tough Teessider 88
'They deserve to be level if not winning'
Scarborosmoggy
THE SECOND HALF
Nuneaton came out in the second half like they did in the first, having two good efforts very early on. The first was a low shot by Whittaker that Jones had to push around the post. From the resulting corner Niel Moore headed just past the post with a powerful attempt. A few minutes later Boro hung on even more dangerously as the referee waved aside Nuneaton appeals for what was a blatant penalty kick (committed by Southgate), incensing the home fans.
Nuneaton then won a succession of corners through intricate play in the Boro box. Nothing came of these but every time the Boro clear, Nuneaton pick up the ball and launch another attack, forcing the Premiership side to be camped in their own box. Only after five minutes is there any relief, with Morrison breaking away and winning a free kick for the Boro.
Our first attack did not occur until the 58th minute when Yakubu launched a beautiful cross that eluded the Nuneaton defender but also Mark Viduka who was standing on the back post. A minute later Mendieta launches another ball into the box but it was too strong and went out for a goal kick.
On 60 Nuneaton won yet another free kick and launched yet another attack, this time towards Fitzpatrick. Jones was once again alert and punched it away.
Four minutes later Yakubu played a nice one-two with Mendieta before crossing the ball to Viduka whose touch failed him. For the next few minutes Boro applied more pressure, with Viduka forcing the Nuneaton keeper to concede a corner through a deft header. Cattermole snatched at his shot from the resultant Mendieta corner kick.
On 67 Yakubu was found in a one-on-one situation with Acton but the Nuneaton keeper saved well to the cheers of the home fans.
Nuneaton break from this and Whittaker lays it on a plate to Love who launches a shot just over the top of the bar from the edge of the 18 yard box, much to the relief of the languid Middlesbrough defence. At this stage the game was still end-to-end but the Premier League side were starting to play the most assured football they had played all day. However Nuneaton were still threatening on the counter and were far from out of this tie as Boro searched for the second goal that would have effectively killed the game off.
On 75 a substitution was made, with Nuneaton substituting Froom for the impressive but fading Quailey. This gave Nuneaton more impetus with Whittaker launching a foray into Boro territory. Boro quickly broke from this but the attack petered out and a throw-in was all we got for our efforts. The eventual result was an offside decision against Mark Viduka, much to the annoyance of the Australian.
On 79 Matty Collins crossed in for Nuneaton, Whittaker volleyed it in and Parnaby clears. Unfortunately it was straight to Whittaker who volleyed it in once more, for Jones to save it. After this Parnaby went on an incisive run and earned a corner for the Premiership side. This resulted in a shot being launched over the bar. Nuneaton also made their third and final substitution of the day.
Cattermole then played in Yakubu, who had made a strong run into the box. The Nigerian then provided a reverse ball to Mendieta but the Spaniard was off-balance and shot well over the bar.
On 84, after Boro's most fluid passing move of the game, Viduka shot from a central position around 20 yards out. His shot dipped but failed to reach its target. A minute later Mendieta launched an audacious free-kick towards goal but it went well wide.
INTO THE RED ZONE
Nuneaton came back again, with Acton launching a long ball into the Boro area. A free-kick was then conceded by Boro allowing Whittaker to launch a dangerous ball into the box but Jones comfortably collected it. Thirty seconds later Cattermole was caught in possession and another attack was launched towards the Boro box. It was from this attack that Southgate handballed and conceded a penalty. Murphy was cool and planted his kick to the left with Jones diving the other way. It was no less than what Nuneaton deserved on the balance of play.
NUNEATON 1-1 MIDDLESBROUGH (Murphy, pen 89)
But a draw did not seem to be enough for the Conference side who pressed on further in an attempt to win the game. Into stoppage time and Pogatetz got booked after conceding a free-kick on the edge of the area. Eight Nuneaton players crammed into the Boro 18-yard box but the opportunity was wasted and went out for a throw-in. This was the last significant action of the game as Manor Park erupted when the final whistle blew.
The home fans invaded the pitch in joy at the shock result whilst the Boro fans walked out of the stadium in stunned silence. Again another late goal was the Boro's undoing but you can hardly claim it was an unfair result. Indeed if it hadn't been for another dodgy penalty decision and the form of Brad Jones, today we would have got beat. And on this form, there are dark times ahead for the Boro.
The replay will be at 8pm, January 17.
FULL TIME FAN REACTION
'It was lucky their finishing wasn't better on the day. At least our "stand in" keeper had a good game'.
Lord Sherington
COB Man of the Match: Brad Jones
BACK TO NUNEATON MATCH PROGRAMME INDEX |
|
|
|
