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 0 NOTTS COUNTY 1 - MATCH REPORT, Carling Cup Second Round, Wednesday 20th September 2006 Middlesbrough looked to open their Carling Cup campaign with the aim of equalling their achievements of three seasons ago. The opposition was Notts County, a team we have played three times in the last four seasons making this practically a League game. Boro made eight changes from the side that eeked out a 0-0 draw at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday. The third of Boro's three summer signings, Chelsea's Robert Huth made his debut after coming through the Reserves last week. Promising young keeper Ross Turnball, who featured a few times at the end of last season, earned a recall. Mark Viduka returned after injury prevented him from playing at Bolton on Saturday. He was made captain in a 4-4-2 formation. Turnbull, McMahon (Morrison 60), Bates, Huth, Taylor, Parnaby, Mendieta, Cattermole (Euell 70), Johnson, Viduka, Maccarone, Schwarzer, Pogatetz, Hines THE FIRST HALF Tackles flew in from the League Two side as they started their 'Cup Final' in passionate fashion. It did not take long however for Boro to assert their class, with a well-worked break forcing a corner as early as the third minute. The fifth minute presented another Boro break that was stopped with a cynical challenge on an on-rushing Massimo Maccarone as he was threatening to tee up Mark Viduka. A free-kick was awarded which Adam Johnson curled into the box. The goalkeeper flapped but there was no danger as the ball drifted aimlessly wide. It was then County's turn to break, taking advantage of Boro's square defence. One ball over the box and the Boro were defeated. It was clear we were missing Jonathan Woodgate already. Lawrie Dudfiel missed however from about twelve yards out. It was still a warning though. The Boro were undaunted however and pressed again. A strong run from Cattermole in the fourteenth minute only narrowly failed to pay dividends after the ball was hit too long. There was a lot of throw-ins after this, which was the first real test for the new "singing section". Suffice to say it all went a bit quiet despite Andrew Taylor's spectacular overhead throw technique. Tepid was now the watchword, with terrific bursts forward betrayed by aimlessly whacked balls. The wind was playing its role and it wasn't from the "singing section" despite that being impressively sprung into force. On nineteen Lee Cattermole gave away a needless free-kick that allowed County an attack. Ian Ross hit it from the right-wing and Stephen Hunt headed wide from eighteen yards. Boro's best effort came on twenty-three when an Adam Johnson break ended in a fierce shot that was deflected wide by Stephen Huth. Robert Huth's corner was ineffective and County comfortably cleared. Mendieta was in his element showing how world-class he is. Shame it was against Notts County. But beggars can't be choosers and his passes were undoing the County defence. And then County undid the Boro, courtesy of a defensive slip. The ball came to Tcham N'Toya on the edge of the box as McMahon slipped. This didn't put the County man off and he comfortably slotted the ball passed Turnbull, who could do nothing. BORO 0 NOTTS COUNTY 1 (N'Toya, 26) And now County were rampant. A side-footed shot from Stephen Hunt skimmed the top right hand corner as the Boro survived a scare. Desperate times called for tactical measures as Mendieta and Stuart Parnaby were switched in an attempt to be more effective. But this did little as County attacked again. Huth came out with the ball and passed to Johnson. His first time cross narrowly eluded Cattermole, who headed the ball over the crossbar. Johnson had been neglected to this point and this move demonstrated why Boro's tactics had been suspect to this point. Frustration crept in and earned Lee Cattermole the first booking of the game on thirty-four after fouling Matthew Somner. The ensuing free-kick was ineffective. Boro's first real effort on goal came through Mark Viduka on thirty-seven from about twelve yards out. This forced a stunning reaction save from the County keeper. Boro then did their best Arsenal impression by intricately passing the ball about but getting nowhere. Then we did our best Bolton impression by being caught offside a million times in a minute. And the score-line was our attempt at doing a Sunderland impression. Prior to Roy Keane of course. As the half ebbed away Mark Viduka missed a sitter, blasting the ball into the side netting. Failing to put the ball across the keeper, Viduka fluffed his shot from six yards highlighting the fact that County's keeper was yet to really be tested. We had not done enough in the half. And that was that. Disappointment, consternation, Mark Page. This is what being a Boro fan is all about. FIRST HALF FAN REACTION "It wouldn't be right if we did this the easy way" Kris G THE SECOND HALF The second half started in much the same vein as the first and with the same personnel, much to the fans' frustration. Boro's statement of intent was proved in the second minute of the fledgling half as the ball broke to Mendieta and he had a punt from eighteen yards out. He should have scored instead of blasting it over the bar but under pressure, this was at least a positive start. Slow and predictable were the buzzwords in the opening minutes as Boro's attack was laboured. Playing through the middle was our major weakness as County sat back and shut us out for the following few minutes. A County change brought fresh legs as Boro pushed further forward for an equaliser. Yet