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 v CHELSEA, PREMIER LEAGUE, 23 AUGUST 2006 After Saturday's warm-up disappointment against an adrenalin-filled, newly promoted, almost telepathic Reading this season's first Riverside fixture was full of anticipation. On Teesside hopes were raised for a repeat of last season's best bits and lightning striking twice as the champions returned to try to avoid a repeat of last February's demolition. Schwarzer, Davies, Pogatetz, Parnaby, Taylor, Riggott, Boateng, Rochemback, Downing, Mendieta, Yakubu Turnbull, McMahon, Morrison, Cattermole, Viduka, THE FIRST HALF Boro started in a seemingly bizarre 4-2-3-1 formation setting off at a frantic pace, but after an immediate surge forward, the game was contained in the midfield for the first five minutes. Mendieta made an early bid for goal after getting a break from a Ferreria throw-in, but the shot went wide. So far, all momentum was with Boro, with Riggot almost netting the opening goal from a Boro corner on eight minutes. After a world class ball from Downing, Yakubu missed a sitter from six yards. As Southgate registered his pleasure with the start, Chelsea were left needing to pull something out of the bag. This came. after a loss of concentration from the Boro defence and Shevchenko managed to make the most of Bridge's cross to find the net for the first Riverside goal of the season. MIDDLESBROUGH 0 CHELSEA 1 (Shevchenko, 16 mins) Both teams were on the attack after the re-start, but it was Drogba who nearly altered the scoreline when he missed a sitter gifted to him by Pogatetz and by rights the score should have been 1-2 after eighteen minutes. Both sides were ensuring that the crowd were entertained. Although the Londoners were determined to make their mark on the game, by twenty-five minutes it was Boro who still had overall domination, with the bulk of the possession. It was also apparent that the Chelsea defence were wary of Yakubu and were not looking comfortable. As half-time approached there were no further major incidents but a lively tempo was maintained. The Boro defence was holding up, after a few Chelsea shots were missed but an equaliser did not come close. The game was far from over though, and the one goal deficit tenuous. It looked like the Yak would need some support if Boro were going to emerge victorious, and it was anticipated that Viduka would come off the bench for the second half. HALF-TIME FAN REACTION "WE HAVE BEEN THE BETTER TEAM AND THEY ARE WINNING! GRRRRRRR!!!" Frankish2004 "Keep it up in the second half and we can win this" Boroonthebeach THE SECOND HALF As the second half started, Drogba was shown the first card of the match when he was late out the tunnel and immediately ran on to the pitch without Howard Webb's permission and tackled Downing. No changes were made by either side, and it seemed that Chelsea's aim was to slow the tempo down, something that Boro had no intention of doing. Cattermole replaced Davies, which was met with a bemused reaction from the Boro fans as Davies has been extremely solid in defence. The Cat took his place in the centre alongside captain George Boateng and the blue shirts appeared to immediately swarm. After an immense sixty yard run from Shevchenko, Lampard gave what would have been a great header if it hadn't hit the bar from eight yards. Then Boro took advantage of a Mendieta free kick, but the Yak missed his second sitter of the match when he had a magnificent chance to equalise headed but blasted it somewhere in the direction of the East Stand Upper. As Viduka warmed up, possession was roughly equal and the end result was by no means certain, but it was to be hoped that there were more goals in this game. Viduka eventually replaced Mendieta and the battle continued On seventy-five minutes the Yak was brought down inside the penalty area, but no penalty was given as it was thought to be over dramatised. A yellow card then went the way of Stuart Parnaby for a reaction to a foul on Kalou. Almost immediately afterwards Drogba gave an almighty diving and again the ref did not bite, serving to build the tension. Boro then left Chelsea's lead hanging by a thread hanging by a thread and frantically sought a quality delivery as the game was taken to the next level. Finally, after a left-sided free kick from Rochemback, Pogatetz's header found the back of the net, with the Chelsea defence very much at fault here and Boro started to really make life appropriately difficult for the visitors. MIDDLESBROUGH 1 CHELSEA 1 (Pogatetz 79 mins) INTO THE RED ZONE It now seemed a different game as Chelsea replaced Makalele with Wright-Phillips, in a desperate bid to get back in the game. Lampard had the best chance when he drilled a ball to Schwarzer's feet which was caught easily. And Boro managed to find the fighting spirit that seems ever present at the Riverside when Viduka managed to seal the match after a pass from the Yak saw the ball flying into the bottom right of the goal. MIDDLESBROUGH 2 CHELSEA 1 (Viduka 89) The visitors did not have a chance to recover in the remaining three minutes of the game, and Gareth Southgate's first home Premiership match was sweet indeed. SEND THIS TO A FRIEND CHELSEA FANS WELCOME IN THE NEW HOLGATE MESSAGE BOARD BORO v CHELSEA MATCH PROGRAMME INDEX
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