BACK TO ARCHIVE INDEX © All written site content is copyright ComeOnBoro.com 2004-2007, unless otherwise stated, and is not to be used without prior permission.	MIDDLESBROUGH 5 BOLTON 1, Premier League, Saturday 20th January 2007 Having won three of their last four games - and only losing one of the last seven in the League, Middlesbrough went into this Riverside clash against Bolton full of confidence. Andrew Davies missed this tie through injury, with Andrew Taylor replacing him at left-back. George Boateng returned to the side after being rested against Hull City in mid-week, with wonder-kid Seb Hines making way. James Morrison also made way for Emmanuel Pogatetz. Apart from that the team and formation was unchanged from the side that progressed to the fourth round of the FA Cup on Tuesday. This meant that Boro adopted a 4-4-2 formation with Mark Viduka and Yakubu the two-pronged attack and Lee Cattermole on the right of midfield. George Boateng and Julio Arca formed the lynchpins in the centre. Schwarzer, Xavier, Woodgate, Pogatetz, Taylor, Cattermole (Morrison 87), Boateng, Arca, Downing (Euell 87), Yakubu (Christie 82), Viduka, Jones, Davies THE FIRST HALF Bolton had the first shot in anger, with Nikolas Anelka blazing over the bar within the first minute. It was a symbol of intent, as well as poor shooting, but it demonstrated that the Boro would have to watch their opposition on set-pieces. A minute later and Mark Schwarzer performed a save from the top-drawer Gary Speed. Emmanuel Pogatetz had failed to clear the danger and Schwarzer parried it wide for a corner. The two corners that followed were ineffective. But it was Boro who drew first blood - albeit with a big slice of luck. From Boro's first attack of the game, Abel Xavier launched a powerful header towards goal that clattered against the post. On the rebound the ball hit the hapless Gary Speed on the shin, making him turn it into his own net. Four minutes in and the Boro had the lead. MIDDLESBROUGH 1 (Speed (og), 4) BOLTON 0 It was quite clearly Abel Xavier's day. Five minutes later the ball was whipped in from the left by Downing and the defender found himself unmarked in the box, six yards out. Not even the post could stop him this time as he placed his bullet-header into the top left hand corner of the goal. Boro were two up in the first ten minutes. MIDDLESBROUGH 2 (Xavier, 9) BOLTON 0 On nineteen Mark Viduka was crowded out in the box after he had made a penetrating run into the box. In the ensuing melee, Tal Ben Haim almost put the ball past his own keeper to score what would have been Bolton's second own goal of the game. Middlesbrough were more rampant than Roary on heat. Downing cut his marker on the right hand side and curled the ball into the box. The ball broke to Mark Viduka who was in yards of space to choose where he wanted to place it. From six yards out, he was to make no mistake and the Boro went three-nil up. MIDDLESBROUGH 3 (Viduka, 22) BOLTON 0 But Bolton struck back in the most effective way possible - with a goal. Ivan Campo launched a throw-in towards the box, passing to Kevin Davies. He laid it off to Kevin Nolan who made no mistake from twenty yards out. Bolton were back in it as memories of Hull City mid-week came flooding back. MIDDLESBROUGH 3 BOLTON 1 (Nolan, 23) The Boro tried to find an instant reply, with Lee Cattermole almost finding a shooting opportunity in the Bolton box. It was cleared however. On twenty-eight a great run from Yakubu almost gave Boro a fourth. Latching on to the long ball from Downing he tried to round the keeper but only succeeded in hitting it wide. On thirty Schwarzer's foresight prevented Anelka from stealing in after a weak header from Davies back to him. On thirty-six Viduka danced past Campbell and laid the ball to Yakubu. He launched a ferocious shot towards the bottom right hand corner but the ball just whizzed wide. The crowd had a collective tantric Typhoo moment. The Boro were oo-zing class, as well as poor caffeinated beverages. Jonathan Woodgate found himself on the right wing on thirty-eight, flummoxing Jonathan Creek in the process. His cross was more dangerous than being fallen on by Sam Alladyce but Boro could not take advantage. On