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BRISTOL CITY 1 MIDDLESBROUGH 2
FA Cup Third Round, Saturday 5th January 2008, Ashton Gate
Andy Morgan
There were two major surprises going into the game at Ashton Gate: Dong Gook Lee on the bench and the adoption of a 4-5-1 formation against a Championship outfit. This resulted in Ben Hutchinson leading the line alone in what was surely a perfect game for the Korean to build up his confidence.
The 4-5-1 formation meant that the Boro fielded Lee Cattermole, Fabio Rochemback and Julio Arca in the centre of midfield although Cattermole sat at the attacking apex of a diamond. George Boateng was dropped admist rumours of his Middlesbrough future. Adam Johnson and Stewart Downing started on their respective wings.
Mark Schwarzer took his usual place in goal with Robert Huth partnering David Wheater in the heart of defence after Jonathan Woodgate failed a late fitness test. Luke Young and Emmanuel Pogatetz completed the Boro line up.
Schwarzer, Young, Wheater, Huth, Pogatetz, Johnson (Tuncay 62), Cattermole, Rochemback, Arca, Downing, Hutchinson (Lee 76), Turnbull, Owens, Grounds
THE FIRST HALF
Bristol City sensed an upset going into this game and in the opening stages rattled the Boro enough for Lee Cattermole to be almost sent off for a sliding tackle on Jamie McAllister. Thankfully the referee rewarded the youngster with just a booking.
Middlesbrough were being frequently caught in possession by a snarling City side but it was Boro's Ben Hutchinson who had the first shot in anger - a twenty yard effort that was blocked by Liam Fontane.
The home side's first attempt at goal came on seven through a Bradley Orr cross that was comfortably gathered by Boro's solid custodian, Mark Schwarzer.
On nine Ben Hutchinson found himself on the left wing and cut in to skip past Orr. His shot at goal was wild but the ball was deflected behind by Tamas Vasko for a corner.
Brian Wilson deflected this corner behind and Downing's cross from the second corner was headed out for a throw-in by Fontaine.
The Boro broke again, in a move that culminated in a Wheater shot from twelve yards that just flashed beyond the left hand post.
City's first piece of positive play came in the fourteenth minute and it resulted in their first corner of the game. Nothing came from this.
On sixteen the Boro narrowly escaped when three covering defenders protected Schwarzer from a dangerous City attack. There was no such luck for Boro a minute later though as hard work from the City training ground paid off from a set-piece that was conceded through a Robert Huth foul on David Noble.
Jamie McAllister fed the ball into the Boro penalty area and Tamas Vasko rose up to head the ball into the path of Liam Fontaine. He made no mistake from six yards out to score his first ever goal at Ashton Gate. It was City's first shot on target in the game. The Boro were yet to have one.
BRISTOL CITY 1 (Fontaine, 18) MIDDLESBROUGH 0
In response Arca had a shot from six yards after City failed to close him down. His shot went harmlessly into the crowd.
On twenty-one, Boro had the opportunity to mirror City's feat with a free-kick of their own but Huth's effort sailed harmlessly into the hands of Bristol keeper Adriano Basso. It was disappointing as no one could find their way on to it.
On twenty-six Arca tried to thread Hutchinson with a through-ball but Vasko was acute in reading the pass and stepped in to deal with the danger for City.
On the half hour Hutchinson had a shot that was blocked by the home defence. A minute later, it was City's turn through Marvin Elliott, who had his twenty-five yard effort cleared by Robert Huth.
The Boro were applying pressure without really knowing what to do with it. On thirty-two Johnson's cross deflected comfortably in Basso's arms. It threatened to be one of those days.
Downing nutmegged Orr on thirty-five before crossing the ball into Hutchinson. His left-footed shot from twelve yards went disappointingly wide. It was a testiment to the youngster's lack of experience.
The next passage of Boro's play, however, was far from disappointing. Downing, Boro's main threat all game, picked the ball up in midfield and ghosted towards the City box. He took a shot from twenty yards that squirmed its way under Basso, much to the delight of the travelling fans. From nowhere, the Boro were back in the game.
BRISTOL CITY 1 MIDDLESBROUGH 1 (Downing, 37)
On thirty-nine Hutchinson decided to test Basso again from a similar distance. Thinking that the City keeper may be windy, he was sorry to discover that he got behind his shot and comfortably caught the ball.
On forty-one the home side had some pressure but could do very little with it, with Schwarzer eventually collecting with clean hands.
Towards the half time whistle, Robert Huth had a long range effort from a free-kick that flashed narrowly wide of the left hand post.
As the half headed into its dying throws, you couldn't help think that tactics were the winners so far. The Boro may have had a few more shots than City but both sides were cancelling each other out and 1-1 was a fair score thus far.
