Martin Rescues Bristol Blunder

Middlesbrough  1       Bristol City  1

         Martin  56                                            Ephraim  13

Just over 15,000 at the Riverside reflected Middlesbrough’s championship status and the prospect of welcoming Bristol City rather than thrill of premier league opposition. However a hard earned point at highflyers West Ham in mid-week left fans optimistic for the visit of struggling Bristol who found themselves just three points above the relegation zone.

Boro left out top scorer Marvin Emnes from the starting line-up, after Bart Ogbeche’s stunning strike on Tuesday gave the Nigerian his first start January. While Merouane Zemmama also made the team sheet, after a long absence with injury.

The visitors made the brighter start, when John Stead’s clever lay off found Stephen Pearson who took too much time in the area wasting his early chance, when his shot was finally blocked by Seb Hines inside two minutes.

But Bristol continued to threaten, as they took a shock lead ten minutes later. When a lapse in concentration from Boro allowed Stead to play in Hogan Ephraim, whose neat finish silenced the home fans in disbelief.

Despite their efforts the hosts failed to test City keeper Dean Gerken. With Lukas Jutkiewicz’s long range effort the closest to levelling the score, but the striker’s shot was always rising, while frustration grew.

As the match went on Boro never really took control in midfield, while the game cried out for a moment of quality to unlock the Bristol defence. But City could have inflicted yet more pain to Tony Mowbray’s side, when Pearson was again found in space, only for him to blaze his shot over from twelve yards.   

Martin's second goal against Bristol City this session

A bold decision from Mowbray at half time saw Nicky Bailey withdrawn from the scene, to be replaced by Frenchman Malaury Martin, in an inspired move.

First Jason Steele had to keep out Stead’s powerful effort. But a flat riverside crowd was finally lifted off their seats ten minutes after the restart in a moment of magic. When substitute Martin out of nothing, unleashed an unstoppable effort from the edge of the area which flew into to the top left corner past Gerkin.

That goal turned the game, as the hosts immediately moved on to the front foot. Ogbeche was agonisingly denied by Gerkin from point blank range, after he looked to have scored. But Boro’s hopes were increased even more when Ryan McGivern brought down Jutkiewicz, and the left back on loan from Manchester City was shown a straight red fifteen minutes from time.

The re-energised crowd now speared on their side, but despite the man advantage City still could have stolen it when Albert Adomah beat Joe Bennett only for Steele to make a vital stop in the dying minutes.

But Boro will feel hard done by at the final whistle; when Adam Hammill’s strong penalty appeals were turned down by referee Colin Webster after maybe feeling unjust for his early decision of the red card. The result moves Boro up to fifth in the table with eight games to go and a trip to Ipswich on Tuesday.

Match Ratings

Steele   7- Important saves late on, left defenceless against goal

Bennett   5.5- Looked troubled by Adomah and a few sloppy passes

Hines   6.5- Important block early on fairly solid at the back

Bates   (C) 6- Maybe at fault for the goal but gave 100% as always

Hoyte   6- Pace looked a threat and had space, but rarely found on the wing

Thompson   6- Struggled in first half but improved after half time  

Bailey   5.5-Replaced at half time tough to get hold of the game

Hammill   5- Crossing and decision making could have been better

Zemmama   5.5- First start since recovering from injury quite a quiet afternoon  

Jutkiewicz   6- Improved in second half fouled for the sending off

Ogbeche   6.5- Worked hard looked biggest threat in first half

Subs

Martin  7- Brought energy to crowd and team with stunning goal

Emnes   5- Came on late never really got a chance 

McMahon  5- Replaced Hoyte late on a few sloppy passes

Sunderland Salvage Cup Replay

Everton    1     Sunderland    1

                                Cahill 24                    Bardsley 11

Martin O’Neil said “a strength of character” would decide Sunderland’s FA cup quarter final with Everton and his side showed just that after they dug deep to earn a hard fought replay away at Goodison Park. 

Everton made six changes from their mid week humiliation to local rivals Liverpool, which largely overshadowed manager David Moyes’s ten year anniversary at the club. However the toffees have enjoyed recent success at their home ground, and created the first real chance when Seamus Coleman’s cross found Leon Osman whose header crept over the bar.

Both manager still have a chance of winning their first FA cup

But in was the visitors who landed the first punch in emphatic style when a quick free kick caught Everton asleep for Phil Bardsley to fire a long range shot into bottom left hand corner to open the scoring on twelve minutes.

With the support of 6,000 away fans O’Neil’s side looked to build on their early lead, giving Everton little space and time on the ball. However Moyes’s ten year reign over the Merseyside club has seen no silverware to remember and his side looked hungry for success before drawing level just ten minutes later.

Leighton Baines finally found space on the left hand side, when his cross was met by Nikica Jelavic for Tim Cahill to head the ball goal bound wrong footing Sunderland keeper Simon Mignolet. Resulting in the Australian international’s first goal since January.

