Author: Redcar Red

The headlines before KO was all about Boro going 6 games without a win which for a team fighting at the wrong end of the table is not all that remarkable but with Hull beating Liverpool 2-0 and Sunderland’s 4 goal demolition of Palace fresh from the video printers that gap had suddenly closed and the pressure was on before a ball was even kicked.

The Boro Line up was pretty much what we expected with the additions of Downing left protecting Fabio and Chambers in at RB in place of Barragan. Chambers seemingly recovered from his stress fracture remarkably quickly from the initial prognosis was probably not looking forward to his evening appointment with Son.

It unsurprisingly was another backs to the wall job with a stalwart Boro back line that did break once with Traore whose cross found Negredo’s head who unfortunately couldn’t find the net. After that normal business was resumed with Spurs constantly camped around the Boro 18 yard box for the rest of the first half.

In an incident that could come back to haunt Valdes he got himself embroiled with Dele Alli who had tapped his arm (“tapped” as oppose to saying a “grab” would have been an exaggeration) but the former Barca man reacted furiously pushing Alli on the side of his face and then following it up with a finger jab up the nose of the 20 year old. Luckily Clattenburg seemed to dismiss it as handbags but Victor will now be retrospectively sweating on a possible ban for his actions.

Boro did have the very rare nosebleed upfield and one chance fell to Forshaw who stereotypically aimed for the corner flag and still missed. Just before the twenty minute mark as Spurs once again had us under the cosh, Traore found himself in the RB slot with three white shirts closing him down and with a combination of his footwork, deft touches and raw talent he managed to beat all three and clear it upfield (only for it to come straight back at us again as Negredo was hopelessly outnumbered).

Five minutes later Downing put in a cross but Negredo was adjudged to have fouled Lloris with an arm across the Keeper’s arms as he came to collect. The pressure at the other end was building a head of steam despite the odd Boro cameo in the Spurs half and Harry Kane popped up in the middle of the 6 yard box and slotted the ball in but fortunately for Boro the Lino spotted he was a foot offside. Phew, that was close, too close.

Chambers was being given an afternoon from hell with Son busy trying to unlock the Boro defence and whilst it was a tough job the Arsenal loanee stood his ground and whilst not keeping him totally at bay certainly kept him less effective or should that be destructive than he was at The Riverside earlier in the season.

Most of the Spurs attacks were coming down the opposite flank keeping Fabio and Downing pegged back and busy. Just before the half time whistle Fabio took off from the ground with one of his customary leaps outjumping the frustrated Kane. Seconds later Mr Reliable got his head to another ball that he had no right to win again clearing the danger. The Half time whistle went and after the continual bombardment Boro remarkably still clung to their defiant clean sheet.

The 2^nd half started with a brief bit of Boro positivity but then reverted to sitting deep and inevitably the breakthrough came for Spurs fortuitously via a Bernardo challenge and Son going to ground in a theatrical arched dive. Harry Kane stepped up and 1-0 as he smashed the ball into the bottom right hand corner with Valdes going the wrong way.

With half an hour or so left AK brought off Downing and the workmanlike Forshaw but in truth neither had done a lot in terms of creativity but both like their other 9 comrades had tackled, blocked and chased shadows for most of the evening.

Guedioura and Stuani came on but the Boro shape didn’t change with Stuani wide left and Guedioura slipping into Forshaw’s role. Boro did start a few more attacking movements and Guedioura did have a shot but it was to the same standard as the man he replaced going hopelessly well wide. The ex-Watford man struggled to get up to pace with the game and gave a few careless passes away but then started to ping some interesting balls in particular one for Negredo that was just a yard too far only to see Lloris pluck it out of the air.

A corner won by Bamford had Spurs nervous who desperately hoofed it clear in a very un-Spurs like manner only for Clayton to launch it back in from the half way line but unfortunately straight out of play for a goal kick and that summed up Boro’s afternoon.

As we pushed for an equaliser Fabio played an inviting cross from the left to the far side of the box to the waiting Bamford and Negredo and “athletic Alvaro” pulled off an overhead kick which went undeservedly wide.

Two minutes into added time and Fabio again launched a ball forward for Negredo to knock it down for de Roon, unmarked, but his scuffed shot went wide of the post. As the seconds ticked down a handball 30 yards out gave Boro one final opportunity to launch it back into the box but too little too late as Mark Clattenburg blew up.

