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MIDDLESBROUGH 1 FULHAM 0 - MATCH REPORT
Barclays Premier League, Saturday 9th February 2008, The Riverside Stadium
Andy Morgan
As expected, new signing Afonso Alves could only find a place on the bench for this crunch relegation six pointer at the Riverside. This is because waiting in a queue to collect a visa does not constitute a rigorous training regime.
With Mido's groin still troubling him, this meant that Dong Gook Lee partnered Jeremie Aliadiere up front.
In the four-man midfield Fabio Rochemback and Julio Arca were once again partnered in the middle, with Gary O'Neil and Stewart Downing on the right and left respectively.
Mark Schwarzer was in goal behind a defence that consisted of Luke Young, David Wheater, Robert Huth and Emmanuel Pogatetz.
Schwarzer, Young, Wheater, Huth, Pogatetz, O'Neil, Rochemback, Arca, Downing, Aliadiere (Boateng 76), Lee (Alves 56), Turnbull, Mido, Grounds
THE FIRST HALF
A mistake from Fulham's Paul Stalteri gifted Middlesbrough their first corner within the first minute. Goal machine David Wheater went up for it but it was flashed narrowly wide by last weekend's offside hero, Robert Huth.
It was all Boro in the opening stages, with Julio Arca's little touch flummoxing the Fulham defence in the second minute. Downing picked the ball up but his cross was not accurate and O'Neil couldn't connect with it.
Boro's initial pressure woke Fulham up and they had a sustained spell of domination. They couldn't do anything with it though and Middlesbrough broke through O'Neil. He passed to Downing who tried another cross but Dong Gook Lee's timidness cost the Boro. This allowed Stalteri to head back to Antii Niemi.
Boro won their second corner on eight after Downing beat Stalteri with his positive play. He crossed the ball in and Niemi had to parry behind. From the cross, Huth connected to the ball but he got his head under it rather than on it. This caused the ball to loop over the bar and into Doris' cup of PG.
On eleven Aliadiere had more luck. He was put through by Gary O'Neil and the flag stayed down. Aliadiere ran on to the ball and made no mistake, coolly slotting the ball between Niemi's legs to score the opener.
MIDDLESBROUGH 1 (Aliadiere, 11) FULHAM 0
O'Neil crossed into the box on sixteen but Fulham easily defended, largely because Lee refused to gamble with a run. The corner that came in was attacked by Huth but again his header went over the bar.
Fulham's first shot came on eighteen from Erik Nevland. It was comfortable for Schwarzer as all he had to do was watch it sail over the bar with all the threat of a floating kite (but not a floating kite in a lightning storm, obviously).
On nineteen another Downing cross was failed by Lee as he was scared he would clatter into Niemi. This allowed the keeper to comfortably gather and no blood was spilt.
On twenty-three Fulham were awarded their first corner of the game after a Paul Konchesky cross was needlessly headed behind by Pogatetz.
The ball dropped into the six yard box and Boro failed to clear. This allowed Danny Murphy a first-time shot and Schwarzer had to parry behind for another Fulham corner. This was cleared more comfortably by Boro.
On twenty-eight a mazy run by Aliadiere allowed him to get away from two or three Fulham defenders. His low-cut shot bobbled over the turf and Niemi comfortably gathered.
Fulham's best move came on thirty-two after some controlled build-up play allowed Simon Davies to have a right-footed shot on goal. It went just wide.
Fulham were having a good spell and forced the issue by winning another corner on thirty-four. This resulted in the away side being awarded a free-kick for O'Neil nibbling on Bullard. I'm sure he was tasty. He took the set-play but the Boro defended.
Dong Gook Lee's pace let him down on thirty-six after O'Neil set him free. Had it been Aliadiere, he may have latched on to it but in the end Leon Andreasen covered.
A minute later and a Downing cross that was whipped into the Fulham box was almost converted. Rochemback's follow-up was so wide it isn't worth mentioning.
Andreasen had a shot on forty-two but good defending thwarted him. Fulham were pressing in the closing stages of the half but as yet they were failing to be threaten seriously.
In stoppage time Aliadiere's pace almost paid dividends again. He came across Konchesky and launched a shot straight at Niemi. The power was there but the keeper comfortably gathered.
At the other end, Diomansy Kamara had a long-range shot that went high and wide. This was the last action of an even first half, although the Boro had created the better chances.
THE SECOND HALF
The visitors made one change at half-time, with Clint Dempsey coming on for Diomansy Camara. The Boro remained unchanged, with the much anticipated introduction of Alves being left until later.
In the opening seconds of the half, Arca's sliced volley into the path of Downing set the Boro winger up after he cut inside. The attempt was blocked and went out for a corner.