The hosts then looked the superior team, after they clawed their way back into an exciting cup tie and could have taken the lead before half time. Cahill again found space forcing Mignolet into action, but Everton came even closer when Royston Drenthe’s free kick left the cross bar shacking with the keeper well beaten.

After the break Everton picked up where they left off, as their opponents began to tire. Jelavic’s header was blocked by the raised arm of Sunderland defender John O’Shea, only for referee Andre Marriner to turn down the appeals from the crowd and players.

A cagey second half saw fewer chances than the first, but Sunderland hung on and had Mignolet to thank. After he first denied John Heitinga’s powerful header, then showed quick reactions to stop Jelavic’s close range rebound. The result means a replay at the Stadium of Light holding the weight of both team’s seasons and the right of a Wembley semi-final.  

Leeds Push On As Boro Falter

Neil Warnock claimed his first victory as Leeds United manager, after first half goals from Robert Snodgrass and Luciano Becchio gave his side a deserved 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough at the Riverside. 

Of the back of Tuesday’s win against Barnsley, Boro dared to dream that maybe even an automatic promotion place was possible. But in a game school boy errors and a lacklustre home performance leaves them seven points adrift of second place West Ham with eleven games to go.  

Leeds hadn’t scored since Warnock’s arrival three games ago; however the visitors looked up for the challenge right from the start giving Boro little time on the ball as they pushed for the opener.

But it was Boro who caused their own downfall, as first Joe Bennett was beaten far too easily by Aidan White before his square ball picked out Snodgrass in acres of space, whose side foot shot crawled under Jason Steele to give Leeds the perfect start on 18 minutes.  

After that the home side continued to struggle to find their rhythm, as striker Lukas Jutkiewicz looked isolated up front while Marvin Emnes and Adam Hammill also found difficulty getting involved in the game.

And it was Leeds who doubled their advantage on 27 minutes after a quick break resulted in another basic error, when Justin Hoyte missed his clearance allowing Ross McCormack to cut the ball back to Becchio for an easy tap in. 

Barry Robson came closest to pulling a goal back for Boro, after a quick throw in caught out Leeds unaware, but the Scot’s vicious volley was a comfortable height for Leeds keeper Andy Lonergan keeping his sides advantage at break. 

In the second half Tony Mowbray’s side started to show just why they promotion contenders, as a sharper Boro side injected a quicker tempo to the game. But Mowbray’s men still couldn’t create a clear cut chance, as Rhys Williams’s header rippled the side netting after he wriggled away from his marker. 

Kevin Thompson was stretchered off when he was caught on the head by the swinging boot of Adam Clayton, after only 17 minutes on the pitch. And Boro’s day continued to get worse when Robson was harshly dismissed with a straight red card after reacting to Clayton’s reckless rugby like challenge.   

Leeds held to their fourth clean sheet in three games, when Seb Hines missed a golden chance deep into injury time after Lonergan spilled Hammill’s late effort. The result moves Leeds to within four points off a play-off place. While for Boro it was a missed opportunity to stay in touch with the automatic positions, as they now turn their attention to next weekend’s away trip to Birmingham.         

Match Ratings

Steele   6- Denied McCormack late on should of stopped first goal  

Hoyte   5- Costly mistake gifted second goal

Hines   6- Troubled by Becchio in first half missed sitter late on

Bates (C) 6.5- Made some crucial blocks and tackles

Bennett-   5- At fault for first goal caught out of position a couple of times

Williams   6- Taken off on 63 minutes came close with header in second half left Snodgrass in space for first goal

Bailey   6- Struggled with Leeds pressure early on but improved and trying to get back to his best      

Robson   6.5- As always gave 100% harshly sent off late on

Hammill   6- Difficult afternoon tried his best to create something when he could   

Emnes   5.5- Looked a bit sharper in second half but a quiet day overall   

Jutkiewicz   6- Tried to get involved but shortage of service subbed after 63 minutes

Subs

Thompson   5.5- Determination and bravery resulted in nasty head injury only on the pitch for 17 minutes  

Main   5.5-   Replaced Jutkiewicz only chance tough header going just wide  

Ogbeche   5.5-   Came on with 10 minutes to go added spark to game after scoring in mid-week 

Villas-Boas Sacked By Chelsea

André Villas-Boas paid the ultimate price, after he was today sacked by Chelsea following just nine months in charge. The decision comes of the back 1-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion where Villas-Boas admitted the Baggies were “superior in every minute of the game” The result left Chelsea with just three wins in twelve as well as fifth in the table with a serious risk of not qualifying for the Champions league. 

Roberto di Matteo will take charge at Stanford Bridge until the end of the session, including a FA cup tie with Birmingham on Tuesday. Before needing to reverse a 3-1 deficit at home to Napoli to stay in the Champions league.

At just 34 years of age Villas-Boas had enjoyed huge success with previous club Porto winning four trophies in a single session including the league title. 