Another narrow margin game for Boro although it has to be said with 35% possession and little intent we can hardly feel too aggrieved. Defensively heroic but not a single shot on target and Lloris’s shirt as clean as when he ran onto the pitch tells its story, not a speck of dirt or a drop of sweat.

Our attacking intent near the end showed some promise and perhaps had we showed a little more positivity during the game we could have got something as Spurs did look nervy at the back but in the end it was all in vain. Losing at White Hart lane isn’t going to define our season but same old Boro with not a single attempt on target and the pack closing just shows how damaging those “winnable” games from earlier in the season have now become.

The backdrop to the evening was certainly unlike any other I’ve known at the Boro let alone it also being Transfer deadline day. The Stadium seemed very quiet as I got there around 6.45 which an hour before KO the place is usually busy. I strolled through the quiet concourse and my thoughts were that it was looking like a sparse crowd. It must have just been the hassle of people getting home from work and then getting back out in time for the game because as it turned out there was around 27,000 in attendance come KO.

The game started lively enough with the Baggies obviously up for the three points as we contained their early threat but as the game progressed we looked scrappy and edgy. It didn’t take long for the West Brom pressure to tell. After a reckless free kick conceded by Espinosa, the ball was bobbling about in the Boro box, everyone was trying to head or slice it and the inevitability factor came to the fore when the ball squirmed out to Morrison who drove a daisy cutter from 20 yards out through the packed box and past Valdes. 0-1 and only 6 minutes on the clock, the signs were looking very ominous and the next ten minutes seen Boro start to come under pressure from the home fans to get the ball up the pitch and get at them.

Some normal controlled painless passing in our own half was being met with groans and grumbles from the stands. The pressure was building and patience was wearing thin. A few muted boos could be heard with a back pass and a murmuring of “Attack, Attack, Attack” could be heard at the back of the North Stand but more self-deprecating humour than overt disrespect. Still things needed to improve and with that a sense of hitherto unseen urgency and application. And so it was, the tempo upped and intent coming to the boil a through ball fed Negredo running into the box and just as he was going to the right of the six yard box McAuley sliced underneath him and Alvaro was cleaned out. Penalty and without Leadbitter on the pitch Negredo himself stepped up and put the ball to the opposite corner of Foster’s dive. 1-1, the Riverside roar stepped up and now it was truly game on.

Those 10 minutes between Morrison’s opener on 6 minutes and the penalty hitting the net were the most intriguing for a long time, the whole range of possible outcomes played out in only ten minutes, would AK lose the plot, could indeed Boro actually come back from a goal down, would the fans finally turn or would it galvanise Boro and come back fighting?

Fortunately it was the latter and what ensued was swashbuckling at times with West Brom breaking fast with Phillips and Rodin who at one point had burst clear down the length of the pitch and with only Valdes to beat in comes Traore with a perfectly timed tackle in his own 18 yard box having ran the entire length of the pitch which exemplified the spirit on the pitch. The fans responded seeing that there was an appetite and desire to get something from the game. At half time honours were even and so were opportunities despite Boro once again dominating the possession stats.

Before the game there were some frustrations at AK’s team selection. Barragan was back so Fabio was switched to LB but Espinosa was partnering Gibson despite both playing on Saturday and Gibson having tweaked himself. In midfield we reverted back to the three DM’s which meant little service or supply but plenty of short range passing, retaining possession. Stuani was wide left and was given a battle by Nyom who was one of the biggest RB’s I’ve seen in a while and manhandled Stuani several times but Stuart Attwell was having none of it. On the other flank Traore was a demon possessed and tore the Baggies defence apart repeatedly putting in a series of crosses. Negredo ran himself ragged but was again as per usual isolated and despite his endeavour looked unlikely to get anything from open play.

The second half started pretty much the way of the first half with the Baggies piling on pressure. Defensively we looked very jittery. Espinosa was giving away ridiculous free kicks and his distribution and decision making was very poor and more than once landed us in trouble. Gibson alongside him had a steady game though perhaps not 100% fit. Fabio as usual had a decent game but perhaps not as effective as he is on the right. Barragan was strong and put some long balls into the box and was generally solid up against the troublesome Phillips who did however beat him on a few occasions. Valdes in goal looked to be struggling at set pieces when the ball was bobbling in and around the box he couldn’t get near it and he once came out of his box to sweep up and just managed to slice it by good fortune to safety. Like Espinosa, Valdes’s distribution was poor and in the last 30 minutes when we were under the cosh balls were being humped aimlessly up field to Negredo who couldn’t run or close down any more if he tried despite beckoning his team mates to move up and get closer.

