Author: Redcar Red

No Bamford in the squad was a surprise considering that we needed to score goals. Stuani in his place on the bench was fair enough I suppose but I couldn’t understand why Gestede was even on that same bench. It appeared to me that the deep psyche was that if we are losing throw everything including the kitchen sink into the box, great tactical masterplan!

Barragan selected wide right instead of Fabio? Well that just completely beggared belief especially with the stiff and returning Chambers behind him. SA did at least go with three at the back but it was evident from the off that the midfield was all at sea and the backline hadn’t a clue who was supposed to be where and picking up who. The opening seconds saw our right side unsurprisingly ripped apart and Bournemouth were firing crosses in for fun. The inevitable goal occurred in a matter of seconds. 1-0 down and we were simply awful.

Things didn’t improve and Bournemouth continued to play, tease and toy with us. This was the worst performance from any Boro side I have witnessed since Charlton last season. Considering the importance of the game, the organisation, levels of concentration and commitment just simply didn’t exist. It became more farcical when another dithering defensive display led to Bournemouth going two up, it wasn’t even comedic just simply tragic. Ramirez then managed to get himself booked for a dive that was ten minutes too late for a non-contact challenge. Minutes later with a Negredo pile driving effort sandwiched in between Gaston went into a ridiculous lunge near the opposition corner flag, second yellow and off he went with just twenty minutes registered on the clock (hopefully never to be seen in a Boro shirt again).

Just before that Agnew had been about to bring Traore on presumably for Chambers to try and have a go at the Bournemouth defence. Gaston’s removal instead saw Forshaw brought onto wide left with George dropping into LB with Barragan off and Downing switching to the right in a 441. Confused? I certainly was! On twenty nine minutes Negredo headed down to de Roon who took a long range volley which Boruc done well to tip past for a corner. Minutes later King then stamped on de Roon but the Ref seemingly didn’t see anything wrong and it looked to me that de Roon will be subject to a metatarsal x-ray but despite that he hobbled back on with Fabio told to sit back on the bench. Two minutes later de Roon eventually had to succumb and leave the field. Thirty six minutes gone, one sending off, two subs on and at this point Boro were playing with a back eight, still couldn’t get a tackle in, losing 2-0 yet Aggers puts a full back on! Heaven knows what Gibson and Bausor were thinking but I sincerely hope it was the same as me.

Gosling suddenly pulled up just before half time as Boro where about to take a throw in with an apparent existing injury because nobody was near him. As Cooke then came on for Gosling the Boro

fans broke into a chorus of “Ugo Ehiogu tra la la la la” which was by far the best Boro performance of the day. After a slip up by the aforementioned Cooke with a sliced clearance Chambers hit a twenty yard volley that probably ended up in Penzance. The half time whistle shortly followed much to Boro’s relief and there ended one of the worst performances I have witnessed in a long time. Tactically all over the place, disorganised and despite what the fitness and medical team thought Chambers looked rusty as heck and in my opinion should have made way instead of Barragan who at least was match fit.

The team performance was completely unrecognisable from Monday night but surprisingly as on Monday when Clayton gave away the fee kick for Arsenal’s opener he was at fault for both Bournemouth goals today. As determined, energetic and committed he undoubtedly is his poor decision making is costing us. That said the rest of the side Negredo apart were absolute tosh, garbage, brown smelly stuff stuck to the sole of your shoe.

The first half spoke volumes as to any future of Steve Agnew’s tenure as Boro Coach on a permanent basis. He now had forty five minutes to restore any shred of personal credibility and to save Boro’s season. Being honest at this stage it looked totally transparent that Aggers was finished in his hope of retaining the position as were Boro’s hopes of survival. My thoughts were that as gut wrenchingly painful as it was maybe it’s a good thing. Today was the footballing forty five minute equivalent of taking your 15 year old family Labrador to the Vets for the last time, heart-breaking, but at least the pain and suffering is over with. Little did I know what the second half had in store?

As the second half started unsurprisingly there were no Boro subs made, not that it would have made an iota of difference to the woeful proceedings. The second half started at a fairly lethargic pace in the South Coast sunshine with Boro getting a corner four minutes into it but Ayala headed well over. The next five minutes saw more of Boro being under the cosh with Negredo literally under the cosh or at least on the receiving end of Francis’s forearm smash as we tried to mount an attack. After some treatment Alvaro returned to the field of play to pick up a loose ball from a corner but smashed it well over the goal which seems to have been a Boro trademark all season.

On 56 minutes Afobe should have scored but Guzan got down to save Boro’s blushes and thankfully pushed the effort wide. Friend then picked up a yellow after fortunately avoiding one in the first half. A few minutes later George definitely should have picked up a second yellow for a full on challenge but the Ref at this point was clearly feeling sympathy at Boro’s spineless plight. The game then descended into attack and defend with Boro doing all the defending and none of the attacking as the possession stats showed.

Every pass in a yellow shirt went short, got stuck in feet or simply missed the intended target and then after another defensive series of farcical proportions Ayala was rounded by Pugh and 3-0 to the Cherries. After the restart Ayala took his frustration out on Pugh and chopped him down to pick up a yellow. Like their apt shirt colour Boro were now attracting Yellow cards at an alarming rate and just to rub salt into the wounds Swansea had registered their second against Stoke and ten man Hull had simultaneously taken the lead against Watford. News was filtering through that Hull had went 2-0 up just as Bournemouth worked a pantomime free kick to make it 4-0 as Clayton (or Forshaw) broke from the end of the wall, was dribbled around with ease to see the net bulge from 18 yards out. Then incredibly with fifteen minutes to go the Cherries missed their easiest chance of the afternoon as the ball rolled right across the Boro goal line from Stanislas with nobody to tap in.

Gestede was forlornly brought on for Negredo who had thanklessly ran himself ragged and we then just started to hump long balls up to him who won his headers but then Bournemouth just collected the ball and broke forward again. I have no idea what the logic was in bringing Gestede on but it was obvious there was no tactical intent, just simply hump it long and hope. Fortunately with two minutes left Bournemouth Sub Mousset blasted a shot over from 6 yards out when hitting the target would have been easier. The whistle went and with it Middlesbrough FC’s premiership nightmare was over.

We have conceded 4 goals only twice this season and that Steve Agnew was in charge for both of them along with the Charlton debacle last year tells me that despite some more entertaining football he is most definitely not the man to take Boro anywhere let alone forward. This Season the Boro fans have been nothing less than fantastic. It is a shame that the club have disrespected them in just about every way possible from kits to signings, management insults and the most boring embarrassing performances in football history. Nine points from safety and down without a fight and it feels right now that not once did we truly give it a go or in all honesty if that was ever the genuine intent. To end the Premiership season with a weaker team than the Championship side that got us here now needs answering.

Ominously Arsenal had scored in 85% of their last 20 away games and also kept a clean sheet in 25% of those last 20 away games, Boro can’t score so on paper Boro were lambs to the slaughter. All the pre-game media hype was about Arsene and the Arsenal fall from grace. Board meetings coming up and decisions to be made about Henry returning and Arsene exiting along with a few of his playing personnel no doubt as a Summer overhaul is predicted.

Four away defeats on the trot, a fifth at the Riverside would set a record going back to December 1984 and Don Howe. Who would Arsene drop after their Palace no show and whether Koscielny would get the nod after a layoff. Would the away fans get another opportunity to boo Bellerin in between chanting Wenger out?

Would Boro keep it tight and frustrate relying on Traore’s pace and set pieces or would they get stuck into them and ruffle midfield feathers whose plumage has looked distinctly leucistic of late. Would Aggers throw Gestede in from the off giving the supposedly suspect Gunners CB’s something to worry about or rely on craft and guile to get in behind them which could mean a return for Ramirez should his head be in the right place. Surely he and his agent could see the fantastic shop window opportunity to turn it on in front of a global audience? There again maybe Aggers and Woody had had enough of his attitudinal challenges?

