McDonald's Double Delight

Middlesbrough  2       Bolton  1

                                      McDonald  66  84                                      Lee  42

There hasn't always been the greatest atmosphere at the Riverside this season, as the low crowds and view of empty seat have caused real concern amongst Boro fans. However after three wins on the bounce, the Middlesbrough supporters managed to record their highest attendance of the season as they spurred their team to recover from a goal’s deficit against Bolton to make it four wins in a row.

Tony Mowbray’s side were left chasing the game after Chung Yong Lee’s neat finish three minutes before half time left them trailing. But after a second half, which Boro dominated, the stadium was left bouncing, producing an atmosphere similar to the ones of the premier league days as Boro attacked towards the North stand.

McDonald after second goal provided by Ledesma

The win didn't come without its drama though following constant pressure from Boro towards the end, after substitute Scott McDonald had already turned in the rebounded from Ishmael Miller’s for the equatorial  the Australian international found the net again with a powerful header six minutes from time securing Boro’s place alongside the Championship front runners.  

For the first time this season Mowbray kept the same eleven players that started in the victory against Hull in mid–week. With Jonathan Woodgate still absent Grant Leadbitter retained the captain’s armband. Meanwhile Justin Hoyte returned to the bench after a recent hamstring problem.

Bolton have now announced that Dougie Freedman will now take over as their new manager following the departure of Owen Coyle and the players looked keen to impress their new manager from the off.

However it was Boro who should have taken the lead after nine minutes, when first Leadbitter’s long range shot was tipped around the post from Bolton keeper Adam Bogdan. Then came the opening as George Friend delivered a teasing cross into the area to find Miller unmarked, sadly the striker made minimum contact glancing his header wide.

The hosts then suffered a minor blow when Marvin Emnes’ afternoon was cut short as he limped off with twenty minutes on the clock; the Dutchman’s run in the team again halted by injury. On the other hand the introduction of McDonald proved an important change.

Bolton then enjoyed the majority of possession but failed to create any clear cut chances. Meanwhile Boro looked a force on the break creating chances but couldn't find the final pass to unlock the defense whilst Miller’s dipping shot from outside the area flew just over the bar.

Suddenly the Boro fan’s hearts were in their mouths as Eagles tumbled to the floor inside the area to the sound of the referee’s whistle, unexpectedly the man in charged reached into his pocket booking the Bolton winger for diving. The incident meant Eagles then took on the role as pantomime villain receiving continuous boos from the crowd who were now fired up.

Despite the stick Bolton then put their noises in front against the run of play, when a loose ball found its way through to Lee who calmly chipped the ball over Jason Steele giving his side the lead three minutes away from half time.

Bolton should have been out of sight when Boro’s Andre Bikey was caught on the ball just outside his own penalty area before he was dispossessed by Lee but this time the Korean let Boro off the hook missing high over the cross bar with only Steele to beat.

The second half saw Mowbray replace Adam Reach with Emmanuel Ledesma on the right hand side as Boro piled on the pressure committing more men forward attacking toward the roar of the North stand but still missing the final pass.

The attacking spirit did leave chances for Bolton on the break though as Friend was required to make a important slide tackle on the imposing Martin Petrov. After continuous time wasting from the Bolton keeper Bogdan the Boro crowd had more reasons to get right behind their team feeling aggrieved that he wasn’t penalized.  

The breakthrough was finally made after sixty six minutes when Miller’s original shot was saved by Bogdan at full stretch, but was only turned into the path of McDonald who was granted an open net to turn home the rebound.

A Bolton change saw Martin Petrov replaced by Benik Afobe which seemed to take a sting out of their attack as Boro looked the more likely to snatch a winner. McDonald nearly added a second when Josh McEachren’s well weighted ball played in Faris Haroun however his cross was behind the Aussie forward whose best efforts at a header was turned wide.

The introduction of Ledesma had been frustrating at times but with seven minutes left to play the Boro winger would have a big part to play when first his low cross was turned inches wide by Haroun inside the area.

Just a minute later Ledesma was at it again as he received the ball in a similar position before producing the perfect cross for McDonald, unmarked he powered his header past the keeper leading to a roar from the crowd and chants of “we’re going up.”

The win keeps Boro third in the table behind Leicester on goal difference with their next game a trip to Sunderland on Tuesday in the Capital One Cup.