The lack of creativity centrally left many muttering about what Downing had to do to get a chance especially with Gaston nowhere to be seen. Worse still was watching the few corners and free kicks that we did have very poorly executed. For all Forshaw’s running, tackling and industrious activity his Corners are very substandard at this level which for a side with notoriously low attempts should be an area of great artistry.

The second half gradually saw West Brom continually pile on pressure and our keystone cops defending continued with the ball constantly spinning up into the air as games of head tennis became the norm. The Baggies were unlucky to see the post hit not once but twice within seconds. Just after Negredo’s penalty in the first half an even clearer cut one against Stuani wasn’t given so perhaps lady luck balanced things out with the posts. Bamford came on for Stuani in the second half but was largely ineffective as was Gestede (for Negredo) who won headers but there was nobody remotely near to him to pick up or feed off them. The fact that apart from the penalty our best chance was nearly a Fletcher own goal tells a familiar story despite our first half purple patch.

Aitor received strong support in what was a hard fought draw and whilst we didn’t come back to win we did at least draw. Unfortunately events elsewhere showed the importance and value of wins with both Swansea and Palace closing the 4 point gap to 2 and piling pressure on.

I’m not sure if tonight answered anything or just asked more of the same old tactical questions but with the transfer window shut AK and SG now need to ensure they get the most out of what they have got.

The hope before kick off for the 23,500 or so Boro fans was that this was the game that would kick off our 2017 and provide a springboard to a Season bereft of goalmouth action and indeed goals. Well for those that missed the game (presumably the 6,000 or so plastic newcomers that don’t respect the Players) the temperature dropped quite dramatically after KO as the Sun set behind the West Stand. I started to lose the sensation in my fingertips after around 30 minutes. I was sat thinking I wished I’d put another layer of clothing on as my ears began to join my fingertips in losing all signs of life then I remembered there was a game on and not for the first time during the afternoon I had drifted off with my thoughts elsewhere.

Aitor had named a very strong line up with Dimi returned between the sticks to a rapturous welcome befitting of our Championship hero. A strong and our fittest back line at the minute with Fabio, Espinosa, Gibson and Friend all lining up. Many of us yesterday were predicting a weakened back line but this was our strongest available defence. After only a few minutes we were left rueing that we hadn’t indeed started with a weakened back line as George went down inexplicably off the ball with what looked like a tight calf. Dael Fry came on and performed admirably slotting into the middle alongside Espinosa with Ben filling in on the left. After that there was a lot of possession and probing play but little serious threat on the Accrington goal.

Bamford looked lively buzzing around and seemed to be back at home taking players on and linking up well but in fairness he had the two players who for me were the joint MOM in Fabio and Downing to link up with which helped immensely but the signs for the lad definitely looked good. Gestede seemed far more mobile than Negredo in movement and dragging defenders around but had about as much potency unfortunately and after the half time break his lack of game time showed as he looked as though he had stiffened up a bit and struggled thereafter to get through the full 90.

Stanley were putting up some stern resistance and as the game wore on they started to gain in confidence. Not only were they gaining in confidence but they also started to cause a few problems with Dimi having to smother one down near the post having to concede a corner from the lively Clare. We had hoped that the second half would gain in momentum much like the 12^th man in the North Stand who forlornly tried unsuccessfully several times to get an Aitor chant going. The 30 or so of them were determined so fair play but the mood amongst the “faithful” was clearly slightly more subdued not helped by the ineffective football before them.

On the opposite side to Paddy we had Fischer who would receive the ball but then drop down from 5^th to 3^rd gear and anything quick or slick ground down with it. I’m not sure if he was playing to instruction but there were several opportunities where our momentum seemed to dim and flicker as he took too many touches too many times. In a very un Aitor like tactic he made a change on 60 minutes bringing Traore on for Fischer. Ten minutes later he brought Bamford off who was showing signs of fatigue bringing on Stuani. Personally I would have subbed Gestede but I guess as our subs were reduced with Friends injury it was a 50/50 call as to who was the most cream crackered.