Come the team announcements and Boro fans felt that our line up perhaps was a little more conservative than hoped for albeit understandable given the talent opposing them whilst Arsene surprised us all probably by anticipating that we would go 3-5-2 so went with three at the back himself in a very unarsenelike formation. As it turned out Boro went with 4 at the back settling for an Ayala/Gibson combo with Fabio and Barragan to the right and left.  The big surprise was the absence of Valdes who had apparently hurt a rib in training. Fabio started well with a quick break forcing a lunge from Oxlade Chamberlain who received a yellow for his “professionalism” and the intent the home fans had wanted to see was in evidence.

In contrast we were then treated to a ridiculous headless Grant challenge in the middle of the park for a lost ball that was both late and reckless and ended up damaging himself in the process. I think it may have been a tweaked hamstring but it took a fair bit of stretching from the physio’s to get him up and running again (albeit I thought mainly on three cylinders for the rest of the game despite his big heart). Fortunately nothing came from the resulting free kick and his nonsensical yellow card. Unfortunately worse was to come when Fabio then went into a challenge and inexplicably went down and looking in some discomfort. Not sure I it was a leg injury but he looked dazed or at the very least disconsolate as he trudged off around the edge of the pitch as George entered the fray in his place. Hopes were that Fabio hadn’t had a relapse of his concussion from a few weeks back.

Friend looked a little rusty understandably with some glimpses of his old runs but some of his passes and runs seemed a little disconnected from his teammates with a few stray balls to go with his forays down the flanks as he linked up with Ramirez. Downing seemed pretty well occupied in defending in the first half, not surprisingly as with 3 at the back Arsenal had their wing-backs pushed high up the pitch. Barragan again had a decent game and whisper it quietly but he appears  a more complete player under Agnew.

Whilst Arsenal undoubtedly had class Boro more than matched them with sheer hard work and graft and there was little to separate the two sides as half time approached. Unfortunately for Boro another reckless challenge from Clayton this time on Xhaka presented Sanchez with the exact opportunity Arsenal relish 20 yards out. After a lot of pushing and shoving in the Boro wall Sanchez got the ball up over the wall and under the crossbar leaving Guzan motionless.

1-0 to the Arsenal as the away fans reminded us. Boro however went straight back up the pitch and with Ramirez seemingly intent on providing his agent with some decent video clips we looked like we were still not out of it. Boro had adopted a tactic of launching balls into the Arsenal box from set pieces putting Ayala and Gibson up alongside Negredo and it appeared to be causing some consternation with the returning Koscielny and the relatively inexperienced Holding.

Almost from the restart after the Sanchez opener Boro won a free kick on the corner of the Arsenal 18 yard box. The big Boro lads piled forward from the back and Grant unleashed a Powderpuff, yep a Powderpuff!  He had ushered Ramirez away and we were expecting a Thunderbastard but nope. WTF was the united exclamation from the North stand as our disbelief at just how bad the free kick actually was sunk in. I’m pretty sure the South stand were equally perplexed as the kids in the East stand covered their ears and tartan rugs, sandwiches and flasks went flying in the West.

The half time whistle went and Boro trudged off disappointed to be a goal down after matching Arsenal in making a spirited game of it and also having a goal of their own struck off for offside. The general impression of the Officials throughout the game was one of being nervous of giving any contentious decisions against one of the Premierships glamour clubs with the world’s media in close observance looking for a story. Consequently any 50/50 decisions seemed very softly biased towards the yellow and grey shirted Gooners as frustrations and whistles grew from the home fans especially towards the assistant running the East touchline.

The second half commenced and apart from Friend for Fabio the line ups were as they were on 45. The Boro fans were giving plenty of vocal support despite the southerners in the corner suddenly finding their voices, amazing what a goal can do after their collective fears of a Boro upset looking distinctly possible until that free kick. Boro though had restarted focussed and determined and just five minutes into the second half Downing operating on the right was fed through by Barragan and delivered a brilliant curling cross into the box to tease the effervescent Negredo to wrong side his defender and squeeze an outstretched leg to toe poke it past Cech, 1-1 and the Riverside erupted!

It was well deserved and the Boro were now looking likely to add to Arsene’s woes especially when we broke out of defence with Ramirez finding himself running onto a cleared ball with two Arsenal defenders desperately chasing him. Tired legs seen Gaston caught and the chance was gone but the hope had lifted the decibels and a chorus of “Arsene Wenger, we want you to stay” reverberated from the back of the North stand. The leggy Gaston was shortly replaced by Traore who immediately went on a trademark run and pinged a cross in. Minutes later he drove into the Arsenal box leaving three or four yellow shirts in his wake but instead of unleashing a shot he frustratingly tried to take an extra touch creating the chance for it to be nicked off his foot and then forlornly fall to the ground hoping for the unlikeliest of penalties.

That unfortunately was pretty much it for Adama as he then ghosted around the pitch neither, closing, chasing or anticipating for the rest of the game. I’m at a loss as to whether he is the most talented but laziest player ever to wear a Boro shirt in my lifetime or just plain challenged in the IQ department. Either way it meant Barragan was more exposed as Stewy had switched over to the left to accommodate his arrival and Arsenal broke down our right with a ball played into the unmarked Ramsey who got in behind the encumbered looking Grant to chest the ball down for Ozil who had ran behind Ayala to slot home. 2-1 and try as we might, battle and scrap and go for it, it just wasn’t to be.

Gestede came on for de Roon who had worked tirelessly and almost immediately fed Negredo who shot from the edge of the box but without much power and Cech was able to get down and smother the attempt. With only ten minutes remaining, tired limbs and heavy hearts Boro kept going but it wasn’t to be and in fact we were lucky not to concede a third as Arsenal broke on the counter attack for Guzan to save our blushes. MOM was probably a toss between Ayala now looking back to his old self and Negredo who at times was winning his own knock downs and chasing, closing, running and tackling when out of possession. Someone needs to sit down with Adama and show the lad Alvaro’s work rate in the game tonight to show what is expected when out of possession.

Ironically there were some positives to take from the match were it not for the fact that games are fast running out and we are now back to relying on other teams to screw up to give us a chink of light. No doubt there will be many sharpening knives for Aggers but I’m not sure how much more he could achieve with the hand he has been dealt and the circumstances and time constraints in which to do it in. It’s not over just yet and each game seems to see an improving facet to Boro yet the returns just aren’t materialising. Had we been in November or December things would feel a lot more hopeful but all we can do now is face each game as if it were a cup tie and slug it out until the end. Swansea and Hull will also drop points and a result away to wobbly Bournemouth and a slip elsewhere could see our hopes elevated once again.

Bright Spring sunshine bathed the Riverside with a warm glow at least for those of us in the North, South and East Stands. The atmosphere was building nicely beforehand with both sets of fans finding their voices no doubt aided by some liquid refreshment to quell the heat stress. Boro as suspected went with three at the back perhaps as a deliberate tactic or the fact that it was barrel bottom scraping time when it came to defenders.

In fairness the three at the back put in a display that was unrecognisable from the showing on Wednesday night. They contained the twin Burnley strike threat of Gray and Barnes comfortably and rarely looked too stretched. Ayala in particular looked to be getting back into his stride, it was just as well because Barnes clearly had instructions to rough him up and the two of them were constantly “embracing” in the first half with the Ref Martin Atkinson eventually having to speak to the pair.

The tempo in the first half was mostly from Boro with Barragan and Downing pushed up high in a midfield five with Grant, Clayts and Forshaw central. With those three policing the centre of the pitch Burnley struggled to make any impression in the middle ground and Stewy and Barragan were under clear instructions to get down the flanks and ping crosses in for Gestede presumably with the hope that Stuani would pick up the stray balls. I picked the word “stray” deliberately as while Gestede would rise majestically and beat Keane in the air there was very little that came from the second phase immediately afterwards. Stuani like the entire Boro side put in a battling performance, chasing, closing down, looking for opportunities, full of running and willing to get in blocks and tackles but nothing where it counted.

