Boro's 2012 Send-off

Middlesbrough    4     Blackpool    2

                                      Miller  14                                                Thomas  59 

                                      Smallwood  36                                         Basham  76

                                      McDonald  62

                                      Reach  88

What a way to end the year. A six goal thriller containing drama, controversy and a touch of class, Which turned into an emotional rollercoaster for Middlesbrough and Blackpool fans to conclude 2012.

Momentum continuously changed hands throughout the game, Boro twice looked safe opening up a two goal cushion only for their seaside opponents to both times half the deficit. But the key moment came ten minutes from time when a disputed penalty gave Blackpool the chance to finally draw level.

Reach's goal sealed one of the games of the season

However it was to be Boro’s day after a superb save from keeper Jason Steele denied Thomas Ince from the spot, before substitute Adam Reach sealed the game with a goal worthy of winning any football match.

The high demands of the Championship forced Tony Mowbray to make five changes from the side that beat Blackburn on Boxing Day, Andre Bikey, Josh McEachran, Emmanuel Ledesma and George Friend all picked up knocks while Lukas Jutkiewitz started on the bench.

Rhys Williams returned as captain along with Andy Haliday at left back, Richard Smallwood and Nicky Bailey in midfield and Ishmael Miller upfront.

Boro started far the brighter team imposing themselves on the game from the off,  so much was the hosts dominance that they racked up seven corners in the opening fourteen minutes before one finally came off. Grant Leadbitter delivered a teasing ball from the left, which was met by Miller who glanced his header across goal from close range for a deserved Boro lead.

Despite the goal the hosts continued to apply the pressure controlling midfield not allowing Blackpool a foot hold in the game. The only negative for Mowbray was a further injury concern this time full back Justin Hoyte limped off after twenty minutes to be replaced by Stewart Parnaby.

It wasn’t long before Boro’s authority was again rewarded doubling their lead ten minutes from half time. Emnes received the ball mid-way inside Blackpool’s half before showing great vision to pick out a run from Smallwood. The midfielder still had plenty to do as he drove into the opposition penalty area before firing a left foot shot beyond keeper Matt Gilks in the bottom left corner.

A comfortable position at half time, but it always felt like Boro would need a third to really kill the game. Miller’s cross two minutes after the restart had to be turned over the bar by Gilks, but this half Boro were not to have it all their own way.

The next goal was vital and suddenly what looked a comfortable afternoon for Mowbray and his team was now an uncertain one. With half an hour to go Blackpool worked the ball into Boro’s box, where the hosts failed to make a tackle, before the ball finally fell to Wes Thomas who smashed the ball low past Steele creating a contest.  

But back came Boro just three minutes after conceding, Scott McDonald took position just inside the opposition half and was allowed to run unchallenged before curling his low shot beyond the reach of Gilks to the keepers left.

However Blackpool were not finished with fourteen minutes remaining an in swinging corner wasn’t dealt with by Steele, the Boro keeper couldn’t hold onto the ball pushing it into the path of Chris Basham who was on hand to finish into an unguarded net.

Then came the pivotal moment when Gary Taylor-Fletcher raced away from Jonathan Woodgate who appeared to pull down the Blackpool striker inside the area. The referee closest to the incident waved play on, however the linesman on the far side flagged for a spot kick causing the man in charge to change his mind.

Up stepped  Ince, expected to make a move to Liverpool in the New Year, but this game won’t have increased his value, after his penalty towards the bottom left corner was met by a stunning save from Steele at full stretch welcomed by a roar from the crowd who thought points had eluded them.

After all the drama Boro finally seized the initiative two minutes from time when substitute Adam Reach cut inside of two Blackpool defenders on to his favoured left foot before hitting a brilliant effort from the edge of the area out of the reach of Gilks finding the net off the inside of the post wrapping up an enjoyable match.

Boro’s next game is away to Derby on New Year’s Day. Today’s result keeps them in touching distance of the automatic promotion places following victories for both Cardiff and Hull.

Player Ratings

Jason Steele   8- Partly at fault for the second goal but a great recovery to make brilliant save from the penalty

Andy Haliday   7.5- Dealt well with threat of Ince and got forward when he could

Rhys Williams (C)   7.5- Solid game on first start for 3 months  

Jonathan Woodgate   7.5- Kept Blackpool attacks quiet but a bit carless to concede the penalty

Justin Hoyte - Afternoon cut short after hip injury replaced by Parnaby after 20 minutes

Nicky Bailey   7.5- Deepest of three centre midfielders providing cover for defence

Richard Smallwood   8.5- Showed great link up play, controlling the game in midfield in the first half along with a terrific goal

Grant Leadbitter   8- Set pieces were a threat also helped control the game in midfield

Ishmael Miller   7.5- Posed a threat out on the right always had the beating of the full back

Scott McDonald   8.5- Worked hard for the team in attack and defending and rewarded with a goal

Marvin Emnes   6.5- Had some quiet spells, provided a killer pass to set up second goal

Subs  

Stewart Parnaby   7- Provided a solid replacement for Hoyte

Adam Reach   7- With a point to prove looked a real threat down the right before getting on the score sheet

Lukas Jutkiewitz - Provided fresh legs for the last eight minutes replacing Emnes

My Boro man of the match: Richard Smallwood     

Boxing Day Win In The Bag

Middlesbrough   1     Blackburn   0

                                       Jutkiewitz  68

As 2012 comes to end the belief is starting to grow around a rejuvenated Riverside Stadium, after nine victories out of twelve at home have put the Boro in good stead for promotion push in the New Year.