Stuani done what Stunai usually does, gets the ball wide, dribbles a bit, lose possession or gets dispossessed and then tracks back without great belief. Fortunately Fabio was supercharged literally winning everything that came in close proximity to him, the lad looked like he had a jet pack strapped to his back at times as he regularly outjumped opponents with a good foot advantage. Stewy was creating and passing putting through balls for Gestede and Bamford and Fischer, taking free kicks although with mixed results but at least there was the possibility of something rather than the poor set pieces we have suffered of late. Stuani had a few chances to put the game beyond Stanley but along with Adama in quick succession missed one opportunity that seemed easier to score from.

There was a clear gulf in class between the sides yet the men from the NW created as many chances as Boro getting in behind our defence on a few occasions and coming close one which nearly resulted in a goal near the end if it wasn’t for Dimi’s huge shovels for hands plucking it out of the air cleanly.

As the cold was seriously taking its toll on those assembled the queues and constant flow of fans getting up and down for hot coffees and chocolate was growing as was the resultant queues for emptying said beverages. I probably shouldn’t complain as that constantly getting up and down movement to let those inclined to miss the “action” get past probably prevented hypothermia setting in.

On 69 minutes Stewy suddenly picked the ball up on the right and drifted across the pitch with the Stanley backline assembled before him and just as it looked like he had overrun he pulled the trigger from the edge of the box and the ball sailed into the net past the despairing Rodak who up until then hadn’t been seriously bothered. 1-0 and our tails were up along with hope that had been slowly dropping like the temperature.

Stanley threw on a few subs and had a real go but we stood firm albeit with a few nervy moments to see the game out. The North Stand tried once again to start an Aitor chant in the 92^nd minute and this time managed to get a few more joining in, the wonderful difference a goal can make even if it was scored by one of our own and who up until now been “overlooked” by the very same Aitor. I smiled at the irony of it but somehow resisted the temptation to join in the 200 or so that were now clearly delighted and impressioned by scraping a victory against the mighty Accrington Stanley.

Through to the Monday night draw so job done as Aitor likes to remind us. Maybe, but play like that on Tuesday night against West Brom and those at the back of the North Stand could be singing to a different tune. To end on a positive however Grant and Clayton cleaned up most things with aplomb and Downing in front of them looked creative and as a side we looked far more likely to create something centrally without having three DM’s.

I’ve paused for thought before writing. Part of me could see a lot of running and huffing and puffing but deep down I knew what I was watching was dross. A great game for Hammers fans or the neutrals but as a Boro fan two attempts on target sums up everything there is to say about AK’s 2017 Boro.

Before Kick Off I posted rumours about the supposed line up. I had hoped it wasn’t the case but unfortunately when the official sheet came out it was true. Now I’m no expert or professional but when a team line up has me scratching my head then I’m sure Slaven Bilic must have been smiling and the way the Hammers came out of the blocks confirmed it.

Before the game we heard all week how much a threat Carroll was so I figured that the selected back line was intended to diffuse that threat. Perhaps at Rockcliffe they had practised all week in dealing with high balls pinged into the box. I say perhaps because there was little evidence to suggest that this defence was prepared in any way judging by the ease of Carrol’s first goal. Espinosa was simply brushed aside as Carroll strode and rose to power home.

In the muddle, sorry middle of the park we had the usual slow, mono paced sideways shuffle. Zero creativity, zero guile and zero craft. There was lots of running, chasing and snapping tackles but nothing of offensive value. Out left George was offering a threat going forwards, Traore had his most complete game and was MOM but Stuani (woeful, defensively) did try a few runs but lacks the quality at this level and is no Ramirez. To his credit he popped up and scored our goal, no surprise really as a lot of us feel his best role is as central striker.

Talking of central strikers once again we had Mr Undroppable, the Teflon coated Krypton protected Negredo. I’m not sure if the guy is just bone idle, lazy and disinterested or we just have no tactics that play to his strengths. I’m fast approaching the point where I don’t really care. Once again however he remained on the pitch when he was our worse player and by some considerable margin. Stuani was hooked for Bamford when he was at least running around, trying to challenge, scrapping and fighting whilst Negredo struck his by now famous arms outstretched pose asking why the ball wasn’t arriving at his feet. That pose is becoming a bit predictable and annoying especially when some movement in situations would not go amiss.