In all honesty there wasn’t a solitary bad performance from anyone in Red and there was a lot of endeavour, energy and determination on display, Barragan had probably his best game. Clayts and Grant bossed and snarled determined to not go down with a whimper. Forshaw was a little quieter first half but put a shift in. Boro’s new formation looked as though it had Dyche on the back foot for much of the first half as Boro constantly thrust forwards but the quality at the sharp end in finishing was where we fizzled out. In fairness Burnley are well drilled and disciplined and breaking them down was never going to be easy but we did just lack that spark, an individual bit of magic.

There were decent chances, a ball from Stewy flashed across the six yard box but there was no red sock to toe poke home when we needed it. Boyd had a chance but missed the target fortuitously whilst a free kick looked to me to be finger tipped by a diving Valdes onto the crossbar but the Ref seen it as a miss and so a corner was avoided. Speaking of corners there was an altercation which consisted of Ward trying to barge into Valdes protected by Barragan who pushed and jostled back and then a right arm flew out from Ward leaving Barragan prostrate with Martin Atkinson giving a foul to Boro meaning he clearly seen something but decided to bottle giving a red card for the first time this afternoon.

Despite overwhelming possession and balls fizzing into the Burnley box with regular aplomb the first half finished 0-0. I remarked at half time that whilst our endeavours were certainly heartening the Sun would eventually take its toll in the final 20 minutes unless we had something to hang on to. If there was a criticism it was that we sometimes laboured in possession instead of springing out quickly but after Wednesday night the cautious trio in the middle could be forgiven.

The second half started with Boro again going for it but the lack of an outlet and creativity was starting to become glaringly obvious plus the exertion and heat was starting to take effect as predicted. Negredo came on around 60 minutes for Stuani who hadn’t had many chances but let Burnley know they were in a game.

Whilst understandable and Negredo’s intent almost getting himself booked within a few minutes of entering the fray the lack of a “spark” seemed the greater need. Ten minutes later, on seventy minutes (and probably ten or fifteen minutes too late) Traore came on for the tiring Gestede. Finally we had a bit of spark with Adama playing centrally and a burst  through the Burnley defence shortly after leaving three in his wake seen him set up Clayton with a chance for glory and rip the net open but he disappointingly chipped it neatly into the arms of Heaton. Stewy got around the back of their defence worked a cross in and Negredo’s acrobatic overhead kick saw Heaton pull off the save of the day.

Another ball in the box saw an Ayala header cleared off the line for it to fall to Negredo who put the ball in the back of the net but Atkinson had ruled for a free kick in favour of Burnley who had Barton laid out cold after Ayala’s innocuous challenge about thirty seconds previously. It looked to me like the Officials bottled awarding the goal as a player was laid out in the six yard box who then miraculously after magic sponge intervention rose from the dead.

Grant had been clattered into with a two footed lunge but jumped up immediately saving the offending Burnley player a straight Red in sharp contrast to the actions of Barton. The last throw of the dice seen Bamford come on and almost immediately latch onto a through ball to be upended by last man Keane for a straight Red yet remarkably a free kick was awarded along with a yellow. Downing then had his effort curling into the top corner cleared off the line by Lowton, another day and an entirely different ending. Bamford again broke clean through but this time a last ditch sliding tackle saved Burnley’s blushes from their former reject’s revenge.

MOM undoubtedly were the Boro supporters who were loud and loyal throughout, on the pitch there were signs of optimism albeit probably too late to save us now. On the pitch Grant probably just edged it with his graft and never say die spirit. 0-0 and another blank sheet but a far better performance which maybe just needed some injection a little earlier but all in all something that at least showed the players still care. Just a shame that the Ref was more concerned about Dyche’s after match responses than following the laws of the game.

The bright South Wales sunshine brought a small chink of hope when we found out Llorente was injured and wouldn’t make the game. For Boro it was pretty much a fairly predictable line up with no surprise returns for Ayala or even a Husband or a Bamford. Barragan was on the right, Fabio left with Bernardo and Ben in the middle of the backline. The main difference to an AK side was the inclusion of Downing in the central No.10 role leaving just two DM’s in Clayts and de Roon. Negredo was up front supported by Traore right and Gaston left.

The game started with a fairly steady if uninspiring pace with neither side exactly “going for it” from the off although there were at least a few early robust challenges. Boro started the brighter and Negredo had a half heated hand ball claim against Mawson in the penalty box. Traore looked lively and ran at them causing mayhem but after 20 minutes or so things eased off and Swansea dominated possession with Narsingh giving Fabio a tough time, eventually leading to a yellow card for our potential player of the season. Nerves were clearly to the fore as neither side wanted to do anything sloppy and as such it was far from a classic. Traore played a peach of a ball over the top through to a marginally onside Negredo who uncharacteristically failed to bring it down, the ball spun away and the clean through chance was gone.

Swansea’s possession stat was growing but it was against a Boro side well drilled in the art of soaking up pressure. Valdes pulled off one good save but other than that and a fumbled punch and re-grasp (as the ball came off the back of Bernardo) we rarely looked threatened. Ramirez was fairly quiet in the game and an innocuous looking challenge lead to him being grounded clasping his right ankle only to pull up two minutes later to leave the pitch for Gestede to enter the fray, Agnew switching to a more straightforward 442 with Downing switching from central to the left flank. The half time whistle came and apart from the one Valdes save there was very little for either Keeper to do in the opening 45.

The second half started with the same nervy tempo with the up till then relatively quiet Sigurdsson testing Valdes from distance with a weak speculative effort. Without Llorente Swansea were fizzling out in the final third despite Olsson and Narsingh offering pace down the flanks their final ball wasn’t ideal for Ayew. On 52 minutes Boro worked a ball up to Gestede who laid it off to Negredo who dummied it and let in run for Traore who cut into the box and saw his shot pass Fabianski but just past the wrong side of the far post.

That Traore effort seemed to spark Swansea into life and they upped the pressure but 5 minutes later Traore again burst out of defence leaving a despairing Mawson lunge which earned him yellow for his troubles as had Fer in the first half for a similar attempt on stopping him. A serious looking injury to Fabio had us all worried as he landed badly looking dazed and concussed. As if our defensive injury crisis wasn’t bad enough whilst down to 10 men Sigurdsson had a brilliant strike and an equal save from Valdes. Forshaw entered the fray on 64 minutes for the Ayatollah impersonating Fabio with Downing dropping into the LB slot, changing position now for the third time in the game.

A drop ball saw Barragan nick the ball from the two nominated players contending the drop ball much to the chagrin of Clement and the home fans. His cheek continued further up the pitch when he was consequently fouled and then wound up the Swansea fans further when he pinched a yard (or two) on the free kick. Whether it was brewing or because off or perhaps the need for points but the game became a little tetchier afterwards as the home fans suddenly found their voices. Unfortunately for Boro with Forshaw arriving and the default 3 DM’s by accident rather than design we lost some of our creativity.

Barragan played Traore through on 78 minutes with Negredo waiting in the box but Fabianski got down to the cross. The subsequent break from Swansea saw Gestede pick up a fortunate yellow for a two footed tackle. Ten minutes to go and Swansea were forcing the game with Boro relying on our stalwart defence and Traore’s pace in the hope of finding Negredo or Gestede. A drag back from Bernardo gave away a stupid free kick just on the edge of our 18 yard box and we sat with hearts in our mouths as Sigurdsson took aim. Fortunately Sigurdsson’s attempt was well wide courtesy of a Forshaw “deflection” and after an ensuing series of calamitous desperate defending Gestede again launched a desperate lunge and lucky not to see red.

