Smash and grab raid at the JJB
By Shaun • Oct 4th, 2008 • Category: Match NewsAlready a few times this season we have sat and reflected on a Premiership match where we have played very well, been by far the better team and come away with nothing. It is refreshing then that Boro leave the JJB with all 3 points having been under pressure for a large majority of the game. It was the definition of a smash and grab raid and it feels good 
In all fairness Wigan had dominated this game but some very solid defending from Boro’s back four coupled with another excellent performance from Ross Turnbull kept them at bay. As expected Wheater and Riggott were up against a very physical front two of Heskey and Zaki, and though Heskey won the majority of aerial balls outside the box Boro coped well with the second balls. Both Riggott and Wheater were excellent when it came to defending crosses inside their own box and we saw an improved display from Justin Hoyte.
The impressive Wilson Palacios threatened for Wigan in the ninth minute when he burst past Jon Grounds to reach a Heskey flick before driving a low shot wide from a tight angle. Amr Zaki was a constant threat in the first half and tried his luck with a long-range effort that whistled over in the 27th minute.
Middlesbrough struggled to hold onto the ball and string any sort of attacking momentum in the first half. Our only real chance came on the half hour when David Wheater met Mido’s long ball, but he could only guide his header wide of the post.
Zaki went close in the 42nd minute when he struck a right-foot shot from the edge of the box that Ross Turnbull tipped around a post, Boro going in at half time pleased to be level.
Boro started the second half better and retained the ball a little better but again it was Wigan who looked the more dangerous side. Substitute Jason Koumas almost capped a brilliant weaving run with a goal but his shot was well saved by Turnbull. They went close again through Heskey and Camara but Turnbull held strong, making brave point blank saves.
Then, just when it looked like Boro were going to hold on for a hard earned point, Digard fired a ball up towards Downing, Stewy headed the ball down well for Jeremie Aliadiere and the Frenchman finished very well with his left foot to finally register an away win for Middlesbrough in the Premier League.
A win we probably didn’t deserve but a win we really needed.
Player Ratings
Ross Turnbull - 9 - Excellent again today, never put a foot wrong and made some very good saves. Probably wasn’t tested as much as he may have been expecting but he made some important saves in the second half to keep us level, was my Man of the Match today.
Jonathan Grounds - 7 - Thrown in at the deep end following injuries and coped well. Struggled a little early on but he grew into the game and played well.
Justin Hoyte - 7 - Thought it was one of his better displays in a Boro shirt defensively today. Still needs to settle down and take his time a bit more on the ball but it was an encouraging display.
Chris Riggott - 8 - Riggott was excellent at the back, I said in the preview that we would need a solid performance from him and we got just that. Made some excellent defensive headers in our box.
David Wheater - 8 - Hasn’t been at his best this season but today he was getting back to the Wheater of last season. Had a very tough battle with Heskey and coped very well.
Jeremie Aliadiere - 7 - For was largely ineffectual for most of the game, tried to threaten with his pace a couple of times. Took his goal very well though, well done Ali.
Stewart Downing - 6 - Struggling to find his form at the moment, hopefully this result will start a turn in form and fortunes for him. Good little headed knock down for the goal.
Gary O’Neil - 6 - Worked very hard for the team but I would still like to see his use of the ball improve.
Mohamed Shawky - 6 - Put himself about and got crunched in a couple of tackles by Cattermole and Zaki.
Mido - 7 - Mido worked very hard today and was all over the pitch, sometimes you would prefer him to just stay up front instead of working back to his own box but he showed a lot of commitment to the cause today.
Afonso Alves - 5 - Woefully short of confidence and form at the minute, though he was starved of service again. Just needs a goal to get him going I feel.
Didier Digard - 6 - Came on for Shawky and did ok, I think he is still a little off the pace of the English game but he added a little more to our midfield when he came on.
Adam Johnson - 7 - Was very positive when he came on and can’t be very far away from a start.
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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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Get in there!!! Glad i was proved wrong.
We didn’t deserve the win but i’ll take them all day. Turnbull, Wheats and Riggott were superb, fair play to Riggott who i haven’t rated too highly in the past he never put a foot wrong today.
Great result, i was starting to worry that we were gonna get stuck in a really bad run of results.
I still think our midfield is the reason Alves is not firing, there is nothing linking our midfield to our attack. We need a creative midfielder in January as we did all summer. I think the defence and attack will be fine but the midfield needs sorting out big time.