Player Ratings

Jason Steele   7- Not a lot to do but still looks reliable when called upon, not much he could have done about the goal

Stewart Parnaby   7- Another solid performance at right back

Andre Bikey   7- Good overall performance in defence, but big mistake at the end of the first half could have cost Boro the match

Seb Hines   7.5- Kept his place with Woodgate still out, and gave another worthy performance

George Friend    7.5- Showed more of his attacking threat while comfortable at the back

Faris Haroun   6- Pace was sometimes a threat, but a bit slow to react at times

Josh McEachran   7.5- At times his passing opened up the game and Bolton’s defence

Grant Leadbitter   7.5- Can’t question his commitment and hard work in midfield

 Adam Reach   5.5- Replaced at half time struggled the beat players, will have better games

Marvin Emnes   5- Limped off after twenty minutes, hopefully he will have a quick recovery

Ishmael Miller   6.5- Closed defenders down, but his finishing will have to improve to keep his place in the side

Subs

Scott McDonald   8- Replaced Emnes worked hard and got his reward with two goals

Emmanuel Ledesma   6- Frustrating at times but his cross ultimately won the game

                                                                

Boro Bounce To Promotion Contention

Middlesbrough  2       Hull  0

                                                        Haroun  59

                                                         Miller  66

Consistency is the key. That has been the message from the Middlesbrough camp this week and after producing three wins in their last three games no one could argue that Tony Mowbray’s side have shown signs of what is required in this league as they snuck up to third in the Championship table following a 2-0 victory over Hull last night.

Miller celebrates his first goal for the club

Recharged after the international break the Boro fans watched arguably their side’s best performance at the Riverside this season controlling large parts of the game and creating by far the more superior chances compared to their opponents.

However the game will be remembered for a seven minute spell which ultimately decided the game, after first Faris Haroun’s calm finish moved the hosts in front before Ishmael Miller converted his first goal for the club, steering in the rebound from Scott McDonald’s shot.

Mowbray made three changes from the side that escaped with a 1-0 victory away at Brighton on Saturday with Miller and Adam Reach making their first starts since recovering from injury replacing McDonald and Nicky Bailey. Jonathan Woodgate’s absence meant Grant Leadbitter took over the captain’s armband while Seb Hines took Woodgate’s place in defence.

The hosts made the brighter start early on when Reach dispossessed Hull defender Andy Dawson before his low shot forced keeper Ben Amos into action eight minutes in. Amos, who looked nervous from the start, was kept by far the busier keeper after preventing Hines’s header from the resulting corner he was again tested from Marvin Emnes’s long range attempt.  

Boro have been criticised in recent home games for a defensive set up frustrating the fans, but the pace of Reach and Haroun caused problems for the Hull defence. While Leadbitter found himself in the thick of the action stinging the palms of Amos from the edge of the area as he Josh McEachran received the ball in advanced positions.

However despite their dominance Boro had nothing to show for the first twenty minutes as the visitors began to take a foot hold in the game proving difficult to break down. Hull’s best chance came seven minutes before half time when Sunderland loany Ahmed Elmohamady wasted a close range free kick as he suffered a quiet evening.

After the restart Boro again came close to breaking the deadlock when George Friend’s header rebounded back off the crossbar; however the full back’s next involvement would prove to be more telling. After the hosts were defending a corner the ball fell to Friend whose powerful run brought him deep into the Hull half before he threaded his pass through to Haroun who coolly rounded the keeper to roll the ball into an empty net.

Seven minutes later Boro were cruising after Friend was once more was involved in another forward run drawing defenders as he cut inside to see his shot saved by the keeper, but only to fall to substitute McDonald whose acrobatic kick brought another save from Amos presenting the ball in front of Miller allowing him to net his first goal for the club since his loan arrival in the summer.

 Steve Bruce then threw on Sone Aluko and Jay Simpson to try and rescue a point for his side but it appeared it was not to be their night, as they piled on the pressure late on when Corry Evans went though on goal beating Jason Steele to be denied by the post.

Boro could still have extended their lead after McDonald created a chance inside the area but couldn’t hit the target as the game finished 2-0. Mowbray later said “We created a lot more opportunities and on the balance of things I think we deserved the three points.”