With two minutes to go Fer broke free and charged down the middle of the pitch with the Boro defence left in his wake but fortunately Downing chasing back done enough to put him off and push him wide. We had an opportunity one minute into injury time with a throw in 10 yards from the Swansea corner flag and Barragan frustratingly produced yet another foul throw. Seconds later Negredo put in a brilliant cross for Gestede who rose but headed the wrong side of the post in what was probably our best opportunity. Hitting the target would have been easier than missing but that’s what happens when you are down in the bottom three. Then Negredo was played through by Traore with seconds remaining but was pushed wide and the chance faded for a goal kick. 0-0 it ended, a result which done neither side a great deal of good but better than a defeat and in nine games time who knows we may be grateful for that point and let’s face it when have Boro ever done it the easy way?

This was one of the games instantly underlined in Boro fans diaries when the fixture lists first came out, the sorcerer versus his apprentice. The TV Company would have had the same intrigue although I’m sure that was well before Boro’s usual defensive paralysis had been fully considered as verging on anything remotely suitable for entertainment before the watershed. With AK now departed the game had taken on a new perspective and one that I would suspect was much to the relief of BT Sport. Man United will always get the punters in but a bus parking Boro bore draw isn’t a great advert for plugging a box/package/bundle/landline/broadband services.

The pre KO talk in the concourses was of some optimism given the purported injury list and suspensions for Mourinho’s men. Boro of course were not without their own injuries and crucially key ones in Friend and Chambers (still can’t believe he was ridiculously risked in that Oxford FA Cup game) along with Ayala and Espinosa leaving Steve Agnew with sparse defensive resources.

United had a gruelling fixture schedule this week with this their 3rd game in 7 days and early kick offs don’t particularly agree with them. This season they only picked up all 3 points from 2 out of 7 televised lunchtime matches. Straws and statistics were being grasped from wherever we could find them as the line ups were announced providing the earliest indications of Steve Agnew’s intentions. The team when announced indicated that a clean slate was the order of the day from Steve Agnew as the starting line-up included Downing, Negredo and Ramirez all in the side.

The Kick off saw Boro push further up field and with far greater attacking intent than I have seen all this season. Instead of the monotonous side to side defensive passing than has been the hallmark for the last few years we had Fabio and Downing providing width pushing wide with Ramirez in front of Fabio just inside working one twos and Grant buzzing around centrally looking to play forward passes. I think I witnessed better football in the first 6 minutes from Boro than I have since Swansea. OK this was Manchester United and they had something to play for and so we didn’t have it all our own way by any means and were it not for Valdes pulling off two great first half saves the game could have turned very sour very quickly.

As it was we were entertained by Stewy pinging balls across the pitch setting up Fabio and Ramirez, putting crosses into the box albeit many overhit but at long last we had entertainment something that the Riverside faithful had been starved off for what seemed like an eternity. After a quarter of an hour United seemed to have regrouped and started to offer more threat going forwards and inevitably Fellaini met a cross from Young at the far post not surprisingly outjumping Fabio to put United 1-0 up. We all know what happens this season when Boro go behind yet we didn’t see the usual signs. The Red sashed shirts rolled their sleeves up supported by the fans and got stuck in again and once more took the game to United. It was clear that word had reached Mourinho to target Espinosa as the weak link at the back and yes he did have some torrid times but he also got his head to a few balls and intercepted a few whilst staying upright as Young tore through the Boro defence to time a tackle to perfection.

As the first half whistle was blown the home fans stood and applauded Boro off the pitch as their endeavours were well received and acknowledged. The “bad boys” looked a totally different proposition as both Stewy and Ramirez looked up for it with Ramirez storming back at one point to nick the ball off I think Rashford’s toes just as he was about to pull the trigger on the edge of the Boro box. Young and Lingard were tormenting the Boro right side and Valencia was getting forward picking up a lot of balls played in behind Fabio and their wide men were the main source of build up and trouble for Boro all afternoon. I would say that even if we had played with a flat back 9 as has been levelled at AK in the past their pace and trickery still would have caused problems.

The second half started pretty much the same with Boro showing the same positive intent but left the back door open for Lingard to run onto a clearance and charge down the middle of the pitch blasting a beauty into the top corner clipping the inside of the upright as it went in giving Valdes no chance. 2-0 and it seemed very cruel but in fairness to United they had created the more clear cut chances despite Boro having the lion’s share of the ball. It would have been easy for Boro heads to have dropped sensing another defeat and never coming from behind but again they pushed forward and incredibly we seen a double substitution that actual had an effect, changed our style and positions forcing Mourinho to switch to playing six (or even seven) at the back.

Traore and Gestede came on for the tired limbs of Ramirez and Leadbitter and as Boro upped the ante we looked like we could get something out of it. Traore’s pace clearly worried United as he ran past them for fun teasing and putting crosses in to service Negredo and his partner (yes two up top!) Gestede and suddenly Smalling and Co. weren’t having it all their own way. With Downing now having switched sides for Traore and Adama being trusted to do his thing without needing micro coaching the Boro pressure paid off as Gestede poked home through De Gea’s legs at close range to make it 2-1 and game on.

The equaliser didn’t come in the end but had it ended 2-2 it would arguably have been a fair result for the effort that the Boro players put in as cramp started to set in with many but it wasn’t to be. A slip at the death from MOM Valdes gave the score line an unfair reflection but as we have been saying for a while I’d rather lose 3-1, seeing us giving it a go then meekly surrendering 1-0 with no effort or passion. There was plenty of passion as United started their time wasting techniques and the Ref seemed overly cautious not to incur the wrath of the media by upsetting the Chosen One with any contentious decisions so the game was held up for Lingard to tie his laces and when Young kicked the ball away blatantly for a Boro throw in he just ignored it rather give out a straight yellow.

OK, we lost again and conceded 3 goals but what I saw today was so refreshing that I along with around 15,000 other Boro fans hung around after the final whistle to applaud the Boro Players off the pitch. Play like this every week and who knows I’d probably buy a Season Ticket!

Driving home I listened to some abject phone ins from individuals who were either not at the game or had consumed so much booze that it addled what few brain cells they did have but anyone who was actually at the game experienced a different atmosphere and with it optimism that despite there only being ten games left with 30 points to play for this new vibrant attacking football means the previous form book has been thrown out of the window.

Shame that Mourinho was ungracious in victory and chose instead to give Stewy verbals from the touchline before disappearing down the tunnel to avoid shaking Agnew’s hand, unfortunately there were no chairs around this time.

The team announcements asked a few question for those of us gathered in the concourse pre kick off. Downing obviously is still on the naughty step yet Gaston was on the bench, go figure as Brad would probably say. Clearly Stewy must have been very, very naughty compared to Gaston. Incredible that not only was he allowed into the Riverside after recent showings but also got one of the best seats in the house. One rule for one and another for another it would appear, whatever the reasoning for the Uruguayans inclusion and the omission of Pally Parks finest it left a bitter taste with many.

As the Teams came out I admit to a feeling of que sera sera not that I thought for one second Boro were going to Wembley more just a case of whatever will be will be. And so it was, a side full of £50m players against a side with a few £5m players (not counting Stewy of course or even the recently purchased Bamford) was always going to be a tough ask. A team full of gifted talent and skills against a side that are generally pedestrian and so deep in their own half aqua lungs and flippers wouldn’t go amiss were ripped apart as City without fear of a Boro assault piled men and bodies forward and put Boro under pressure from the off and ripped us apart with some slick quick passing.

With Toure under absolutely no pressure he splayed the ball out wide and Zabaleta fired a fierce ball into the middle where the blue shirts had set up base camp and despite Sterling doing his best to miss Silva managed to eventually turn it in. Two minutes, 40 seconds on the clock, 0-1 and the random Cup attendees were still trying to find their seats whilst balancing their Burgers, Chips, Coffees, Fanta and various designer shopping bags.

