Boro Mania

Middlesbrough were made to work for the 3 points at the Riverside by a hard working Stoke City.

Justin Hoyte was brought into the starting eleven as the only change from the side that started at Anfield, Andrew Taylor dropped to the bench meaning Emanuel Pogatetz moved to left back and David Wheater moved into his favoured cental position.

Boro had the first clear chance of the game on 11 minutes as a great cross from Gary O’Neil was met by the head of Afonso Alves, Alves headed the ball down into the ground but unfortunately just wide of the post.

Alves had another chance on 17 minutes following good work from Mohamed Shawky, Shawky robbed the Stoke defender of the ball but Afonso slipped and fell on the ball just as he was winding up for the strike. Shawky managed to keep the ball and got a shot on Thomas Sorenson’s goal but it was another chance wasted.

Stoke, after weathering a few early Boro chances, began to come into the game and Ross Turnbull was forced into a full stretch save from a Liam Lawrence strike. Crosses and long throws into the Boro box were causing the Middlesbrough defence all sorts of problems with Wheater and Huth having to make last ditch tackles.

The turning point of this game came on the 35th minute as Amdy Faye was shown a straight red for a two footed tackle on Mohamed Shawky. Replays showed Faye lunging at the ball with both feet off the ground in a reckless manner and in my opinion he can have no complaints about the red card. Whether or not he played the ball is irrelevant, the tackle was two footed, dangerous and a definite red card.

The resulting free kick was dispatched in fantastic fashion as Afonso Alves curled the ball round the outside of the wall and into the top corner to get him off the mark for the season.

Middlesbrough started the second half well and looked intent on putting the game to bed. First Stewart Downing got onto the end of an Aliadiere cross but saw his shot well blocked. Tuncay then had a great chance to make it two as Hoyte and Alves combined to give him a great chance, but the Turk’s shot was too high. Boro’s pressure looked to have told on the hour mark as Alves took a pass in the box, knocked it past Olofinjana who was adjudged to have brought him down for a Boro penalty. Stewart Downing stepped up to take it but saw his effort cannon back off the crossbar.

Then, against the run of play, the impressive Liam Lawrence whipped in a cross from the right. It travelled all the way to the back post where, under pressure from Dave Kitson, Justin Hoyte put the ball into his own net. On first view it looked like Hoyte was fouled by Kitson, on further viewing I feel it was a decision that could have gone either way and unfortunately for Justin Hoyte it went against the Boro new boy.

Middlesbrough tried to get back on top immediately and a low angled drive from Alves brought a good save out of Sorenson. Alves was then replaced by Mido, a move that surprised a number of Boro fans, me included! I have to admit at the time I felt Alves was playing really well and expected Tuncay to be the player to make way for Mido, good job i’m not the manager really! As it was the energetic Turk got the Boro winner, controlling a wayward shot from Didier Digard and finishing well. I think half of the Boro crowd were waiting for a linesman’s flag to go up and rule the goal out as he looked a good distance offside, on viewing the replay it was a great decision by the linesman as the Stoke fullback played Tuncay onside.

Boro laboured to a hard fought victory against newly promoted Stoke who were down to ten men for 2 thirds of the game, but it was testement to Gareth Southgate’s progress that Middlesbrough did come away with the points in this one as last season this would’ve been a game where we might have struggled and dropped points. Stoke played well and created a few chances but I feel it was Boro who had the quality play and deserved to win the game. The back line was put under pressure whenever Stoke had a set piece or a throw in but Wheater and Huth dealt with the threat for the most part.

All in all I think this was Boro’s poorest display of the season but they came away with the 3 points and that’s all that matters.

Player Ratings

Ross Turnbull - 6 - Wasn’t a lot he could do with the goal. Came under a lot of pressure from high balls and dealt with most of them. Good save from the Lawrence free kick.

Justin Hoyte - 6 - Not the best of debuts. Hoyte looked to be struggling when he scored the own goal and was due to be subbed for Taylor.

Emanuel Pogatetz - 7 - Defensively good but did not link the play with Downing as well as Taylor has been.

Robert Huth - 8 - Centre backs needed to be good today with the aerial bombardment they faced. Huth was solid, made some good interceptions and stood up to the physical play.

David Wheater - 8 - Much the same as Huth, made some very good blocks and stood up to the Stoke style of play.

Jeremie Aliadiere - 8 - Thought Ali was very good again. Had a superb solo run in the second half that took him into the box but he couldn’t finish it off.

Stewart Downing - 7 - Not his best game, seemed to fade a little after the penalty miss.

Gary O’Neil - 5 - I thought he gave the ball away far too cheaply today and didn’t stamp any authority on the game.

Mohamed Shawky - 6 - Did his defensive work but his use of the ball was not good enough. As a pair I’m not convinced on O’Neil and Shawky.

Afonso Alves - 8 - Should have at least one goal early on but his free kick was superb. Looked a lot sharper in the second half and was unlucky to come off.

Tuncay - 7 - Probabaly his worst game of the season but he got the winner, more to come from the Turkish international.

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