forty, more Viduka and Yakubu intricate play almost gave Viduka his second of the game. Then for some reason Bolton got a corner but nothing advantageous came of it apart from a throw-in, which was taken amidst much excitement. Roary was almost at climax now, his muzzle no doubt shuddering violently in his own rampancy, as Downing buried the ball beyond the despairing Jussi Jaaskelainen from twenty yards. Striking it with his right-boot, it was a novelty almost akin to a Downing goal itself. MIDDLESBROUGH 4 (Downing, 42) BOLTON 1 A repeat performance almost followed but thankfully Kevin Davies shot from twelve yards out went wide when he really should have buried it. That was the last of the action of the first half. The Boro left the field to a standing ovation whilst Bolton left despondent. It was to be hoped they would be despondent at full time too. THE SECOND HALF The first meaningful action of the second half came from a Downing free-kick that went over the wall, over the bar and probably over the stand. Either that or it whacked Doris Greenbody in the face, hospitalising her for some considerable time. The game was more tepid than Nero's bathwater at this stage, failing to reach the orgasmic highs of the first half. Bolton had a dangerous cross on fifty-three that eluded everyone, including the pigeons on the pitch, the ball going out for a throw-in. A Kevin Davies shot followed but it was comfortably blocked by Pogatetz. The resulting corner was easily cleared but the Bolton pressure was growing. Indeed it was like a weight forever increasing - and in this ton-grow the Boro were becoming ever more pressed. The game was as dull as a Sam Alledyce post-match interview at this stage but the Boro were starting to come into the game once more. It came to life on sixty-three after Cattermole played the ball into Viduka. The Australian set-up his strike partner and Yakubu launched a shot that just went wide. It was a fluid move that typified Boro's excellent passing during this game. On sixty-five Bolton were reduced to ten men as El-Hadj Diouf was sent off for persistent moaning. The final straw was a vile comment from a vile man that Alan Wiley simply could not ignore. His dismissal was greeted to cheers from the home faithful. The tempo was slower than that of a broken Casio keyboard but where Bolton were imploding, Boro were exploding. Another penetrating run from the impressive Downing almost resulted in another opportunity for the home side but Bolton managed to clear. On seventy-seven George Boateng found the net, chipping over Jaaskelainen but he was pulled back for committing a foul on the Bolton defender. Malcolm Christie replaced Yakubu on eighty-two in the hope that it would enliven this rather turgid second half. He almost managed to burst past two Bolton defenders in his first twenty seconds. On eighty-three Lee Cattermole dragged the ball back before playing in Mark Viduka. The ball bobbled but it was not beyond the Australian's skill. He controlled it and rifled it past the despairing Bolton keeper. It was just the philip that the crowd needed. MIDDLESBROUGH 5 (Viduka, 83) BOLTON 1 Bolton struck back almost immediately, a Ricardo Gardner shot requiring Schwarzer to have his full weight behind it. Kevin Nolan had a strong downward header that flashed across the face of the goal a minute later. Bolton were still pressing, despite them being dead and buried. On eighty-seven Lee Cattermole was replaced by James Morrison whilst Stewart Downing made way for Jason Euell. In stoppage time Ricardo Gardner struck a shot with his left foot from a corner. He was unmarked from twenty yards out and it required a strong parried save from Schwarzer. After this the game ambled towards an unsatisfactory conclusion. But the damage had already been done. Boro were rampant today, mauling a very good side and dispatching them with ease. The pass and move game has been reintroduced and Stewart Downing has returned to form. With Yakubu and Viduka on fire, suddenly Europe looks a distinct possibility. On to Bristol next week. FULL TIME FAN REACTION "Brilliant Boro" BorisG SEND THIS TO A FRIEND BACK TO BOLTON MATCH PROGRAMME INDEX
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