At that point the omens looked bad, in fact we were cut open so easily and quickly that it looked like there was little on the field in Red that could put up any sort of defence with a likely cricket score looming. The rest of the half seen Guzan and Gibson having several discussions about our defensive organisation, I’m not sure what was being said but clearly Brad was not too happy about something.

To be fair it could have been about any number of things, our midfield seemed porous to City charging forwards. Grant seemed slow and hesitant at times, Adama was running around in circles beating three City players before losing possession, Sane was tearing Barragan apart (as he has with many Premiership defenders since his arrival). We looked and were very ragged but on the positive the normal backs to the wall keep them out at all costs and don’t attack default was no longer an option as this was a knock out competition with only the winners going to Wembley. As a consequence we saw Boro attempt to attack but the contrast in build-up and style was light years apart and try as we might our slow passing game was easily read and intercepted and picked off.

On 15 minutes it should have been 0-2 after Sane skinned Barragan but his shot come cross across goal was fortunately missed by Aguerro. Our only outlet was a long ball up to Gestede who clearly is still in favour with the Boss who did win aerial duels but unlike City who would have had 4 or 5 players like as not following up and supporting our offensive threat was somewhat reticent. In fairness de Roon who was playing as the advanced midfielder did pick up one knock down but his snatched shot was both woeful and wide. We did manage to get the ball up to Gestede again and he

managed winning his duel got a header off that went over but in all honesty our long balls looked more in desperation than as any part of a game plan. In fairness to Benin’s best, Otamendi and Stones looked very uncomfortable against him but with no one near him his battles were in vain. Whether it was the extra effort required in being a one man attack or simply a question of warm up routines and stretching but for the second week we saw a Boro player leave the field early in the first half with a hammy. Twenty six minutes gone and AK was forced to put Negredo on.

On paper we shouldn’t be able to live with City purely on the amount of spend between the two squads but in fairness to Boro a few did role sleeves up and get stuck in. Guzan was Boro MOM between the sticks, Gibson had one dodgy moment but was class apart from that, Fabio struggled against Zabaleta at times but still pushed, chased, ran and harried and was unlucky in the second half to see an attempt cleared after a Negredo knock down. The fact that it was our LB attacking on the edge of the 6 yard box tells its own story. Our Dutch International de Roon ran and chased and fought as did Clayton. Grant gave a 100% but at this level struggled with the pace speed and athleticism of his opponents. Indeed de Roon put in a cross that was met by Stuani and caused Bravo to make a save late in the first half.

For me the most stand out performance apart from Guzan was Stuani, he really put a shift in, tackling, fighting (literally at one point) and looking determined not to give up. No goals but an honourable days graft as was Negredo when he came on who chased down Bravo in goal and got at the susceptible looking City defence as they passed the ball out and not always convincingly. Traore was a mixed bag, when he got a chance his pace led to a few runs down the flanks and crosses but one in the first half was wayward but another did find Negredo in the second for the aforementioned Fabio effort on 77 minutes.

For all our best efforts we never really looked likely to make a serious impact apart from a first half effort that was cleared off the line whereas in reality how City didn’t score at least 5 was down to Gibson and Guzan (who in my opinion done enough to keep his starting spot). When the second half started City once more came out all guns blazing with de Bruyne looking lively causing problems. By now we were playing far higher up the pitch and despite the fact we only had 31% possession we actually looked a lot better than of late. The fans stuck behind the players and kept with them even when Gaston came on for the weary looking Grant there was a mixed reception with a crescendo of boos drowned out by polite applause overly extended from the appreciation of Grant’s departure.

Meanwhile Guzan was inspired tipping away a Silva shot from the bottom corner and again palming away the same from Sane but was helpless with Aguero making it two for City from Sane’s cross. He then went on to block another Silva effort with his legs and reach spectacularly to prevent a Sterling effort. It ended 0-2 but as the day trippers dawdled away in the last ten minutes the stalwarts remained to clap the players off the pitch.

Tactically there was little on offer and starting with our predictable defensive line up didn’t help and handed City the initiative. Interestingly Pep was stood watching our warm up routines so whether that gave him any clues I don’t know but on the day we were simply beaten by a far better side and although there will be some who no doubt will lay a lot of the blame at AK’s door and some of it fairly City quite simply had far better players.

Looking at the fixture list at the start of the season an away game to Stoke was hardly a stand out game in Boro’s Premiership season. As the months and weeks have progressed and we are now well into the final third of the season this game could be make or break not only for Boro but also our Manager. Before Kick-off Ladbrokes had odds of 6/4 that AK would not be on Teesside come the last game of the season.

Having not won a Premiership game since December 17, and scoring just three goals in our last nine matches and only one goal in our last six away games against a backdrop of blame culture and a rumoured fall out with the up until now untouchable Negredo, pressure was growing on AK. Early speculation on team selection beforehand was that Gestede was to get the nod over naughty Negredo and with it an opportunity to end his 36 game Premiership streak of not being on a winning side.

Defeat today could see Boro slip into the relegation zone and with other relegation candidates showing recent signs of improvement even a draw could be seen as a negative result with only 11 games left to hold onto our place at the top table. Team news at 2.00 revealed that Bamford had again been ignored as expected but also surprisingly Downing whilst Gestede as rumoured got the nod over Negredo. Leadbitter was preferred to Forshaw which pleased many along with the sight of Ayala back alongside Gibson with the nervy Espinosa benched and Friend at LB.

A steady start seen not much quarter given but with Stoke making the most of the play then inexplicably Ayala pulled up with a hamstring after only 5 minutes action for us to see Espinosa coming on. On 13 minutes Boro’s packed defence was cut open and Ramadan was unlucky with his effort from 6 yards out hitting the post. Boro were playing on the break but in the opening quarter of an hour it was Stoke looking much the more likely. Our main tactic seemed to be try and get it wide to Traore on the left to put a cross into Gestede. I can only assume that Gaston was on his weak right side and Traore on his weak left side so AK could coach Adama as Ramirez was conspicuous by his absence.

On 18 minutes Gaston dallied on the right trying to defend and played Joe Allen in who stumbled and fell over then Ben came out with it, passed it to Grant who then bumped into Ben giving the ball away for it to eventually ricochet and Valdes collected thankfully. Comedic but very worrying, Grant was looking slow and rusty. Shawcross then upended Traore and took a yellow for his troubles but the resultant free kick from Grant was poor although that wasn’t the language I used at the time.

De Roon had a great opportunity as the ball was played over the top of the Stoke defence but he hesitated momentarily bringing it under control and all was lost. At this point of the game the passing from Boro was diabolical, constantly giving away possession, scrappy best described it.

Stoke pressure was slowly building as Boro offered little threat and then a hoofed ball up to £2m Marco Arnautovic seen him bring the ball down, leaving George for dead, spun around and slotted home. Boro now had to forget clean sheets and attack but there was little to show thus far that attacking was an option for this side. The weather started to change as the rain came down and with it any pre Kick Off optimism was coming down with it. Fabio was having a tough time and Gaston wasn’t influencing anything whilst Grant really struggled to get up to speed.

A Grant free kick was lofted into Espinosa on 35 minutes but it sailed straight into the Keepers arms. There was little to get excited about for the traveling Boro fans apart from a rainbow which appeared and seemed to spark Grant into one of his trademark thunderbastards which was tipped wide for a corner. The ensuing corner was put outside the box in a training ground routine to see Gaston blaze the ball over the roof of the stand.

Just before half-time a corner for Stoke saw Valdes blocked off, who was then helpless to see the ball float over to Anautovic to get his second. “Attack, Attack, Attack” chorused from the terraces as the first half drew to a close. Once again a weak dispirited showing with no strategy for attacking or creating, Boro were looking totally devoid of ideas with Traore running and dribbling but a headless chicken if ever there was one despite being on the Managers preferred coaching side. To rub salt in the wounds George was booked as Arnautovic was giving him a torrid time. Forty-five minutes gone and there looked to be nothing left from the blue shirts. Down and out with eleven and a half games to go, boos from the traveling fans accompanied the half time whistle.

