Boro Mania

Middlesbrough 0 – 0 Newcastle United

Electric atmosphere and atrocious weather – it must be derby day on Teesside!

Boro went in to the Tyne-Tees derby today without Gary O’Neil, who had picked up an injury. His replacement Julio Arca made a welcome return to the starting line-up, and Boro were also boosted by the return to fitness of Mido. The Egyptian had to make do with a spot on the bench as Gareth Southgate kept faith with record-signing Afonso Alves up front.

Newcastle’s team-sheet had included a familiar name on the bench - the stage was ominously set for Mark Viduka to return to haunt his old club.

There was a lively start to the game, with Boro setting off on the offensive. Arca knows all about North East derbies and he didn’t wait long before making his mark with a strong challenge on Jonas Guttierez. Boro’s Argentine playmaker then showed the more cultured side of his game playing a fine through-ball for Downing, although the chance was snuffed out by Fabricio Collocini.

Newcastle were trying to hit Boro on the break, but didn’t really pose any sort of threat early on.

Boro carried on pressing, but struggled to create any clear cut chances. An Aliadiere cross came to nothing after good play from Tuncay. The Turk had started the game brightly and looked like he was going to be Boro’s biggest threat.

The game soon settled down and while there were spells of patient built up, there was precious little action in either final third.

Alves was muscled out of contention on the couple of occasions he was involved and the closest Boro came in the first half was a curling right-footed effort from Arca.

Obafemi Martins looked a threat for Newcastle, and only a clumsy challenge from David Wheater prevented him from going clean through mid-way through the first half.

With half-time approaching Alves had his best chance of the afternoon, but headed over from Stewart Downing’s cross.

Despite remaining goalless neither manager made changes at the break and the game continued in a similar fashion after the restart.

Danny Guthrie wasted a chance for Newcastle before Alves had a decent effort deflected wide for a corner. The Brazilian was clearly frustrated, but the home crowd would have been encouraged by the desire he was starting to show.

Boro pressed for most of the second half and as the game went on we started to create more chances.

A threatening cross from Downing had Jose Enrique scrambling in the Newcastle box, but the Newcastle full-back managed to clear in the end.

Alves was becoming an increasing threat, getting the ball in to his feet and running in from the channels. On the hour mark, Didier Digard played Alves in and he forced a good block from Habib Beye. The resulting corner was whipped in dangerously by Downing, but cleared.

At the other end, Martins was still Newcastle’s biggest threat and his long range effort was deflected agonisingly wide with Ross Turnbull scrambling.

Boro responded in kind, with a good break from Downing down the left. It looked like Tuncay might score but he failed to connect with the winger’s ball in.

Joe Kinnear decided to make a change after 65 minutes, and the chorus of boos confirmed that Mark Viduka was the man coming on. On the plus side Martins, who had been Newcastle’s best player, was taken off. The Nigerian forward was clearly not impressed and sulked straight down the tunnel.

The game was a bit more open now and Alves had a great chance after ghosting past Collocini. Unfortunately he blazed the ball over the bar.

Viduka didn’t take long to get involved and some indecisive defending gave him his chance. Emanuel Pogatetz recovered well to block his shot.

Newcastle’s brief spell in the ascendancy soon passed, and Boro redoubled their efforts to win the game.

Alves again was involved, winning a corner which Downing then wasted. Andrew Taylor had a long-range effort blocked, which led to a scramble in the box and a great chance that Justin Hoyte couldn’t convert.

Downing gave the game one outstanding moment of class, playing a gorgeous ball in from deep with the outside of his left foot. Tuncay and Alves got in each-other’s way and wasted the chance.

Gareth Southgate signalled his intent by bringing Mido on for the last 15 minutes, with Aliadiere making way.

Mido’s biggest involvement was to scuff a free-kick straight in to the wall from a promising position, after great interplay between Tuncay and Alves. Alves was upset for insisting on taking it, although he wasted a similar opportunity a few minutes later.

Alves’ performance was an improvement on recent displays and he had a goal ruled out in the 82nd minute for an offside in the build up. It was a well taken finish from outside the area, and Alves will have been gutted to see the flag up.

It’s rare for Alves to last 90 minutes and he showed a good appetite, chasing every ball, lost cause or not.

Newcastle could have nicked the 3 points late on, with chances falling to Charles N’Zogbia and Mark Viduka. Fortunately for Boro, N’Zogbia made a mess of his opportunity and Turnbull saved Viduka’s effort.

This wasn’t a great spectacle of football and one point each was probably just about fair.

Middlesbrough Player ratings

Ross Turnbull – 7 – Not involved for long periods, but did everything asked of him.

Justin Hoyte – 7 – Solid defensively and looked to get forward as always. Had our best chance.

Emanuel Pogatetz – 6 – Solid performance, good block late on against Viduka.

David Wheater – 6 – Clumsy challenge on Martins early on, but recovered to put in a solid day’s work.

Andrew Taylor – 6 – Got forward well but gave the ball away a couple of times.

Jeremie Aliadiere – 5 – Looked good running with the ball, but absolutely no end product. Rightly subbed.

Didier Digard – 6 – A workmanlike performance and some attractive passing. Still not quite up to the pace of the Premiership yet, but plenty of promise.

Julio Arca – 6 – Ran the midfield early on but faded a bit in the second half. Lacking match fitness.

Stewart Downing – 7 – Played one sumptuous through-ball which Alves and Tuncay didn’t take advantage of. Crossing was dangerous as always.

Afonso Alves – 6 – This was a better performance from Alves. He showed good desire and running, and his disallowed ‘goal’ was well taken. He just needs a goal.

Tuncay Sanli – 6 – Was excellent in patches but faded out of the game in the second half.

Sub

Mido (for Aliadiere, 77) – 5 – Wasted a good chance from a free-kick and didn’t have time to do much else.