In June 2011 the Portuguese manager stepped into the lion’s den at Chelsea, replacing Carlo Ancelotti after the Blues failed to win a trophy the previous year.

Villas-Boas made a promising start to his Chelsea career, after a four game unbeaten run provided a solid start to the session. And despite a 3-1 defeat at Manchester United, Chelsea stayed in the hunt at top of the table with new signing Juan Mata and Daniel Sturridge playing a major part of their success.

However a shaky October saw an unexpected defeat to QPR, while a 5-3 home defeat to Arsenal indicated poor defending from first choice players.

By the end of 2011 Chelsea had slipped nine points off the top of the table, as poor form also resulted in a Carling Cup exit and serious danger of a Champions league departure.

A vital home win in early December over top of the table Manchester City kept Villas-Boas clinging to his title dreams. But then inconsistent form produced just three wins in twelve and a Boxing Day draw with Fulham where even Villas-Boas admitted the title was all but over. 

Chelsea signed Gary Cahill in the January transfer window, but this couldn’t prevent their landslide in form leaving them twenty points behind Manchester City. Today the clubs website registered this statement "Unfortunately the results and performances of the team have not been good enough and were showing no signs of improving at a key time in the season.”     

Robben Ruins England Fightback

Arjen Robben’s injury time strike denied England a memorable comeback last night, as the three lions finally fell to a 3-2 defeat to Holland under caretaker manager Stuart Pearce at Wembley.  

In their first game since the resignation of Fabio Capello, England went toe to toe with a more experienced Dutch side throughout the first half. But two goals in as many minutes from Robben and Klaas Jan Huntelaar indicated a lack of leadership in the England defence. However the home side fought back, and looked to have rescued a remarkable draw with goals from Gary Cahill and Ashley Young in the last 6 minutes. Only for Robben to silence the Wembley crowd with a world class finish.   

The first half saw England nearly make the perfect start, when Cahill’s header crept over the bar on 7 minutes. After that both sides struggled to break down the other, with two holding midfield players on either side cancelling each other out.

But it was Holland who started to push for the opening goal, as the ever-present threat of Robben produced an early save out of Hart. While Robin Van-Persie blazed his shot over the bar after some quick one touch football presented the first real opening.        

Robben's late strike was at England's expence

The hosts were forced to withdraw Steven Gerrard with just half an hour played, the Liverpool skipper troubled by a hamstring problem, as he struggled to get in the game. However Gerrard’s absence presented a second cap for in form Daniel Sturridge and the Chelsea striker made an immediate impact, as his early second half shot was parried away by Dutch keeper Maarten Stekelenburg to keep the score level.

But an inexperienced England were handed a killer blow on 57 minutes, as Robben showed his pace and power, to capitalise on the space presented on the break before unleashing a unstoppable shot past the stranded Hart.

The Dutch then looked quickly out of sight, as just seconds later Dirk Kuyt was left too much space on the right and his inviting ball was met by the head of Huntelaar to put the visitors in full control. Both Huntelaar and Chris Smalling had to be replaced, after a clash of heads when going for the ball, with the England centre back stretchered off for his dedicated bravery.  

Despite to two goal deficit England still had chances Stewart Downing’s volley flashed wide while Sturridge wasted the chance of the game, as he only found the gloves of Stekelenburg from 8 yards out.

The hosts finally found the net 6 minutes from time when a Leighton Baines pass opened the Dutch defence to find an out of position Cahill who added his second ever goal in an England shirt. A draw then looked to be  rescued, after Phil Jones picked out Ashley Young whose calm finish looked to be the game’s last action. But there was still time for Robben to pull one more trick out of his locker, as his left foot shot deflected off Cahill to earn his side a 3-2 victory.

Match Ratings

Hart   7- Made big save to deny Robben at 0-0 couldn’t do much about any goal  

Richards   7- Looked good when went forward struggled with Robben in first half

Smalling   7- Solid in first half showed bravery before being stretchered off

Cahill   7.5- Solid in first half took goal well drawn away by Huntelaar run for first goal

Baines   7- Allowed Robben too much space for winner pass set up Cahill goal

Barry   7- Kept shape protected back four

Parker (C)   7.5- Big night as captain brilliant with blocks and tackles in first half a few errors in second half though

Gerrard   5.5- Taken off early hamstring problem struggled to get in the game

Johnson   7- Pace looked one of England’s only weapons in first half

Young   7- Quiet night but alert for goal took it well  

Welbeck   6.5- struggled to get involved isolated at times

Subs

Sturridge   7.5- Biggest threat when came on showed pace and shooting ability missed good chance in second half

Milner   6.5- Came on at half time struggle with Dutch attacking threat  

Downing    6- Left foot sometime looked a danger

Jones   6- Assist for second goal after replacing Smalling

Campbell   5.5- Gained valuable experience on first cap