Gibson and in fairness Espinosa were still fighting as was de Roon but Clayton was quiet. Gaston was anonymous, Grant was trying but largely a bystander apart from free-kicks, Friend was clearly not match sharp, Fabio couldn’t get forward, Traore again had no end product and Gestede was winning headers but then what? AK selected Gestede but had no tactics to make his selection remotely effective.

It’s clear Gaston was mentally gone and if that wasn’t bad enough as AK left the field the boos rang louder. Not quite Barnsley yet but the Manager and his charges looked like a boxer out on his feet, after last week at the Palace this was very poor fayre and not what was required. Contrasting the £2m Arnautovic with our £6m Gestede and the issue with our scouting and recruitment was frankly embarrassing. Was the second half to be AK’s final 45 minutes? Would he keep it tight to protect GD or try and get a result? This was his biggest managerial challenge but the signs looked ominous.

The second half unsurprisingly saw Stuani come on for the already emotionally absent Ramirez taking up position on the left with Traore switching to his preferred right. The change did little to affect our attacking prowess as passes still went astray, challenges looked ineffective and crosses were over hit as chants of “Attack, Attack, Attack” rained down again from the traveling army in blatant disregard and disrespect to AK.

“Come on Boro” chants then came to the fore in a desperate attempt to inspire those who looked to have lost the will to live let alone attack. Fabio broke through and teed up Gestede but his touch was wayward. Stoke then broke and de Roon was chasing back in the RB slot giving Valdes time to clear it for a Corner on which Valdes was once again blocked off by the big lads in Stoke’s front line. Meanwhile news was filtering through that Rhodes had bagged a brace for Wednesday just to rub more salt in along with Nugent netting.

Boro were playing statues again, nobody making runs, nobody looking to receive, nobody dragging defenders, just passing to static individuals. On 60 minutes it looked as though we were back in it as Boro’s MOM Ben Gibson met a cross from a Grant free kick to put it in the net under the Keeper but the Lino’s flag was up for an infringement or imaginary offside perhaps. Fortunately for Boro

Arnautovic pulled up cream crackered after roasting Friend all afternoon and being a thorn in the Boro’s side.

What we were witnessing was a side who were trying to attack but who were new and raw to this skill set. Stuani at least was getting stuck in and putting in a shift, trying to mix it up but it was a team of individuals with no collective organisation.

Traore stupidly bulldozed Peters over near our corner flag and the resultant Stoke free kick fortunately led to nothing. Fabio was having a torrid time from Ramadan as our attacks were intercepted quite predictably and Stoke kept pushing us back. In the last throw of the dice Guedioura came on for Grant on 75 minutes who was visibly tiring. In the 79th minute Valdes took a free kick in the Stoke half as everyone in a blue shirt piled forward, oh for such attacking intent earlier in the season. Of course it came to nothing. Guedioura then had a shot on the 18 yard line after a combined Stuani/Gestede knock down but as we know by now accuracy is not the ex Watford man’s strong point and it sailed well over.

Moments later Stoke broke quickly again and £5m man Ramadan nearly caught us out. Interesting to contrast Stoke passing quickly into space making the ball do the work and cover the ground whilst we still played our mono paced passing game and seeing our attacking intentions easily read. “One Stevie Gibson” rang out followed by “I’m Boro till I die” as the traveling army made their position and loyalties clear. It wasn’t getting any better and quite frankly things were getting dire when the Boro fans ironically cheered a throw-in in the 89th minute. Five added minutes were called over the tannoy as Ramadan now twisted and turned de Roon and Espinosa with Fabio caught upfield. It should have been 3-0 but for Valdes saving at the feet of Affelay his former Barca team mate.

Overall another poor performance with little skill or creativity evident in the side, it had the look of Gareth Southgate’s Boro as they slipped meekly into the bottom three. Looking lost, bereft of hope and belief as they trudged off it was questionable if the players still buy into AK’s philosophy, the fans certainly made their feelings clear.

The line-up caused a few questions before hand, was Stewy playing as a wing back with Fabio on the other flank or was Ben playing as a traditional LB and Stewy playing central pulling the strings in midfield?

And so it was apparently three at the back which won the day as Boro lined up in their unfamiliar Yellow Championship away kit. The early action was a taste of things to come as Cabaye and Zaha took it in turns to trouble Ayala but it came to nothing fortunately. In the 5th minute Dani was lucky not to give away a penalty after a shove on Zaha which Ref Madely deemed as a shoulder “nudge” followed by a bit of a grapple. We were penned back and looking short on outlets, finally in the 11th minute Espinosa released Fabio on the flank and his cross led to a Stuani chance but de Roon eventually blazed over.

Any doubts about Gaston’s mind set was answered just after the quarter hour mark when he chased back covering for Downing, tackling a yard out from the corner flag preventing a cross. Benteke was apparently determined to moan his way through the match claiming a push, tug or shove at every opportunity. Valdes pulled off a brilliant save on 20 minutes going full stretch but the flag had gone up for a hand ball from the same moaning Benteke then Boro broke and Stuani had the ball poked away from him just as he swivelled to shoot in our only serious threat.

On the half hour Zaha was upended by Ayala again who looked to be walking a fine line before seeing a card the same shade as his shirt. Seconds later Cabaye tripped Stuani as he burst from the half way line leading to Madely producing the games first yellow.

Boro were struggling to get any type of grip on the game and in truth defensively we were hoofing and hoping and our Midfield far too deep and so inevitably van Aanholt picked up a ball in the edge of the box and drilled it home into the far corner as Boro failed to clear cleanly again after a series of desperate unconvincing headers. Stuani and Negredo were looking forlorn figures with poor to no service at best. Tactically it wasn’t working and didn’t look to be working anytime soon. Boro were pegged back and looked totally ineffective more than 20 yards out of their own goalmouth.

Breaking out we were passing about slowly easily read by Palace players and in truth a Traore type injection was needed. Any pre game thoughts I had that we would go for it was well wide of the mark with our second shot coming from a Negredo volley 30 yards out. The first half was one to forget for Boro, the back “3” was more of a back “5” with Negredo dropping deep into the middle of the park trying to service Stuani. We were far too deep and no relief from the middle as de Roon and Forshaw were deployed sweeping in front of our back five.

A disappointing and toothless first half which gave no indication from Boro whatsoever as to the importance of this game. AK certainly had to have a major rethink, what was on offer was a negative, dreary same old slow paced passing paralysis with nothing on offer from Fabio or Downing offensively and Ramirez trying to create but surrounded by Red and Blue stripes crowded out. The extra man caused by our “3” at the back stifled any hope we had of getting a grip of the game as Zaha and Townsend were simply free to rampage.

Half time changes were much needed along with a change in formation, surely the 46^th minute would see the introduction of Traore with a CB being withdrawn? Well he made a change but it was Gestede for Negredo which shocked and surprised us all. The game kicked off and immediately Zaha drove into our box taking up where the Eagles had left off the first half. What Gestede was supposed to do was a mystery as thus far we had produced no service to our front two. The opening few minutes offered no solutions or any obvious tactical changes, very poor half time management it has to be said from AK. Forshaw did have a shot but as is typical it was high and wide, no change there then. The lad was running around but his lay offs and passing was far too slow and thus our creativity still floundered.

Sakho hadn’t played in months yet we put him under no defensive pressure at all. We needed a fortuitous break and it nearly came when Forshaw was upended but Gaston’s cheap dink over the wall was easily picked off by Hennesey. Gestede then attempted a cut back from the wide left and managed to hit the back of the stand somehow whilst attempting a cross. Forshaw’s dithering nearly cost us as he had his pocket picked in the middle of the pitch but fortunately Zaha fired wide.