BORING BORING BORO. THE MOST BORING FUCKING SET OF WANKERS IVE EVER SEEN. YOUR FANS ARE FUCKING PRICKS. “ALVES IS NOT FIRING” THATS COS HES WANK. NO WONDER YOUVE STAYED IN THE PREM, BORING FUCKING POINTS HERE AND THERE WITH BENT NOSED FUCKING SOUTHGATE. YOUR TOWN IS A SHITHOLE, A FUCKING SHIT TIP. EVERYTHING ABOUT YOUR CLUB IS SHIT. YOUR KIT, YOUR SPONSOR, YOUR GROUND, YOUR SMACKHEAD FANS, YOUR BOTTLER MANAGER AND YOUR BORING FUCKING TEAM. YOUR FANS ARE DIRTY DOLE SMACK RATS. AH WELL. AT LEAST I DONT HAVE TO WATCH YOUR BORING FUCKING DEFENSIVE LONG BALL WEEK IN WEEK OUT. YOU BORING GEORDIE FUCKING GEORDIE FUCKING GEORDIE LOUDMOUTHED, STUPID ACCENTED WANKERS. FUCK OFFFFFF
john u sound like the intellegent type. as big and tough as you sound id just like to say go fuck yourself. i genuinely think you could be the biggest willy i have never met. any chance your a wigan fan sweetheart? stick to rugby son, u obviously know very little about football. call me a geordie again and i will hunt you down, tie you up and make you watch aliadiere break your fickle heart again and again. you sir are a prime example of a wanker! oh and . . . . . 1-0!
now to every1 on this site that isnt a total pee narse id ike to say thank god. maybe we didnt deserve a win today but we certainly deserve 3points from the last few games and where or how we get them is irrelevant. UP THE BORO!!!
and john before i leave….fuck you
Dont give him the satisfaction of a reply he is clearly after some attention probably NEVER been to boro?
Anyway onto the Boro it was a smash and grab and yes it feels good as 3 games this season we have OUTPLAYED teams and come away with nothing we played well in spells and had our chances?.
Alves was poor really needs a goal ?but no service to him isn’t helping Downing was awfull u have to give respect to the back 5 as they all played well and needed to aswell as Zaki /Hesky are a real handfull Well done Ross awsome game today he really is looking better with every game.
Its crazy that is our 1st win in 2008 we need to respect Gareths team plans and at times it might not be pritty to watch bet effective and at the end of the day if it gets us 3 points im all for it how about you?. Thank you boro made my weekend UP THE BORO!!!
Ha ha ReDnWhItEaRmY is right, don’t give this moron the satisfaction of a reply. I considered deleting the comment but i thought i’d leave it up as a shining beacon of the moronic fans that follow all teams. Oh and try to find the caps lock next time.
Wigan didin’t deserve to lose but neither did we against WBA or the Mackems, thats football though and i’m happy to take all three points. That was the worst we have played this season by far and we came away with the points, we have played some brilliant passing football in other games and got nothing so I think Southgate got it right by sacrificing a bit of attacking intent and defending well.
1-0, away win, it’s been a good weekend
Haha, what an absolute douche!! Gave me a giggle though.
He’s only the second wanker we’ve had comment so far, so thats a plus sign.
Saw the highlights on MOTD luckily and i must say its not the Boro i’ve been watching all season.
We need to compliment Digard with someone with a bit of flair and creativity… Arca might fit the bill perhaps but he’s crocked. Shawky and O’Neil don’t play to eachother’s strengths and the same can be said for him and Digard partnered. I’m not sure whats up with O’Neil though, he had an ok game but he doesnt seem to be playing as good as he can.
I’d like to see Josh Walker for a bit, maybe off the bench… he seems plenty agile and looks like he might add a bit of speed to the centre of midfield.
I would take a boring 1-0 win everytime if it meant we won games not pritty to watch but efficient?.
Remember Arsenal a while back didnt they win the League winning boring 1-0’s?
I think thats the way to play away from home? keep it tight but home games we have to try to keep the fans happy so a more att side.?
Digard was unlucky not to score as he came on but it was verry nice to get the LATE WINNING goal for a change i feel for Wigan as they outplayed us for most of the game but as most say on here we have had some bad luck of late and that evens it out a little a nice 1-0 win @home to Chelsea would be nice :)) COME ON BORO!!!
Good site aswell btw Shaun m8 keep up the good work
Thanks ReDnWhItEaRmY, appreciate the feedback