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