A bit of intent led to Stuani striking a volley cleanly as the Palace box looked uncharacteristically busy but it was straight at Hennesey. A change on 60 minutes didn’t introduce some much needed pace but Guedioura on for Forshaw, not sure what that was all about as it didn’t introduce pace but he did at least look to pass forwards. This was looking extremely poor fayre and perhaps the Stanley and Oxford games had given the Players some misplaced belief.

Zaha was ripping us apart yet we had Traore sat on the bench, the irony was painful. AK’s tactics were still not working and any “tweaks” we had hoped for were moderate at best. Gibson tried a 40 yard daisy cutter which was about as good as our attacks were looking. Zaha broke again and Gaston and Fabio managed to tackle each other as we looked very edgy and slack. We tried to get forward in our ususal pedestrian manner but it was joyless to watch. The game passed 70 minutes and our tactics still failing miserably, bringing on Gestede just looked even more pointless and clueless.  AK’s inability to change a game was looking as ominous as ever, even a tame Guedioura shot couldn’t raise hopes. A full length Valdes clearance was the fastest we broke out all game but it lead to a Fabio yellow card for a challenge on Zaha yet again breaking away. Next it was Downings turn to dither and luckily Madely seen it the way of Stewy as Macarthur stubbed his toe on Stewy’s boot and collected a yellow for simulation in the box. Seconds later Stewy gave a free kick away just near the corner flag which Townsend took and fortunately Ayala’s gamesmanship took care of Benteke. Stuani was taken off on 77 minutes for Traore, again a strange shout for me considering we needed to score and almost immediately Ramirez hit the deck with cramp.

Tactics that clearly weren’t working with appallingly poor game management from AK, this was very reminiscent of our early Premiership games with incredible naivety and a lack of intelligent attacking intent. Poor substitutions with a total lack of willingness to change things, there again with 3 DM’s on the bench the options were self-restricting. It was the 86^th minute before a long ball was hit up to Gestede that Fabio eventually fired wide from. Why put the big lad on if all we were going to do was conduct more passing paralysis.

Our movement off the ball was probably the worst I have witnessed, frozen and static just doesn’t cut it at this level. Incredible that as soon as we brought Traore on we then resorted to forlornly humping long balls up to Gestede. As if to rub salt into the wounds a Guedioura shot from outside the box almost hit the opposite Corner flag, it was poor fayre.

MOM there wasn’t one, I honestly struggled to rate any of them more than 4 out of 10. A more utterly hopeless, clueless and spineless performance I have yet to witness in a very long time. Abject does it credit. Put simply, not good enough and never ever looked like being good enough, no win in 9 games now and AK is now the Bookies favourite for the chop. Based on this performance it wouldn’t be a difficult decision for SG to make.

Utterly dreadful, 54% possession that was all harmless meaningless passes to nowhere in safe zones, wholly unacceptable for aside that went behind on 34 minutes. Like today’s Kit we looked like a Championship side all afternoon. When you are out of your depth against a fellow relegation struggler something needs answering and very quickly.

As expected a much changed Boro side saw Guzan back between the posts with Ayala in for Ben, Stewy restored along with Grant in midfield and Fischer given a chance to show the longed for potential we have heard so much about with Gestede leading up front. A full away end (or corner) will have had their hopes raised as Lincoln had just toppled Burnley in the lunchtime KO. That said the very same result brought much amusement to the faces of the gathering Boro fans, a warning though if ever one was needed for Karanka’s men.

The opening minutes treated us to the latest in a growing list of clangers by Espinosa (or should that now read Oopsinosa?), the regularity of these slips is now a worry and it almost and probably should have led to an opener for the League one side. Gestede then had a great early chance with a header that he inexplicably headed down into the ground for Eastwood to collect easily. This was the first return of the talismanic ex Blackburn keeper and we were all hoping that history would not repeat itself.

Moments later Grant had a deft chip just glance of the crossbar. He was to have more opportunity later on as the game settled nicely into a steady cup tie which was surprising as Oxford clearly came to play football. We broke out of defence via Fischer who was wiped out on the half way line but Andre Marriner waved play on and the ball then broke to Stewy who charged straight into the 18 yard box and he himself was wiped out giving an easy penalty decision in our favour. Grant stepped up and even ten Simon Eastwoods couldn’t have saved it as he thunderbastarded it just under the crossbar.

Just a few minutes later as we were hoping Oxford would wilt they fired in a shot come cross that skipped across Espinosa and past Guzan into the back of the net to equalise. The ref blew for an infringement on Espinosa which was fortunate but there did appear to be “nudge” on the CB which was enough to save blushes. Questions though need to be asked how the cross was so easily delivered under no pressure with Fabio out of position.

Seconds later Fabio stormed up the left wing fired in a cross which was acrobatically brought down by Traore when it seemed lost and played in Gestede to score with a bicycle kick, 2-0 and surely game over you would have thought. Observation on the first half was that Boro were breaking out quickly, passing quickly and looking uncharacteristically very slick and composed (apart from when defending that is). At half time 13 shots with 7 on target, it’s not often this season that Boro fans have such a wealth of excitement.

Something happened at half time because the second half was from an entirely different book let alone chapter. Oxford came out, played and fought as though their very lives depended upon it, they attacked with two strikers to aim for and started to tear into us and tear our circus like defence apart, defending as though they were complete strangers. Oxford had sensed that the Boro back line was edgy, nervy and looking anything but comfortable. Chambers was having an off day, Espinosa was well Espinosa and Ayala was trying to win everything and anything and in doing so clattering into every one and looking ill disciplined. Fabio was OK but the threat was coming down our right side, centrally Ben Gibson was seriously missed.

An Oxford attack seen Adama clatter into a player on the edge of the box that looked as though it could have been a penalty. Thankfully it was outside the box but the resultant free kick from Maguire was a delicate gentle lob over the Boro wall and into the net, not the top corner just simply over the wall and past an outstretched and flailing Guzan. Seconds later Clayton not concentrating lost the ball centrally, Oxford charged forward and our generous defence just kept on giving, 2-2. What on earth happened? How can you be cruising, playing great football and then suddenly be pulled back by a side several leagues below you at home? Fair play to Oxford, as much as it hurt they certainly deserved it.

In the second half our midfield didn’t impose or create, our defence was abysmal and as a consequence there was nothing offered up front. Then came probably the most controversial moment of the match when AK made his double substitution. Despite our lack of creativity Traore was taken off (for giving away the free lick?) along with Fischer who after an optimistic first half was a shadow of himself.

Ramirez entered the fray for Fischer but Stuani came on for Traore along with groans, mumbles and some boos. For me the majority of boos and groans were for taking Traore off when chasing the game as our most creative outlet rather than for Stuani entering who has struggled out wide. It wasn’t great to hear but trying to attack and to win the game and bringing on a wide player who is a great finisher but a lousy wide player or creator just didn’t make sense.

As fate decreed it was indeed Stuani running into the box in the closing minutes chasing a Fabio cross that Negredo had miscued (or set up brilliantly) en-route that led to the Uruguayans tap in at the far post for the victory. The Stuani debate rages on. A great finisher? There is probably 99% agreement across the Riverside on that but as a wide player well that probably sees a huge drop in the ratings. The question is what did AK put him on as? The answer today is that once again he has the knack of being in the right place at the right time in the box.

The first half had some great bits of Boro play but Espinosa has struggled with decision making and today it was little different. Gestede put in a good first half shift as did Grant and Stewy but all faded in the second half. To be fair Oxford had us pinned back for large parts of the second half. Fischer has me in a quandary I can see what the Scouts seen in him but he seems incapable of that final bit of skill or magic to become a major influencer. Let’s hope it’s just a confidence thing but todays was a game you would have expected him to boss.

21 shots 8 on target is where it finished for Boro which tells the story of a very poor 2nd half embarrassingly rescued in the end by Stuani sneaking one in to spoil it for the underdogs and neutrals.