THE SECOND HALF
Middlesbrough had the first shot in anger in the second half, some two minutes in. Pogatetz rose highest to the ball some eighteen yards out but Basso comfortably caught his header.
At this stage, the ball was being treat like a hot potato - or indeed like chips in an Everton chip shop - as both sides wanted to get rid of it as quickly as possible.
City came forward on forty-nine but could do nothing with it. Boro broke from this and Cattermole shot from thirty yards. It was blocked by Marvin Elliott but the ball fell to Rochemback who also hit it, this time from slightly closer. His shot sailed narrowly over the bar.
City broke after this and only a last ditch slide from Huth saved the day. From the resultant throw-in, Schwarzer caught comfortably.
Downing and Johnson were playing off each other well, and from either wing. Downing had a shot on fifty-one that went wide, much to the jeers of the home faithful.
Tactically, both sides were going for the win as the Bristol City and Boro benches were urging their respective defences to push up. A replay would have done little favours for either side, albeit for entirely different reasons.
On fifty-three Johnson had more jinkies than the average episode of Scooby Doo. He darted into the box and passed to Cattermole but the youngster's shot was woeful and another chance went begging.
Strong hold-up play from Darren Byfield earned his side a free-kick after he tricked Lee Cattermole into committing the foul. Lee Johnson tried to catch Schwarzer out on his left hand post but the pace of the ball was lacking and the Aussie comfortably saved.
On fifty-nine Bristol made two tactical substitutions: Enoch Showunmi for Darren Byfield and Lee Trundle for David Noble. This showed Bristol's more attacking intent. They clearly thought the game was there to be won.
On the hour mark the home side should have scored. A low shot from Ivan Sproule from eighteen yards was parried by Mark Schwarzer. Before the Boro defence had time to react, Enoch Showunmi struck an effort from twelve yards out. This was desperately blocked by Huth but blocked it was. The Boro had escaped.
A minute later Johnson had another long-range shot that Basso comfortably saved.
On sixty-two Southgate also played one of his substitutional hands. He clearly believed the Boro could win the game too as Tuncay was brought on for Adam Johnson. Yet instead of adopting a 4-4-2 formation, the Turk played in the right-midfield berth of the previously used 4-5-1 system.
A cross by Sproule on sixty-six was dealt with by Rochemback, who conceded a corner. McAllister's ball was cleared far post by Huth.
A good move on seventy-two played dividends for the Boro. Some patient build-up by Young set Cattermole free in the box. He crossed to Wheater who made no mistake from twelve yards, despite starting the move from the centre of defence himself. The Boro were in the lead.
BRISTOL CITY 1 MIDDLESBROUGH 2 (Wheater, 72)
On seventy-five a Downing cross almost found the head of Tuncay before a last-gasp clearance from McAllister. Nothing came from the resultant corner, it being cleared by goalscorer Fontaine.
A minute later Hutchinson was replaced by Dong Gook Lee. The youngster had caused City no end of problems throughout the game although his shooting was as erratic as you would expect from someone so young and inexperienced. Still, one for the future no doubt.
After this Julio Arca had a shot that was blocked by Fontaine.
On seventy-nine a strong City cross from Sproule almost found Showunmi whose diving header almost connected with the ball. It was a let-off for the Boro but City were still coming at the visitors, despite Middlesbrough controlling vast swathes of the game.
A good run from Tuncay was thwarted by Fontaine, saving the home side's blushes a few minutes later.
On eighty-two Lee's trickery on the edge of the area allowed him to have a shot but it went high and wide.
Elliot had a shot on eight-five after some good work from Fontaine. It was deflected but the home side were desperate to equalise and were applying some good pressure at this stage.
Downing's twisting and turning flummoxed McAllister after Rochemback had provided him with a forty yard ball. A corner was conceded from which Downing darted into the box in an attempt to connect with the ball. He missed. Tuncay then ducked into the box and had a shot that narrowly went over the bar.
Today, Boro's passing was exemplary. That was the difference between the two sides as Middlesbrough's midfield controlled the game.
Our problems in attack, however, are still evident and we must get a new striker in before the end of the month. If we had another striker, this game, like so many others before, would have been won comfortably rather than won desperately.
Still the Boro have negotiated themselves away from a tricky away tie and are in the hat for the fourth round. That is all that really matters.
Man of the Match: Fabio Rochemback. Lively, incisive and little of his usual profligacy, the Brazilian gave a masterclass in possession football and set up many promising moves.
POST MATCH REACTION
"Phew"
Nikki_Sixx
"Third third round replay in a row would have done no good for my nerves"
LillibetM
"Great result. Boro is Brizzle's bogey team"
Westham
By Bettingzone.co.uk
Used with permission.
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