Match Ratings

Jason Steele   7- Little to do but still alert when called upon

George Friend   9- Coped well with Elmohamady, threat brilliant going forward contributed to both goals

Andre Bikey   8- Another solid performance driving the team forward

Seb Hines   8- Provided excellent cover for the absent Woodgate

Stewart Parnaby   7.5- Solid performance, intelligent on the ball  

Adam Reach   7 Posed a threat with his pace tired toward the end before being substituted

Josh McEachran   7- Comfortable on the ball, looking to create chances

Grant Leadbitter (C)   8- Great captain performance gave cover to the back four while intelligent passing going forward

Faris Haroun   7- Took goal calmly, gave width which the team have missed in previous games

Marvin Emnes   7- Took a few shots from range, came deep to receive at times

Ismael Miller   7.5- Pace and strength caused problems to defenders, finally got his first goal for the club

Subs  

Scott McDonald   6- Gave a different threat to defenders when coming on

Nicky Bailey   6- tidy with the ball after coming on with a quarter of an hour to go

Emmanuel Ledesma - Came on for last ten minutes set up McDonald chance late on  

Boro Bemused By Another Late Goal

Middlesbrough   2           Derby    2

                                        Jutkiewicz 18   81                             Robinson 15 (Pen)

                                                                                                   Coutts  87

A flat Riverside crowd reflected the performance of a Middlesbrough side currently struggling to keep up with the Championship front runners, after a another late goal in successive home games saw more points slip through the net of a hopeful top six finish.

The mid-week game saw Boro record their lowest ever league attendance, slipping below the 14,000 barrier for only the second time ever. However despite the low crowd the players hardly offered much to shout about against Derby in a second half of very few chances when the sides were locked together at a goal a piece.

Derby celebrate as Boro let another lead slip

With by far from the most convincing performance Tony Mowbray's side thought they had stolen the game at the death. Lukas Jukiewicz's towering header seven minutes from time left the home fans thinking they had escaped with the points. 

However reminiscent of Saturday's match Boro were unable to close the game out failing to clear their lines late on before Paul Coutts slotted home the equalizer from inside the area to claim a point for his side.

Mowbray made two changes from the side that started against Leicester at the weekend Seb Hines replacing the injured Jonathan Woodgate while Luke Williams came in for Merouane Zemmama. But with Adam Reach and Mustapha Carayol still out injured the side again looked short of width and pace in midfield.

Boro made the brighter start from the kickoff retaining the ball in the opening ten minutes. However it was Derby who moved ahead with fifteen minutes played when referee Michael Naylor pointed to the spot after Andre Bikey and Grant Leadbitter merged together to bring down Craig Bryson before Theo Robinson took the resulting penalty firmly into the bottom left hand corner.

The Boro supporters, angered by the penalty decision, were quick to make thier opinions heard spurring on their team to level the score three minutes later. When Leadbitter's free kick was parried, by Derby keeper Frank Fielding, into the path of Jutkiewicz for a tap in.

The game then began to settle as Boro's deep midfield again frustrated their fans. The hosts did begin to create some chances as the half went on. Williams firing his shot just wide after half an hour before Bikey stung the palms of the keeper from range after beating two players in the process.

In the second half Mowbray's patient style of football saw the ball continuously played sideways or back as Derby defended in numbers, proving tough to break down. The lack of goal mouth action made things very difficult, for an already low crowd, to get excited about or make a impact on the game.

The introduction of Zemmama sparked some life into the game after his untroubled run into the Derby half was followed by a shot just wide. However the Moroccan's next involvement proved more telling as his cross was met by Jutkiewicz who headed into the top corner of the net.

But there was still time for a late twist in the match after Bikey's header from a Leadbitter's free kick sailed wide, Derby soon shared the points when the ball fell to Coutts in space to make it more late heartache for the Boro players and fans.

Mowbray later said there are no excuses but the injures to key players (Emnes,Williams,Carayol,Reach and Miller) have been a factor.

Player Ratings        

Jason Steele   6.5- Not much he could have done about the goals showing good constancy

George Friend   7- Again looked a threat going forward all round solid performance

Seb Hines   6.5- Won a lot of balls in the air safe replacement for Woodgate

Andre Bikey   6.5- A bit clumsy when conceded the penalty always trying to move Boro forward

Justin Hoyte   6- Found lots of space on the wing but was rarely found

Nikey Bailey   6.5- Not afraid to make a tackle in midfield played deep role first half then switched to the right

Kevin Thompson   5.5- Played in wider position than usual in the first half but offering little width to the team  

Grant Leadbitter   5.5- Good set piece delivery but gave a few silly fouls away in midfield

Josh McEachran   5- Very quiet game ineffective in the middle or on the wing

Luke Williams   5.5- Tough game struggled to get on the ball

Lukas Jutkiewicz   7- Two goals keep persisting before finally getting his second 

Subs    

Merouane Zemmama   6- Added a spark to the game provided cross for second goal later came off again with hamstring problem

Emmanuel Ledesma   4.5- Committed too many fouls when coming on couldn't produce as much going forward