A word for Oxford, they came and played good football, no parking of buses or Burnley style hump it and hope and were almost rewarded for their efforts. They can at least go home thinking about if only Stewy hadn’t been awarded the penalty, if only Espinosa hadn’t been nudged, if only Boro hadn’t brought on two Uruguayan Internationals it might all have been very different.

A typical Cup Tie with all the magical ingredients thrown in there. As it turned out one that in the end we are thankful to be in the hat for the next round. There were however lessons to be learned and some are overwhelmingly obvious despite the calibre of opposition.

MOM for me is a difficult one, after the second half not many came out with any glory but once again at the risk of sounding like a stuck needle but whilst I like Grant and Stewy in the first half for 90 minutes it has to be Fabio again.

The optimism on Teesside for this game was probably only bettered by the dark depressing rain clouds that refused to clear all day. Everton were a team on the ascendancy and Boro perilously slip sliding away. Like Spurs last week it was a nothing to lose game, a draw was possibly the most the rain soaked Boro masses could hope for though for some there was that niggling “Typical Boro out of adversity moment” that just might deliver points from unexpected places. With results over the last few weeks going against us if something was going to break then today had to be the day.

Would AK stick with the predictable? Would Friend be fit and if he was would Fabio be unfairly benched for Barragan and of course would Ramirez return? So many questions for the Boro faithful and of course which Everton would turn up, the perennial top 10 side that flatters to deceive but always falters or the one on their current free scoring unbeaten run? Hopefully the Benidorm sunshine would lift the dark clouds around Teesside. Ominously though Everton were on their best winning run against Boro since December 1931 (4 wins in a row) having never beaten us 5 times consecutively.

Lukaku was looking to break Duncan Ferguson’s 60 Premiership Everton goals record and his 16 goals already this season has made him formidable enough as the Premierships leading scorer contrasting against our feeble 11 home goals all season. As we know Middlesbrough have attempted the fewest shots on target in the Premier League this season and the only side to have failed to post a shot on target in more than one PL game in 2016-17. With that backdrop the omens certainly didn’t look good. If AK continued with the same old Boro the outcome was fairly predictable before a ball was even kicked.

The Boro Team line up was less than inspirational when it was announced an hour before KO with all the predicted players in their predicted positions with the exception of the injured Friend. The opening few minutes saw Stuani put in two very weak challenges which allowed balls into the Boro box. Espinosa also looked a little nervy and so it looked like the omens where going to be proved right with yet another “Typical AK Boro” 0-0 performance at best.

As it transpired the end result was indeed 0-0 but one earned with honour, with fight, with aggression, desire and most of all we looked like we wanted to win this. After 20 minutes the realisation was dawning on both sets of fans that it looked like Boro could indeed win this with the Everton fans the quietest I’ve ever known them to be, the noise levels from the South and North stands rising steadily.

Boro were far more positive than at any game this season, closing down, snapping into tackles and not giving Everton a second to loiter on the ball. Confidence and belief levels were growing and perhaps for the first time at home we actually looked like a Premiership side playing at home rather than a promoted side hoping to hang on at home. Things weren’t perfect, we didn’t score yet again and Lukaku burst through 1 v 1 on Valdes in the first half who came out and smothered a shot when to all intents and purposes it looked like the Premiership’s top scorer couldn’t miss. After that Boro would normally be rattled, look nervous and take ten minutes to regroup but not today up the pitch they pushed, keeping a high line and putting the Toffees back in their wrappers.

Valdes came to the rescue on another couple of occasions, racing off his line and playing the sweeper keeper role to perfection. As the game progressed the Boro faithful raised the decibels and the Everton fans I suspect were waiting for what looked like the inevitable Boro goal. Unfortunately it didn’t materialise and on a couple of occasions in the first half Forshaw had an opportunity to shoot but passed into oblivion each time. Despite the vastly more offensively minded Boro the 3 DM’s still held us back. Clayton patrolled and swept up sublimely whilst de Roon looked like he had been clubbing all night and still coming down from an artificial high as he ran chased and closed down and snapped at anything in black and pink that moved. Why would a team that plays in Blue change strip against a team that plays in Red and White anyway? Did the “interesting” strip hand Boro an initiative?

Chambers picked up what looked like a game ending ankle injury just before half time and surprisingly he made it out for the second half when he looked well and truly crocked Bamford style. In fairness whatever was in the magic sponge at half time it done the trick as he nearly stole the show in the dying seconds as he crossed for Gestede to see Robles pull off a save of the season contender (OK maybe a slight exaggeration). More surprisingly though was that AK actually made a Substitution on 58 minutes taking off Forshaw who wasn’t getting up to support Negredo who himself was brilliant, battling fighting and scrapping against Funes Mori and Williams the two Everton CB’s but in vain with no support sadly.

On came Guedioura for his home debut in place of the frustrating Forshaw who has looked for weeks like he needs a break and I don’t mean 3 days in Benidorm. For me Ramirez or Downing centrally would have been a far better fit especially as we had this Everton side on the ropes at times but the ex-Watford man came on to strut his stuff and being honest I wish he hadn’t.  As at White Hart Lane when he entered the fray he gave the ball away with regular aplomb. I suppose his attempts to hand Everton what little initiative they craved took (not for the first time) some of the heat off Espinosa’s equally butt clenching distribution “skills”.

Guedioura did at least try and pass forwards and get closer to Negredo but two game winning chances fell to him on the edge of the 18 yard box and both times his efforts were more worthy of Twickenham than the Riverside. He may have a shot like a rocket but he has all the accuracy of a 90 year old on his fifteenth pint on an afternoon Sesh, the only net he hit was Temenos!

Had those chances fell to Grant, Stewy or Gaston we would have been dancing in the streets now, “high wide and handsome”, “woeful” or just plain “wayward” for a supposed Premiership professional all are apt descriptions. Our Scouting network must have been working alongside that 90 year old and drinking him under the table when they uncovered this gem!

At least AK did try and change the game with a Sub so we should be grateful but again he square pegged Traore onto the left in the second half to keep him near to the dug out and with it his effectiveness dipped compared to the first when he had Everton in a constant state of panic. Fabio already had the normally dangerous Coleman in his back pocket and the switch just made our left side messy with Stuani even more surplus wide right than wide left if that was possible. Later AK brought on Gaston for Stuani but instead of switching flanks with Traore he kept them both on their “wrong” sides to the detriment of both in my opinion.
Gaston responded to the warm reception he received by showing some forward runs and drives as well as giving away silly free kicks as is his want but how I wished AK had put Traore Right and Gaston Left (or better still Central instead of the well-meaning but limited Guedioura). Still happy though that 66 minutes in and AK had made two substitutions.

Everton were making efforts themselves to win the game especially more so in the second half as they built from their left flank with Baines now that he was free from the bane of Traore but Boro stood firm with Gibson snuffing out Lukaku in a manner that will have put another £10m on his head as he made the hitman look more like Pikachu (one for the youngsters there!). Baines even headed off the line from a Gibson header in the second half.

I enjoyed the game immensely and the crowd responded to the new attacking intent with possibly the best backing of the side all season. Hopefully not rocket science for AK to work out that playing like that had 100% support, backing and respect for his charges. More of the same please but with a few tweaks. Three DM’s are one too many, Forshaw needs a rest, Guedioura isn’t the answer and despite Gestede’s late header when he replaced Negredo with 10 to go his ball skills are Bambiesque. Traore wide right please (and leave him there) Gaston and Stewy presumably (or Grant even) in the middle instead of a DM and either Stewy or Gaston wide left. Vast improvement by the bucket load but still needs more work.

Valdes had a good game but as did Gibson who had the Cigars out but MOM for me was almost Fabio again but at the risk of going left field I’m going to give it to de Roon, that Bunny Rabbit Battery Company personified all afternoon!