The front pairing were not a pairing, in fact I’m not even sure they were even on speaking terms such was the disconnect at times. With the midfield looking agricultural our best opportunity was probably going to come from a set piece. Wrong! Forshaw’s corners were so poor I would question if he had actually ever taken them before in his entire career. No technique just a hit and hope, no intended target just woefully placed kicks that offered nothing and again not for the first time no routine worked out between those on the pitch. How this is supposed to be acceptable at Premiership level is way beyond me.

Forshaw took his chance and grabbed it earlier in the season, he now looks as though he is either very tired or his new found adulation has gone to his head. The lad needs resting but more than that three negative dull, drab sideways passing automatons is now clearly one too many.

Midfield bereft of any creativity, a defence that couldn’t cope with the one thing that AK had warned about all week and a Striker starved of supply and looking like he was as sick as those of us watching a game with nothing to lift Boro fans off their seats in the Hammers 18 yard box. At half time AK needed to rethink things, perhaps pull the uninspiring Negredo off and Espinosa who was sublime in some tackles and then equally frustrating in his distribution and putting Chambers and Gibson back together again and bring Fabio on.  At the restart however nothing changed, just the same old, same old.

It was clear as the game went on that we were not going to open up West Ham. Considering the month of January was supposed to be our great opportunity for points on the board and considering Swansea picking up 3 points just before KO this performance offered nothing to suggest that AK has sussed out when to make substitutions let alone select playing personnel for a game we needed to win or at least look like we wanted to win. Drawing tactically is great but it’s a flawed strategy.

The home fans in their frustration at the puerile sideways and backwards passing let their feelings be known. “Attack, Attack, Attack, Attack, Attack”, I’m not sure it made that much difference as our midfield was so pedestrian that their Zimmer frames must have been rusting in the encircling icy Riverside mist.

Inevitably in injury time West Ham broke away and missed an opportunity but managed to resurrect the opportunity and had another go and scored their third. In those dying seconds West ham managed to create the same amount of chances that we had done all game despite running about a lot.

The transfer window hasn’t shut yet and any incoming players will have to acclimatise and learn to get back, defend and learn to pass sideways before they will be trusted to start and no chance if they are either a Keeper or a Central striker who seem to be under a different set of video rules to the rest of the squad. Chambers, Friend and Traore at least tried, Stuani tried his best and at least took his goal when the chance came but the rest of them were very poor.

Today the Riverside atmosphere had a different air. Beforehand when Bamford’s return was announced there was a generous and polite appreciation then when Gestede was announced, nothing just indifference. The performance which followed was a further tipping point, it was rank and purgatory to watch a Boro side with nothing to transform or redeem themselves and worse still a Manager who clearly hasn’t a clue how to change things and worst of all doesn’t recognise it.

We have had indifferent performances before and certainly much worse than this one but this was the one when the fans started to turn. AK I subsequently noticed has had a go at the fans tonight, well that’s his opinion and he is indeed entitled to it as are those fans. He complained about fans just wanting the ball humped up the pitch and that not being our game, fair enough but who bought Gestede, why, and who brought him on to play up top with Negredo late in the game taking off one of his defensive midfield snails? Was that to play a passing game to Rudy’s gifted feet?

Aitor says we need to remember where we were and that’s the problem, we do and we also remember how we got there.

Pre game there was much guessing about line ups and how seriously both managers were treating the Cup. The previous days games had seen some upsets after extreme cosmetic tinkering and a lot of empty seats around the nations grounds in general. Sad to see the glory and excitement of what was once the premier club trophy in the world reduced to the role of a distraction for many. For me I am fairly ambivalent towards it, reach the quarter finals and I just may get interested.

A fairly warm but damp misty day was the morning backdrop to the build-up for the game much like my mood for the match itself, dull and grey. Come three o’clock the cloud had cleared and clear blue skies allowed the winter sun to lighten the mood. The Boro line up seemed a bit unbalanced and strange, Chambers back at RB where he started his career but hasn’t looked comfortable in that role for Boro. The “injured” Leadbitter starting, Stuani and Traore both in so who would be going left, once we kicked off it was to be Traore with that “honour” not that he will be remembered for it.