this change brought another striker on in the form of Junior Mendes. County had their tails up and like a calculating wolf caught on the defensive, they were sniffing around for another chance to tear at their prey. The match was becoming a bit like the 10000m at the Olympics games - there was lots of running going on but no one was ultimately getting anywhere. Crosses came in but they missed their target as Boro, although impressive, failed once more to nail that final ball. Boro's Arsenal hero, James Morrison came on for Tony McMahon on sixty. This meant that Stewart Parnaby had to shift into his favoured right-back position to make way for his fellow Academy player. Morrison showed his class almost immediately, by launching more balls into the box to which our strike-force failed to connect. The ball broke for County and Boro conceded a corner, which Huth cleared accomplishedly. Yet County came again and an excellent ball by Ian Ross found Lawrie Dudfield twelve yards out and he blasted wide of the goal. It was another warning however that if County managed to score again, the Boro would be buried. Viduka meanwhile was doing a sterling job in the right-back position so COB was half expecting a Stewart Parnaby special from twelve yards out at the other end. However another disappointing break culminated in a good Cattermole ball again ending up nowhere, much to the groans of the home faithful. Boro were failing to utilise the space down the wings, particularly down the right. Morrison was being by-passed and this was frustrating the punters who had expected a far more incisive performance than what they were getting. So what a great way to make your home debut! But that was what faced Jason Euell who replaced Lee Cattermole on seventy. A 5-3-2 formation was formed in the hope we would have the firepower to defeat the League Two minnows. County therefore decided to launch another attack and nearly scored again through a Tcham N'Toya header from twelve yards out. It was again testament to the power of crosses - County had been dangerous through their wide play whilst Boro had been impotent. Boro were in fact playing into County's hands by sitting in front of them, giving them too much respect. And the Nottinghamshire outfit gladly accepted the gift. A free kick on seventy-four gave the Boro a corner after a Mendieta cross was defended expertly by the League Two side. Expertly and luckily as they cleared the ball off the line no less than three times in quick succession as they doggedly hung on to their lead. Despite the potential loss however there was some possible good news from the club as the scintillating DVD "Boro's Greatest Offside Moments" starring Mark Viduka, was rapidly reaching completion with another assistant's flag for another poorly-timed run. The crowd were now frustrated as they saw a County player down on the pitch and they assumed he was wasting time. It really had come to that. Another Boro build-up resulted in another Boro free-kick that was again wasted. Mendieta tried to find Euell in the box but it drifted harmlessly wide. INTO THE RED ZONE Four minutes from the end and a strong defensive interception from County thwarted Jason Euell six yards out. Nothing resulted from the corner but the Boro were getting closer and closer to breaking down the resistance. But would it be too little too late? With a greater Boro threat came a greater County resolve as all eleven players sat back and absorbed our attacks. Middlesbrough were still not hitting balls wide though and this was the main problem throughout the game. Viduka may be a good right-back but Parnaby is not a good striker as, six yards out and two minutes from the end, he blazed an effort over the bar. County were hanging on by a thread as the crowd once more found its voice. But could the Boro deliver in the last two minutes? The answer was ultimately no. Another aerial attack with strikers who are not the strongest in the air made you doubt the tactics of the manager for this one. It was a poor result at home against a side three divisions lower than us. Only five minutes of added-on time gave the Boro hope now but all that happened was more tepid build-up that was ultimately impotent. The Boro could also compile "Top 100 Shots Blasted Over the Bar" from this match too as first Robert Huth then Lee Cattermole spooned balls high and wide. The first came from an excellent shot from Viduka that the County goalkeeper parried whilst the second came directly from the resulting corner as the Boro players did their best Johnny Wilkinson impressions. Shame nothing else could be converted tonight. At least the fans were now up for this but ten minutes of late pressure failed to make up for the previous eighty of drudgery. The Notts County fans were also making noise, frustratingly whistling the end of the game. They ultimately got what they wanted as the referee blew the whistle to signal another famous Boro Cup upset. Boro's class did not show tonight, tactically they were poor and they were beaten by a team who played better on the night. End of story. If the Boro had played the whole match like they had the last ten minutes then tonight would have been comfortable. But all credit to County, they deserved their victory. The Boro meanwhile, blew it. FULL TIME FAN REACTION "This is the one competition where if you go out to win it then there was a real good chance you will. And we did THIS" KrisG SEND THIS TO A FRIEND COUNTY FANS WELCOME IN THE NEW HOLGATE MESSAGE BOARD BORO v NOTTS COUNTY MATCH PROGRAMME INDEX
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