Horror show at the Riverside
By Shaun • Sep 19th, 2009 • Category: Featured ArticlesMiddlesbrough were humiliated by a far superior West Brom team today at the Riverside, going down 5-0 in the top of the table clash.
Going into the game on the back of two 3-1 wins this result is a bitter pill to swallow and brings Middlesbrough and the fans crashing back down to earth.
West Brom took the lead under controversial circumstances in the seventeen minute as it appeared Rhys Williams was fouled by Roman Bednar, the referee though thought otherwise and refused to award Boro the free kick. The Baggies broke and Williams gave a free-kick away in a dangerous position, letting his frustration at not being awarded the earlier free kick get the better of him. Former Boro youth team player Chris Brunt stepped up to take it and his left footed effort took a deflection off Julio Arca in the Boro wall and into the back of the Boro net.
For the next fifteen minutes or so Middlesbrough tried in vain to find a way back into the game but West Brom were causing a lot of problems down Boro's right hand side were Tony McMahon was given a rough ride all game. The second goal came on the half hour mark and it was that man Chris Brunt again, Danny Coyne raced to clear a ball but only succeeded in clearing it straight to Brunt. The classy winger chipped the ball back first time, over Coyne and into the net. An awful goal for Boro to concede but a lovely finish from Brunt.
It went from bad to worse just before half time as Youssef Mulumbu got on the end of a Dorrans cross and headed past Coyne, unchallenged in the area. A shocking, shocking half of football and things could only get better. Couldn't they?
The second half showed no urgency from Middlesbrough and they struggled to get the ball off West Brom who seemed content to see this game out. Didier Digard was brought into the fray and got stuck but there was no doubt where the 3 points were going today and who were the better team.
3 became 4 in the 81st minute as a poor defensive clearance fell to Roman Bednar who cooly finished into the bottom corner as the chorus of boos rang out around the Riverside stadium.
The humiliation was well and truly completed in the 89th minute when Jerome Thomas raced onto a long ball, out paced Tony McMahon and cooly slotted the ball past Coyne.
5-0 to West Brom.
Now, we can put this result down to a bad day at the office and hope that normal service is resumed against Coventry. Indeed, we probably will bounce back with a result against Coventry but that may just be a case of papering over the cracks. The problem is that we seem to have no trouble beating the average Championship sides, and looking good whilst we do, but maybe this has lead us to believe we are better than we actually are. Whenever we have played against one of the better sides in the division - Sheffield United, Bristol City, West Brom - we have struggled and it is clear that we are not the finished article a lot of fans have began to believe we are.
Shaun is A Boro fan and owner of BoroMania.com. Born and brought up in the North East. Favourite players are Juninho, Slaven and David Wheater.
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Not even sure what to say to be honest, went to the game today and it was absolutely appalling. Another “Cardiff moment”.
The players that went out there today need to take a long hard look at themselves.
All credit to WBA though, they were by far the better team and they will go up this season.