However one thing sure about the Championship is that there are no easy games. The visit of Blackburn on Boxing Day was by no means comfortable, Henning Berg’s side still possessing pockets of Premier League quality following their relegation last season.

Two goals in successive games for Jutkiewitz 

It always promised to be a tight affair in another game which could have pivoted either way. But fortunately for the 22,882 Boro fans their team were able to provide the perfect Christmas gift, when Lukas Jutkiewitz swept his low shot into the bottom corner with just over twenty minutes to play to claim a significant three points over the busy Christmas period.

Injuries have been a troublesome factor in the first half of the campaign for Tony Mowbray; Seb Hines was the latest casualty picking up a hamstring problem at Leeds last time out. Richard Smallwood dropped to the bench; Andre Bikey and Emmanuel Ledesma were changes from Elland Road. One positive on the injury front was that captain Rhys Williams returned as a sub.       

The eager Boxing Day crowd took their seats however with not even a minute on the clock Boro were lucky not to be trailing, as Blackburn stormed into an attacking position. Fortunately for the home fans a teasing cross was headed onto the inside of the post by Colin Kazim-Richards to sighs of relief.

 Despite the let off the hosts appeared a little sluggish in the opening twenty minutes, giving possession away too easily, as Blackburn controlled the early exchanges.

Nevertheless Boro created chances, sudden breaks from George Friend and Marvin Emnes both concluded with shots departing wide. While Scott McDonald’s volley from the edge of the area had Blackburn keeper Jake Keen scrambling towards his left hand post.

Then it was Blackburn’s turn to pepper the Boro goal, first Kazim-Richards wriggled through the defence only to be denied by the leg of Jason Steele and it wasn’t long before the Boro keeper was again called into action from a more unlikely source.  Blackburn’s Josh King pulled his cross towards the goal  hitting Andre Bikey who had to be saved by the alert Steele to prevent an own goal.

Back came Boro, who hadn’t played the greatest football in the opening forty-five minutes, but were still able to create the half’s best chance. Ledesma’s cross was cleared as far as Lukas Jutkiewitz inside the area, however the strikers tame shot was right at the keeper who made the meal of the save.

Even with the large crowd the Riverside was fairly quiet during the first half. But that soon changed five minutes after the restart, Friend, who always looked a threat on the left, burst through the defence to force a corner before encouraging the fans which was welcomed by a roaring reaction.

Boro appeared to have more of a grip on the game than before, putting more pressure on the Blackburn defence. With just twenty minutes to go the game suddenly opened up, as McDonald broke through the middle, his run was checked but he was able to lay the ball off to Jutkiewitz who worked the chance onto his stronger foot before guiding his shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

The nervous wait then began, as Boro started to sit off with a lead to hang on to. McDonald had the chance to seal it ten minutes from time, but his curling left foot shot was well saved by the finger tips of Keen.

Deep into injury time Blackburn were handed a promising free kick from the edge of the area. Substitute Ruben Rochina stepped up to take it. The original free kick rebounded off the wall coming back to Rochina his venomous volley forced a stunning save from Steele to secure the three points.

Much the same as the Wolves game this was another match where Boro didn’t produce the prettiest of football. But at home a least Mowbray has produced a well organised side, difficult to beat, able to grind out results.

 Player Ratings

Jason Steele   9- Dealt with everything thrown at him kept Boro in the game on numerous occasions at 0-0

George Friend   8.5 - Constantly working up and down the left channel, providing a spark in the team

Jonathan Woodgate (C)   8 - Another high quality performance clearing up danger in defence  

Andre Bikey   6.5 - Was having a solid game but injury forced him off a half time

Justin Hoyte   6 - A bit sloppy in position, struggled to get the ball on the wing

Emmanuel Ledesma   6 - Sometimes caused a threat but had some quiet spells

Grant Leadbitter   6.5 - Hard working as always, but midfield struggled to get a grip on the game in the first half

Josh McEachran   5.5 - Injury forced him off early in the second half, struggled to have an impact on the game

Marvin Emnes   5.5- A passenger for some of the game, as he never really showed his attacking threat

Scott McDonald   7- Another hard working performance, looked more effective when moved to central role

Lukas Jutkiewitz   6.5- Competed in the air all afternoon with limited success, took goal very well which ultimately won the game

Subs

Rhys Williams   7- Back after a lengthy absence replacing Bikey at half time, looked comfortable on the ball dealing with what he had to  

Richard Smallwood   6- Replaced McEachran in second half, tidy on the ball  

Nicky Bailey- On for the last 15 minutes steadied the game securing the midfield

My Boro man of the match: Jason Steele

A Wins A Win

Middlesbrough  2     Wolves  0

                                                  Emnes (Pen) 88

                                                    McDonald  90

A game which won’t be remembered for the most convincing victory of the season, but three vital points against unpredictable Wolverhampton Wanderers meant Tony Mowbray’s Middlesbrough were able to do what promotion rivals Cardiff and Crystal Palace weren’t on Saturday, a win moves them in touching distance of an automatic promotion place.

