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.	HULL CITY v MIDDLESBROUGH MATCH REPORT, FA CUP 3rd ROUND, 6 Jan 2007 With Boro thankfully, and some would say miraculously, managing to avoid the Christmas slump for the first time since approximately 1908 there was a degree of confidence in the team going into the third round of the fabled and hallowed domestic cup against Steve McLaren's old club. Having reached the semis twice in the last five years, there was every reason to aim higher given that the FA Cup is the only thing that Boro can win this season. Officially anyway. Brad Jones replaced the injured Schwarzer and Woodgate was rested, being replaced by Riggot. Jones,Xavier, Riggott, Pogatetz, Taylor, Arca, Boateng, Cattermole, Downing, Yakubu.Viduka Turnbull (GK), Parnaby, Christie, Euell, THE FIRST HALF Playing 4 4 2 Boro started the battle against Hull's 4 3 3. The first few minutes saw a fairly slow build up with Boro fans in great voice, willing the team to start the attack properly. No incidents of note in the first five minutes, with almost the first touch of the match being a foul by Parkin on Pogatetz. Knowing that it is fatal to give lower league teams any encouragement in cup competitions, Boro started warm up although, as has been a problem all season so far, the passes were not coming together coherently. On eleven Riggot had a collision in the box with Parkin but penalty appeals were rightly dismissed by Rennie although it was a bit puzzling that he did not blow to stop play. Shortly afterwards Viduka tried a shot after a Boro break, the first of the match, but there was no power in it and it drifted straight into the arms of Myhill. This did seem to be the catalyst for a flurry of activity. Downing was ensuring good positions, Cattermole was running all over the pitch, Arca got the break but the shot was defelected by Ashbee and resulted in a corner. This was taken by Downing but Myhill got a fist to it. Cat got it back on the break, but was again parried away. Boro had started to put the pressure on Hull. Another free kick, from Downing this time, cleared the Hull wall, but went wide of target. The cycle of free kicks continued, as at sixteen after a handball from Coles Hull assembled almost their whole team into a long line of players, necessitating intervention from Uriah Rennie to sort it out into something less like the queue for Tescos on Christmas Eve. Arca took this one left-footed but it again went wide. Boro kept up the pressure, doing everything right apart from actually scoring. Yakubu made a hash of a great advantage taking the break from a Hull error, but he hesitated and the danger was cleared, resulting in a corner. Xavier atempted to create danger from this, but failed and gifted a goal kick to the opposition. Unbelievably Yak then missed a total sitter from about half an inch out which was cleared off the line. Howls could be heard ringing around the ground - of desperation form the Boro fans and relief for Hull who surely couldn't believe their luck. There had been a move up the left hand side from Arca who put in a great ball to Downing who equally but another great ball straight to the feet of the Yak. By 23 minutes Boro should have been at least 2 up. The five to ten minute flurry seemed to die down. As the scores stayed level and the half time whistle grew closer there were thoughts that no more action would be seen until after the half time oranges. Towards the end of the half this changed as there were a few more incidents of note, particularly when Parkin tried a cheeky shot from a harsh angle which could have been dangerous and Brad Jones parried it around the left hand post. No danger from the corner which Jones again saved comfortably. In fact it was Hull who had found another burst, the most dangerous being when Elliot's speculative header won from Taylor caught Jones off the line, but he managed to scramble back to clear it saving major embarressment. This was followed immdiately afterwards by another failed attempt as Hull City continued throwing everything they could find at Boro, which would only fire up the home side for the second half. Boro were equal to this task though, and did manage to keep overall control Mark Viduka thundered the ball into the side netting 3 minutes from half time and then last attempt came from a brace of Downing corners in the final minute. Although these came to nothing, overall Boro were dominating making Yakubu's missed opportunities all the more frustrating. THE SECOND HALF Hull tried to box Boro in from the off as the crowd anticipated an entertaining half. Downing started off trying to keep up the excellent standard of play he demonstrated in the first half but was not getting the through balls that he needed. However a classy free kick by after Coles fouled Yakubu resulted in a terrific save from Myhill stopping the ball blasting into the left hand corner. Boro continued to dominate possession wise, although both sides were still leaking the ball away too easily. Both Viduka and Pogatetz had shots cleared but It was Rennie who suffered abit of a slump after 10 minutes of this half after a series of bizarre and puzzling decisions, one of which may well have denied the Yak a goal scoring opportunity, although whehter he would have done anything with this remains theoretical. The Tigers failed to make anything of a corner kick on 55, giving Boro yet another break that ended in nothing and shortly afterwards Hull made a change, Duffy for Elliot, as both sides kept battling to open the scoreline. Potential danger came when Parkin cleared from nowhere and Riggot made a terific comeback after the ball had been put round him one way and rescued it once more; this found Downing who showed class once more, but the ball was lost and with Boro out of position Hull again tried to find the net and open the scoring. By this stage Boro needed to be grateful for luck as most of Hull's chances were results of errors or lapses of concentration. Morrison came on for Cattermole on 70 the tempo increased once more and even though there was pace aplenty, in real terms this was nothing like the first half and the cycle of replays may not yet be broken. Pogotetz then made a wild challenge on Ricketts received a yellow card for this, the home crowd baying for a red. A spell of danger for Boro followed, only to be broken by Morrison who led a superb charge, decisively landing the ball at the feet of Viduka who drilled with precision from 18 yards, one of his first real impacts on the game. Hull City 0 Middlesbrough 1 (Viduka, 73) No time for Boro to relax however as McPhee was subbed for Forster who immediately made an impact for the Tigers when he headed a free kick from Livermore, won from a Taylor foul. This swung in on target in the top left corner. Hull City 1 Middlesbrough 1 (Forster 79) After this Hull tried to capatilise and were praying for another set piece as they could not find the skill to break through Boro's weak spot in central defence. Neither side were going to settle for the draw, Vids was holding up well, and this game had turned into a great cup tie. As the last few minutes died away, the Tigers still desperately tired to pull off a shock. A little bit of momentum had been lost but the pace picked up again and Morrison was really unlucky to have an on target shot deflected wide. Boro continued to look for a late winner and yet another sitter was missed when Riggot was a yard out. More chances were created in the last 10 then in the whole first half and the scoreline did not reflect the action on the pitch. As the tie came to a close Downing again tried to get it sealed from another free kick and Pogatetz , Xavier and Arca were getting forward to join the collective efforts. In the final moments a late substituion for Hull, a broken linesman's flag and a frantic flurry which ended in a free kick for Hull could not disrupt the scoreline. Boro still cannot break the curse of not winning away and a replay at the Riverside will decide who was going to progress to the fourth round. SEND THIS TO A FRIEND BACK TO HULL CITY MATCH PROGRAMME INDEX
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