Downing, Rhodes and Nugent missing would indicate perhaps that their futures lay elsewhere but Ayala was included so not sure what to read into things. Would we go with three at the back and Traore and Friend wide with two up front in Stuani and Negredo? No we stuck with Chambers at RB and Friend at LB with Traore in for Ramirez.

The Boro bench led to more plots and sub plots, Downing and Rhodes on the bench along with Gestede, who is staying and who might get a run out and who might be going? The Owls had former Boro man Reach starting and our nemesis Nuhui on the bench.

Wednesday took the field in probably the worse away kit seen at the Riverside, why clubs need to change to black and vibrant orange when they play in blue and white is beyond me. The opening fifteen minutes were a fairly low key affair, the nearest we came was a Stuani cross with Negredo nowhere near it, in truth Wednesday had slightly edged it. Leadbitter was lively which was good to see buzzing around and set up Friend to release Traore but it came to nothing.

Carvalho was very animated on the touchline which was just as well because so far Wednesday seemed to be the only side likely to create something. This was about as dull and dreary as you could imagine, in fact even more dull and dreary than even I anticipated this morning. Boro seemed flat and lacking ideas with absolutely no spark. Unfortunately this seemed to transmit itself to the Wednesday players as well. Purgatory personified!

Chambers, Ayala, Espinosa and Friend all seemed comfortable, Traore looked “over coached” and lacking the desire to find third gear let alone fourth. Then on 25 minutes some excitement at last with Negredo of all players getting himself booked for a frustrated tackle. There was very little for the neutral observer to work out which of these sides were the Premiership one. News trickled through nearing 30 minutes that Plymouth had managed a clean sheet and a replay against Liverpool and just at that Grant swung a ball in and Ayala managed to get a half shot away over the bar, at last an attempt on goal.

If ever there was any doubt that the FA Cup has lost its shine then this game typified it, you could have nipped out and done your weeks shopping, come back and missed nothing. The complete lack of intent against any opposition let alone lower league opposition was probably the worst witnessed at the Riverside. This was dire in the extreme, in the end the Wednesday fans thankfully started a sing song in an effort to break the snoozefest. Then Traore broke through but scuffed his shot, which summed up the game in general and his contribution in particular.

Wednesday then broke out and Forestieri went hunting but it petered out with a well-timed challenge. Phew that brief high nearly woke me from my snooze. Sadly we seemed to set ourselves up to draw in a knock out cup. Negredo picked up a whack to his face which resulted in a slight delay then thankfully the half time whistle went to end the misery. There were conversations going on around me about Christmas and New Year and getting back to work as fans interest in the game waned then had just about gone. Then reality hit, there was another 45 minutes of this to endure as the players trudged off.

The second half commenced and Carvalho had clearly told his troops, go out there and get at them as this Boro lot just haven’t turned up. The Owls pressure was building up but for all their efforts their shots tally was equally as abysmal as Boro. A free kick awarded to Boro outside the box saw Grant step up to take it in the absence of Ramirez. The ensuing daisy cutting thunderbastard free kick and hit the far corner of the net, 1-0 and suddenly the game sprung to life.

Immediately from the kick off Wednesday broke and Ayala interrupted proceedings with a forearm smash and earned a straight red for his troubles. There were definitely covering defenders but I suspect the Ref saw the physicality of the forearm as deliberate intent rather than a clumsy challenge. Subs were then forced upon AK and he hauled off the ineffective grass stain collector Traore and brought on Downing whilst Fabio came on for Clayts. An astute set of subs even though enforced given the circumstances as Chambers moved across and Fabio slotted in at RB whilst Downing’s experience could cover for Clayton but also pick a pass out offensively.

The game opened up as Wednesday went for it and ten minutes after Grants goal Negredo capitalised on a comedy of errors in the Wednesday box when their rookie keeper Wildsmith kicked the ball off the closing down Alvaro rebounding off his back side into the net but they all count, 2-0 despite the ten men and game effectively over. In the dying seconds de Roon who was energy personified in the second half hit a cracker from the edge of the box and ended the contest with a knockout blow, 3-0.

A game of two halves, the first possibly the worst in living memory and the second seemingly headed for nothingness until a free kick and a sending off within 60 seconds. The score line looks credible but the story behind it far from convincing or satisfactory. Boro go into the hat however for round four with twenty thousand relieved home fans.