Boro nearly scored from the set play as Huth headed another attempt towards goal, this time from twelve yards out. Lee almost latched on to Niemi's parry but Fulham managed to clear before he had the chance to.
It was all Boro in the opening stages of the second half as Fulham looked flat-footed. On fifty-three Aliadiere had an opportunity to cross into the box but with many a-Boro man waiting, Aliadiere's ball was poor.
At the other end Dempsey attacked the Boro penalty area, inviting Arca into the foul. It was a dangerous position to concede a free kick but Konchesky's effort was easily saved by Schwarzer, despite the keeper initially going in the wrong direction to do it.
On fifty-six Huth had a free hit after he managed to connect to a Downing cross. The ball deflected to O'Neil whose shot across the floor did little to trouble Niemi.
And then the moment the home crowd had been waiting for finally came. Alves was greeted to a raptuous reception as he replaced Dong Gook Lee on fifty-six. Now we had a true goal scorer on the pitch.
Alves' first contribution was to be flagged offside two minutes after he came on. Fulham gave the ball back to the Boro though and Downing's cross into the box was headed behind by Konchesky after the England winner had tied Stalteri in knots once more.
Little came from the corner, despite the Boro exhibiting some neat football in the Fulham box. They came back through Julio Arca, who dissected the Fulham defence due to Downing's movement. Sadly the ball was too long and Fulham eventually won a free kick.
On sixty-two some further good possession play allowed Rochemback to have a shot from twenty-five yards. It was worth the effort but perhaps he should have passed to a free Luke Young instead.
A minute later Brian McBride came on for Erik Nevland as Roy Hodgson was clearly going for the much needed points.
On sixty-seven McBride chased down a long ball and in the process made a chance out of nothing. The ball went to Andreasen and his shot deflected off David Wheater and thankfully into Schwarzer's arms.
Fulham were having a lot of possession, the game being reminiscent of the last home match against Wigan. Neither side was really making clear cut chances though.
On seventy Niemi laid out Aliadiere after he bravely attacked a Luke Young cross. This sort of break was the only positive play the Boro were exhibiting at this stage. The change in tactics from 4-4-2 to 4-5-1 since the introduction of Alves wasn't working and the Boro were inviting Fulham to pressure them.
Fulham were getting a lot of space in midfield, which is odd considering the Boro had five in there. A corner was conceded by Young and from it, Schwarzer punched when he should have caught. This caused the ball to fall to Murphy and as Schwarzer hit the deck, his shot towards an open goal led to many hearts in mouths. Thankfully he missed. Doris spilt her tea.
Thirty seconds later Schwarzer managed to take the ball off the toe of Dempsey after he almost latched on to a dinked through ball.
On seventy-six Aliadiere was replaced by George Boateng. This showed Southgate's defensive 4-5-1 intent but the Frenchman was also suffering from cramp and thus needed to be replaced. It was still handing initiative to Fulham though, and Alves being asked to play as a lone striker on his debut was a big ask.
And so Fulham came back at the Boro again. On seventy-nine a throw-in in line with the eighteen yard box fell to Murphy who stole in front of Boateng and hit his shot on the volley. It flashed wide.
On eighty Downing provided some relief by running at Stalteri once more and winning a corner in the process. Little came from this and Fulham got another break. This time, Schwarzer was forced to run off his line and head the ball clear.
Three minutes later Alves won a corner after standing firm against the Fulham defence whilst just within the area. Nothing came from the set play.
On eighty-five Downing's strong switch-play from left to right gave O'Neil possession and he shot across the goal when perhaps he should have tried to play in Alves or Arca.
The Boro had found their dare and do, having some good possession play deep into Fulham territory. However, for all the intricacies, the Boro had little cutting edge and move after move broke down.
Fulham had a couple of crosses into the Boro box going into stoppage time but it was like picking mangos out of mangroves for Schwarzer. This didn't deter Fulham though, who kept plugging away at Boro's solid backline. But it was to no avail as the final whistle finally blew.
The problem in the second half was Boro's depth. By introducing Alves as the lone striker, this allowed Fulham more possession and they almost made us pay for it.
Added to this, was that Boro became deeper and deeper as the half wore on as all confidence seemed to evaporate from the side. It was very much like the second half performance against Wigan, with thankfully, the same end result.
Alves did very little when he came on but it was a big ask for him to play up front alone. Meanwhile the Boro march on and with seven points gained from the last three crucial games, relegation should now be a distant spectre.
Man of the Match: Stewart Downing. He badgered Stalteri all day with his intricate dancing, which continually broke Fulham down. This break-dancing warranted today's Man of the Match award as most of Boro's positive play came through him. Let's just hope Chris Foy doesn't send off the dancing badger next week...
FAN REACTION
"Are we safe?"
Deeno
"Yey!"
Lill
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