Middlesbrough 2 Watford 2
Adomah 23 Deeney 32
Ayala 90+2 Forestieri 73
It’s a year to the day since Boro recorded that memorable home
win over Sheffield Wednesday to briefly move top of the Championship table with
promotion in their sights. How times have changed.
Twelve months on Boro only have half the points they had accumulated
at this stage last season, as hopes for a top six finish this time around are beginning
to fade fast.
 |
| Daniel Ayala amends for his earlier mistake with a late equaliser |
In yesterday’s 2-2- draw at home to Watford, Boro once again
gave their rendition of the good, the bad and the ugly, salvaging a late point,
which could easily have been three.
Caretaker manager Mark Venus will now wonder whether his
brief reign will extend beyond next week’s international break, with Boro’s
next game away at Leeds in two weeks time. Yesterday’s stalemate neither
hindered nor strengthened his chances of landing the job permanently.
After defeat at Blackburn last time out Venus made three
changes, two were enforced as Jonathan Woodgate and Jozsef Varga dropped out
with injuries, in came Seb Hines and Mustapha Carayol.
In Woodgate’s absence Kei Kamara wore the captain’s armband
for the first time while the other change saw George Friend drop to the bench
as he was replaced by Ben Gibson at left back.
A minutes silence took place to remember those who lost
their lives in World War 1; its conclusion brought a roaring applause from the
14,000 Boro fans, who were fired up for the afternoon ahead.
However after a quiet opening Boro were caught off guard with
ten minutes on the clock, Lewis McGugan slipped a pass through to Marco Faraoni
inside the Boro box, but the Watford full back was denied by Jason Steele who
fisted the ball away at his near post.
Watford’s attacking duo of Troy Deeney and Fernando
Forestieri continued to cause problems, with some threatening runs in behind
the Boro back four.
Nevertheless Boro began to find their feet, their biggest menace
came in the shape of Albert Adomah whose high cross on sixteen minutes found Kei
Kamara in the box, however the forward’s header was blocked by the crowd of
Watford defender’s.
With twenty three minutes played Boro strung together a move
to produce arguably their best goal of the season so far. A fluent move saw
Marvin Emnes combine with Kamara on the edge of the Watford box, Kamara then
picked out the advanced figure of Rhys Williams on the right, whose back heal
sat perfectly for Adomah to lash the ball past Watford keeper Manual Almunia at
his near post.
With the wind in their sails Boro pushed for a second,
however they were effortlessly undone eight minutes later. There was a
suspicion of offside when Forestieri drifted a pass over the Boro defence
towards Deeney; however the linesman’s flag stayed down and with only Steele to
beat the Watford striker slotted in his seventh goal of the season.
The almost silent response felt like the life had been
sucked out of stadium, some verbal criticism of the linesman followed, however
the lack of Boro appeals suggested he got it right.
Boro reacted but couldn’t edge back in front before the
break. Carayol earned a free kick on the cusp of the Watford area, which was
nearly put to good use by Grant Leadbitter who forced an unconvincing save from
Almunia who punched the ball to safety.
There was still time for one more chance at each end, for
the visitors McGugan set up Daniel Pudil in the host’s box however the Czech
international flashed his shot wide.
Minutes later Emnes’ delivered a cross from the left, where
Kamara did well to steer his acrobatic scissor kick on target, forcing Almunia
to scurry and save at his far post.
The second half was a much scrappier affair, where clear cut
chances were hard to come by, Richard Smallwood’s speculative volley from the
edge of the area flew well over the Watford cross bar, while the visitor’s best
opportunity came when Sean Murray broke down the right, however his tame shot
was always off target.
Boro claimed for a penalty when Gibson’s header from
Leadbitter’s corner appeared to strike the hand of Gabriele Angella however
appeals were turned down by referee Paul Tierney.
Forestieri registered the second half’s first shot on target
after a neat Watford move, however the Italian’s low effort rolled kindly into
Steele’s grasp.
With little to choose between the two sides it became
questionable whether something would give. With just over twenty minutes to go
Watford manager Gianfranco Zola introduced former Boro loanee Josh McEachran
which drew a mixed reception from the home crowd.
With seventeen minutes to go Boro found themselves their
own worst enemy as they fell behind to the softest of goals. A mistake from
Daniel Ayala, when he failed to make a routine clearance in Boro territory, was
pounced upon by Forestieri who stole the ball from the defender before tucking it past the defenceless
Steele.
It looked like it was going to be another game which slipped
through Boro’s fingers, with twelve minutes to go Venus introduced Jacob
Butterfield and Andy Haliday in desperate hope of an equaliser.
Five minutes from time it appeared the chance had gone when
Leadbitter’s free kick was nodded back across goal by Ayala in to Kamara’s path however his header was denied by Almunia at point blank range.
But Boro didn’t give up and were rewarded deep into to
injury when Ayala redeemed himself for his earlier error out leaping the
defender’s to head home a last ditch goal from Leadbitter’s in swinging corner.
Player Rating
Jason Steele 6.5-
Left defenceless for both goals, made a couple of saves when called upon
Rhys Williams 6.5-
Got forward to good effect, caught out a few times at right back
Daniel Ayala 6-
Mixed afternoon, made a critical mistake leading to Watford’s 2nd,
but made amends with last minute equaliser
Seb Hines 5.5-
Carrying a slight injury, struggled to get to grips with Watford strikers
Deeney and Forestieri
Ben Gibson 6- Got
caught out for the first goal at unfamiliar left back position
Albert Adomah 7.5-
Boro’s main threat charging down the right, netted his seventh goal of the
season after brilliant Boro move
Grant Leadbitter
6.5- Kept battling in scrappy second half, at times a bit too committed
though
Richard Smallwood
6.5- Worked continuously in midfield winning loose ball
Mustapha Carayol 6-
Made some promising runs but struggled to get the better of his full back
Marvin Emnes 7- Posed
a threat with energetic runs which created Boro chances
Kei Kamara 7- Linked
up well with midfield, made a good outlet up front
Subs
Jacob Butterfield 6-
Came on with 12 minutes to go, freshened up midfield, as he looked to move the
ball forward
Andy Haliday 6- Came
on with 12 minutes to go but saw little of the ball on the left wing
George Friend – Replaced Hines with 2 minutes to go as Boro
pushed for an equaliser
My Boro Man Of The Match Albert Adomah