Emnes celebrates his first goal at the Riverside since Febuary

The nerves grew, as substitute Marvin Emnes stepped up to take what looked a soft penalty for hand ball two minutes from the end. After an extensive wait the Boro fans could finally breathe a sigh of relief, as the spot kick was calmly converted.

After three consecutive home games of discounted prices for the fans, the Riverside appeared a little flat with an attendance of 15,662. However the loyal supporters were given more to shout about when a quick counter attack eventually found Scott McDonald who smashed the ball into the back of the net securing the points.

Boro made five changes from the side which were left heartbroken following a League Cup exit away to Swansea on Wednesday. Jonathan Woodgate returned as captain, as Andre Bikey and Faris Haroun were forced out with hamstring injuries.

 Ishmael Miller partnered Scott McDonald up front, while Josh McEachran, ineligible for the cup game, started on the left, Luke Williams on the right and Richard Smallwood all came in. Lukas Jutkiewitz, Nicky Bailey and Emmanuel Ledesma occupied the bench.  

It didn’t take long for the mind games to begin, after Wolves won the toss and elected to start shooting towards their own fans, meaning Boro wouldn’t be attacking to the North stand in the second half.

Few clear cut chances were created all game, but it was Boro who had the most creativity in the early exchanges. A delightful pass from Seb Hines over the Wolves defence picked out McDonald, who controlled the ball well but could only drag his left foot shot wide of the far post.

Three minutes later the hosts came close again when a teasing ball from McEachran was met by Williams whose low shot was bravely blocked by Wolves keeper Carl Ikeme who had an impressive loan spell at Boro last season.

To Boro’s credit Wolves never really threatened their opponent’s goal in the first half proving difficult to break down in defence. The visitor’s closest effort coming from Bakary Sako’s free kick from the edge of the area which was drilled low into the gloves of Jason Steele.

Six minutes after the restart Boro were presented with another opportunity, when the ball came to Williams in space, however despite being urged to shoot by the fans the striker dribbled the ball wide and was eventfully closed down.

As Boro began to drop deeper down the pitch, the visitors slowly started to increase the pressure. This passage of play caused Mowbray to make multiple changes, introducing Emnes and Ledesma replacing Williams and Miller.

With the match still on a knife edge, the game began to open up, as both goals were briefly threatened. Smallwood’s deflected shot was held by Ikeme before Kevin Doyle’s long range shot was parried away by Steele.  

Then came the moment of controversy, just as the game looked to be heading for a draw McDonald’s cross hit the arm of Wolves captain Karl Hendry. The referee looked to his linesman who flagged for a penalty to the protests of the Wolves players. Emnes was quick to grab the ball and after a lengthy wait the Ducthman coolly tucked the ball in the bottom right corner sending Ikeme the wrong way. 

However the game didn’t end there, as Wolves went all out for the equaliser Boro quickly hit them on the break when Emnes drove forward at defence, outnumbered by attackers, before he picked out McDonald who was clinical in adding his ninth goal of the season from inside the area.

The win keeps Boro third in the table three points off leaders Cardiff who were beaten at home by Peterborough. Tony Mowbray’s side now face an away trip to Leeds next week before a home game on Boxing Day against Blackburn.

Player Ratings

Jason Steele   8- A few tricky shots and crosses in and around the area which were all dealt with well  

Justin Hoyte   6.5- Got forward when he could but rarely used

Jonathan Woodgate (C)   8.5- Showed his Premier league quality read the game excellently

Seb Hines   8.5- Backed up good performance on Wednesday with a dominant display in defence

George Friend   6- A few sloppy passes, didn’t make as much of a impact going forward as usual

Luke Williams   5.5- Didn’t take an opportunity to impress replaced after an hour

Grant Leadbitter   6.5- Worked hard as always but a little bit erratic in midfield, booked for a silly foul

Richard Smallwood   7- Won a lot of loose balls in midfield

Josh McEachran   6.5- Created some good chances early on but faded on the wing as the game progressed

Ishmael Miller   5.5- Continued to drift wide when he was expected to be the target striker

Scott McDonald   7.5- Worked hard after offered few opportunities, but took his chance at the end

Subs

Marvin Emnes   7- Offered a different threat when he came on with a goal and an assist

My Boro man of the match: Jonathan Woodgate