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Middlesbrough
v West Bromwich Albion
Riverside Stadium,
Middlesbrough. 23rd April 2005, 3.00pm. |
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Match
Preview |
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| Result |
Middlesbrough |
4 - 0 |
West Bromwich Albion |
| Scorers |
Szilard Nemeth (27)
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (33)
Szilard Nemeth (37)
Stewart Downing (90) |
None |
| Attendance |
32,951 |
| Teams |
4-4-2
22 - Bradley Jones (GK)
23 - Colin Cooper
4 - Ugo Ehiogu
3 - Franck Queudrue
6 - Gareth Southgate
7 - George Boateng
20 - Guidoni Junior Doriva
19 - Stewart Downing
32 - Boudewijn Zenden
18 - Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
8 - Szilard Nemeth |
4-4-2
(GK) Russell Hoult - 1
Martin Albrechtsen - 14
Neil Clement - 19
Thomas Gaardsoe - 4
Paul Robinson - 3
Riccardo Scimeca - 2
Ronnie Wallwork - 24
Richard Chaplow - 12
Kevin Campbell - 21
Robert Earnshaw - 34
Zoltan Gera - 11 |
| Substitutes |
35 - David Knight (GK)
24 - Andrew Davies
31 - David Wheater
15 - Ray Parlour
30 - Danny Graham |
(GK) Tomasz Kuszczak
- 29
Darren Moore - 5
Junichi Inamoto - 33
Geoff Horsfield - 9
Nwankwo Kanu - 25 |
| Substitutions |
A Davies for C Cooper (37)
R Parlour for B Zenden (65)
D Graham for S Nemeth (87) |
N Kanu for K Campbell
(45)
J Inamoto for M Albrechtsen (45)
G Horsfield for Z Gera (79) |
| Yellow Cards |
Stewart Downing (55) |
Thomas Gaardsoe (22)
|
| Red Cards |
None |
None |
| Referee |
H Webb (South Yorkshire) |
I couldn't make it
to the Riverside, and this report is based on the Football First
coverage, which I forced myself to watch. I'd gathered from the
comments on Soccer Saturday that Albion had had chances to take
the lead, but their domination of the game as a whole was hard to
believe given the result.
The results went against us putting the Baggies back down into 19th
place, but there are positives to take from the performance into
the biggest game of the season on Tuesday night.
Robson opted to put Scimeca into midfield in place of the injured
Kieran Richardson, bringing Albrechtsen back in at right back. Up
front, Earnshaw got a start alongside Campbell.
Albion started extremely brightly and completely dominated the first
twenty minutes of the game. An early chance was created by the impressive
Richard Chaplow who knocked the ball into Kevin Campbell. The former
Everton man produced a great first touch to take the ball away from
Ugo Ehiogu, before swivelling and firing a firm shot that stand-in
'keeper Brad Jones saved superbly touching the ball around the post.
Hasselbaink went close with a header after a good cross from Zenden,
but Albion were soon back on the attack. Campbell latched onto a
ball behind Ehiogu and played Earnshaw through on goal. Earnie looked
to do everything right and lifted the ball as Jones rushed out,
but the young 'keeper stood tall and the ball rebounded off his
shoulder and away from the goal.
Albion's next chance came from a Chaplow free kick. It was perfect
for Campbell, but his header was parried by Jones and Ehiogu managed
to get a toe on the loose ball before Gaardsoe could capitalise.
Minutes later, a crucial block by Queudrue prevented Earnie from
being handed a simple chance after more good work from Chaplow.
Then completely against the run of play, the home side took the
lead. Hasselbaink won a simple header from a long ball under challenge
from Gaardsoe. Nemeth picked the ball up and fed it back to Hasselbaink
who'd been lost by Gaardsoe. The Dutchman fired in a powerful shot
that Hoult did well to block, but the ball fell to Nemeth and, with
Clement struggling to get close, he managed to fire in a weak shot
that somehow went through Gaardsoe's legs and beyond Hoult's outstretched
hand into the corner of the net.
Six minutes later, 'Boro had in incredible 2-0 lead. The home side
were once again allowed too much time and space around the box and
Nemeth attacked Gaardsoe on the left side of the penalty area. The
Dane was completely flummoxed by the Slovakian and he was allowed
to cross. Hoult expected the pull back, but the ball was square
and the Baggies 'keeper parried the ball goalwards beforeHasselbainkk
made sure of the goal.
It got worse for the Baggies just three minutes after that. Hasselbaink
had far too much time once again and fired in a fierce shot. Hoult
could only parry the ball straight back out and Nemeth was there
to head the ball into a gaping net for his second goal of the game.
And still Albion looked dangerous and created more chances before
half time. Wallwork crossed for Earnshaw who had a free header eight
yards out but failed to hit the target, and just before the break,
a last ditch challenge from Ehiogu prevented Earnie from scoring
once again.
Robson took Albrechtsen and Campbell off at half time bringing on
Kanu and Inamoto. Scimeca went back to right back with Kanu and
Gera playing as attacking wide players in a five-man midfield.
The second half was less open than the first as 'Boro sensibly decided
to keep things tight. They allowed Albion most of the possession,
but restricted them to just a handful of chances. Kanu had a couple
of headers, one of which brought a great save from Jones, but there
was little other goalmouth action at that end. 'Boro had one or
two half chances, but the Albion defence was much more solid after
the break, presumably following some harsh words from Robson at
the break.
Downing scored a fourth for 'Boro in stoppage time with an excellent
log range free kick to give the result an even more unfair look,
and further damage Albion's goal difference.
To illustrate how the result can differ from the pattern of the
game, here are a few stats. Albion had 58% of the possession, had
more shots on goal and more shots on target that 'Boro and four
times as many corners. But the result doesn't lie, and Albion now
have to recover their confidence and win a vital three points at
home to Blackburn on Tuesday.
At the end of the day, Albion's survival remains in their own hands.
Marks
Russell Hoult - 5 - Poor 'keeping for goals 2 and 3, and arguably
should have been more aware of Downing's intentions for the fourth.
Martin Albrechtsen - 6 - Did OK
Neil Clement - 6 - Poor in the first half but improved in the second.
Thomas Gaardsoe - 5 - Too often battled out of it by Hasselbaink,
and generally gave the forwards too much space.
Paul Robinson - 7 - Decent game from Robbo.
Riccardo Scimeca - 6 - Adequate.
Ronnie Wallwork - 7 - MOM. Used the ball very well and was probably
Albion's most creative influence.
Richard Chaplow - 7 - Another impressive display, particularly in
the first half.
Kevin Campbell - 6 - Did reasonably well and was probably unlucky
to be subbed.
Robert Earnshaw - 5 - Failed to take his chances; not good enough.
Zoltan Gera - 5 - Looked tired and gave the ball away far too much.
Nwankwo Kanu - 7 - Worked hard with little success.
Junichi Inamoto - 6 - Did OK.
Geoff Horsfield - 6 - Ditto.
Bryan Robson - 6 - Scimeca was not the right choice in the middle
of the park, Gera obviously needed a rest and Earnie shouldn't have
lasted 90 minutes.
Jon Want, 24th April 2005.
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