Posh Polish Off Boro’s Season

Middlesbrough   0     Peterborough   0

Last season a goalless draw at home to already relegated Doncaster left the feeling that the final blow had been cast to extinguish Boro’s flame of the play-off and promotions dreams. Almost twelve months on the same result to comparable strugglers Peterborough appears to have sealed the same fate. 

With the top of the Championship table almost locked at a standstill, a late burst of form from any of the chasing play-off pack could still have resulted in a top six finish.

Agony on the touchline, as Boro do everything but score 

 Even for Tony Mowbray’s free-falling Middlesbrough who had managed just seven points out of forty two since the turn of the year an overdue victory would have put them back in touching distance, , with remaining matches against fellow play-off contenders on the horizon.

The final stages reflected Boro’s limp attempt to re-launch their faded play-off bid, too little too late. As the final chances of the game went begging so too did two required points and another chance to close the bridging gap to the top six. 

"We feel we could have won if only we had converted one or more of those chances and we could have kick-started our season,” said Mowbray after the match. "There were a lot of positives but ultimately we are disappointed and frustrated because we didn't win a game we dominated”

Prior to the game the Boro boss had made five changes from the side which were handed Boro’s nineteenth defeat of the season away at Wolves. There was a minor tweak to the formation as Mowbray opted for a 4-4-1-1 with Ishmael Miller coming in up front and Newcastle loanee Sammy Ameobi playing in the hole behind him.

Josh McEachran returned to the centre of midfield alongside Grant Leadbitter, while Rhys Williams also returned partnering Andre Bikey in defence. The fifth change saw Faris Haroun come in on the left wing, as Lukas Jutkiewitz, Mustapha Carayol and Steven McManus dropped to the bench. Jonathan Woodgate and Adam Reach missed out all together.

Peterborough were unchanged from the side that stunned league leaders Cardiff, as the visitors entered the match in good shape, unbeaten in their last six games.

Boro’s recent form has been the exact opposite losing five of their last six, but for a change the hosts started the brighter as they controlled the game from the off.  Due to their league position it was unsurprising that the visitors started with a defensive set up away from home, getting plenty of men behind the ball and proving difficult to break down.

The host’s first opening came in the shape of Grant Leadbitter’s driving run towards the penalty area, visibly confident from his two goals at the weekend he fired a low shot which had to be matched by Posh keeper Robert Olejnik, who saved low to his left. Minutes later Miller received the ball on the edge of the area; he weaved his way into a shooting position but failed to test the keeper.

Peterborough’s threat on the counter attack had to be watched closely, Joe Newell’s effort after a sudden break could have caused problems but the winger’s shot was well off target.  

Despite that chance Mowbray will have been happy with the way has side controlled the early stages, the passing from McEachran and Leadbitter in particular had a nice fluidity about it, however the opposition keeper hadn’t exactly been overworked.  

It took until twenty eight minutes before Olejnik was forced into another save this time from Ameobi, who found the ball at his feet following a half cleared corner, but his snatched shot was comfortably held by the keeper.

Boro’s early rhythm was suddenly interrupted due to a hamstring injury to George Friend; he was replaced by Nicky Bailey who moved in at right back as Justin Hoyte switched to left back.

In the Boro goal Steele had been given little to do, but his alertness was tested seven minutes from half time when full back Craig Alcock smashed a menacing volley from range, which had to be firmly held by the Boro keeper.

 Before half time there was still chance for Ameobi, who appeared to have a trick up his sleeve, to roll a shot agonisingly wide after wriggling away from a defender. That was subsequent to Scott McDonald’s rushed effort which he miss hit from inside the area spearing his shot off target.  

Boro began the second half a little sluggish, as substitute Grant McCann forced a save from Steele. Meanwhile at the other end McEachran went close after his left foot shot was spilled by Olejnik but eventually smothered by the thankful keeper.    

With half an hour played the game began to open up, another break from the visitors was concluded by Dwight Gayle’s tame shot, which Steele was equal to. Mowbray played his hand by making a double substitution, on came Carayol and Curtis Main replacing Miller and McDonald.

It turned into desperation time for Boro who know only a win would do, Carayol twice got in behind the opposition defence down the left but both times the moves agonisingly broke down due to last ditch blocks from recovering defenders.  

As the time slowly ticked away Boro’s chances slowly evaporated just like the season as a whole. In the final push the hosts did everything but score as the match and Boro’s season drifted away like smoke.

The result may prove to be the final nail in the coffin bringing Boro’s realistic promotion hopes, which have only been kept alive by other team’s slip ups, to a disappointing end.

But like Doncaster last year this wasn’t the game where the season was lost those matches all lie further in the past something Boro and Mowbray will have to put right if they are to sustain a purposeful challenge next season.

Player Ratings

Jason Steele   8- Alert to anything he had to deal with, mostly from Peterborough counter attacks

Justin Hoyte   7- Forced to move around from left back to right back once Friend was replaced

Andre Bikey   7- Solid game made some good interceptions snubbing out opposition attacks

Rhys Williams (C)   7- Looked comfortable at established position of centre back, returning to his best form

George Friend   6- Looked like he could cause a threat from left back but forced off after 33 minutes with hamstring injury

Faris Haroun   6- Touch was a bit off as he struggled to cause many problems on the right

Josh McEachran   8- Main playmaker starting most of Boro’s attacks and controlling midfield

Grant Leadbitter   8- Worked his socks off in the middle of the pack tracking back and creating chances at the other end

Scott McDonald   6.5- Worked hard but got limited success on the left wing

Sammy Ameobi   7.5- Looked a threat in behind the striker with ability to beat players, but slowly tired in the second half

Ishmael Miller   6- Struggled to compete in the air showed small flashes of pace but overall quite quiet  

Subs

Nicky Bailey   7- Put in good shift at full back after replacing Friend

Mustapha Carayol   7- Pace transformed left wing, got in behind Peterborough defence but missed support when he got there

Curtis Main   6- Came on with half an hour to go but never got a clear cut chance     

My Boro Man Of The Match : Grant Leadbitter