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BLACKBURN ROVERS 1 MIDDLESBROUGH 1 - MATCH REPORT
Barclays Premier League, Saturday 19th January 2008, Ewood Park
Elizabeth Medhurst
Gareth Southgate announced two changes to the side that drew with Liverpool.
Pogatetz returned from injury having seen an impressive debut in youngster Jonathon Grounds, his replacement last week.
Arca also returned meaning that Rochemback started on the bench. His return also brought the captain's armband, even though Boateng was also named in the starting line up.
Tuncay and Aliadiere once again partnered at the front and the 4-4-2 formation looked promising.
Schwarzer, Young, Wheater, Huth, Pogatetz, O'Neill, Boateng, Arca (Rochemback 45), Downing, Tuncay, Aliadiere, Turnbull, Riggott, Johnson, Lee
THE FIRST HALF
With Boro still only one point clear of the relegation zone it was vital to continue the fighting, hard working form shown so far this year. From the off there was a quiet confidence surrounding the visitors, even when Blackburn came out of the traps at great speed. Their first shot came to nothing and the home side showed little substance to match their exuberance.
As the first few minutes passed, and Boro warmed up it was clear they that meant to control this half. This was achieved successfully, and decisively cemented on thirteen. With Boro awarded a free kick on the right, Downing arched it beautifully with his left foot towards the penalty area. Huth stayed back with Aliadiere and Tuncay, but it was Wheater, positioned on the end on the 6 yard box, who rose to head wonderfully home past the helpless Friedel.
BLACKBURN ROVERS 0 MIDDLESBROUGH 1 (Wheater 13)
And with the deadlock broken Blackburn were unable to capitalise on home advantage. They displayed labouring play, making little impact and could not find a break from any part of the pitch. By this stage it seemed that even Mark Hughes was bowing to a feeling of inevitability as his hunched figure on the touchline gave away his feelings.
As the half progressed, the Boro defence kept out any Blackburn advances, Huth and Wheater shining in particular. The Young/O'Neill partnership was also clearly flourishing and developing. By thirty minutes Boro were absolutely top dogs, and as Blackburn tried to find the net they were either expertly blocked or saved, or, as in the case of a twenty-five yard shot from Dunn, went sailing over the bar. A Blackburn corner saw an impressive overhead kick Samba - impressive that is until it completely missed.
It seemed that luck was also on Boro's side to begin with as after a break was gifted by Downing neither Santa Cruz nor Pedersen was able to do anything at all with it. Five minutes from the end of the half the home side were completely dead in the water and Boro had shown themselves to be playing as a unit, controlled in defence and battling hard. A flurry of last minute action saw chances at both ends, with a magnificent run from Tuncay answered with a vicious strike from Bentley. Overall though it was Boro who were streets ahead at this stage. What was lacking in clinical finishing was made up for in action and desire - concentration would be the watchword for the second half to retain the advantage..
THE SECOND HALF
As the teams emerged from the dressing room it was Arca who headed for the bench. He had picked up a dead leg in the first half as well as having had the misfortune to have his stomach accidentally stamped on by Huth. Rochemback came on in his place and the captain's armband was passed to Pogatetz.
On forty nine Boateng received the first booking for a foul on Dunn - ref Keith Stroud showing slightly less leniency than in the first half. Following this the match then delivered chance after chance for the visitors to nail the scoreline down firmly.
Aliadiere chipped across the goal mouth from a break created by Rocky - O'Neill lamenting why it wasn't passed to him for a tap in. After that it was Tuncay who missed a sitter - this time the ball in was a beauty from Aliadiere trying to atone for his earlier omission. He expertly picked out Tuncay who looked like he literally took his off the ball and got his feet missed up. Boro remained one goal up but it should have been three - these were pure missed opportunities.
As if that wasn't enough, Rochemback then made a great powerful move straight at Friedel which was returned to O'Neil who just could not get enough power to get it back. This was worrying as this game was still there for losing and Boro needed to be putting more distance between themselves and Blackburn.
Blackburn took their opportunity to make the most of the reprieve. After two changes were made they started to have a burst of life and there was much lively action from both sides now.
There was action on the touchline too. Southgate complained about a challenge that left Aliadiere on the pitch and Hughes responded by rolling the ball towards the striker. As the two managers squared up to each other they had to be separated by fourth official Mike Riley.
At the seventy minute mark the pressure was mounting and prayers were being sent to any passing deity not to punish Boro for the missed opportunities. Probably not many were listening as the next incident of note was when an uncleared corner kick was sent back by O'Neil and Wheater then beat everyone apart from the net as the ball came off the bar.
To make matters worse the action then returned to the other end when a bad mis-hit by Roberts skimmed across the goal to find Derbyshire - a whisker away from offside in a dangerous area and the scoreline was level.
BLACKBURN ROVERS 1 (Derbyshire 75) MIDDLESBROUGH 1
As the match moved into the red zone Boro were put to the test. Trying to get noses in front, left some gaps which Blackburn tried to exploit. Both teams were now equal in hope and energy - so bitterly disappointing after the missed chances and earlier dominance.
And these chances just kept coming. A further Young/Tuncay/Aliadiere pattern again could not be tapped in. After further end to end argy-bargy an unchallenged Tuncay got the break, but this collapsed as soon as there was a realisation that this was only leading to offside.
With three minutes of added time everyone was on the edge of their seats as it was still anyone's game - Blackburn had continued to try to surge forward and the solid Boro defence kept denying them. This result would be in doubt until the very end. And right on the dying moments unbelievably Aliadiere headed over the bar from the six yard box - an incredible miss from a Rochemback free kick to keep up the continued denial of the well-deserved three points.
This was one of the best performances this season and it was heartbreaking to think that for the second week in a row Boro had deserved three points and had to settle for one. Although considering a point and performance like this would have been manna from heaven in the autumn the disappointment was a lot easier to bear.
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