| |
GAME DETAILS
 |
| |
|
|
| |
|
Championship
|
Attendance: 14,633
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
1-0
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Boyd (52)
|
|
|
| |
Bates (64), Wheater (90+1)
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| DT92 Count: 60 |
| |
| |
|
| Managers |
|
|
DT92 Members at this game: (you can click here to load your profile picture) |
|
chris usher
91 |
|
|
|
|
|
stevedale
88 |
|
|
|
|
|
downey
85 |
|
|
|
|
|
goffybun
83 |
|
|
Middlesbrough 1 Sheffield United 0
THE first goal in Boro colours from Kris Boyd was enough to secure Boro''s first win of the season, reports GORDON COX from the Riverside.
Andrew Halliday and Matt Kilgallon made their Boro debuts in a side showing three changes to the line-up that drew at Leicester.
Despite not playing in pre-season and having no Reserve team minutes under his belt, winger Halliday was given a chance to show why he was brought from Livingston and a chance to add width to a side that included two wingers for the first time since December, Tarmo Kink being the other.
Halliday replaced Luke Williams and Kilgallon slotted in at left-back, with Matthew Bates moving to right-back as Justin Hoyte dropped to the bench. Kink came in for Kevin Thomson.
For his first game in charge, Gary Speed made just one change to the side that lost heavily at home to QPR and brought about the resignation of Kevin Blackwell, Nyron Nosworthy replacing Stephen Quinn who dropped to the bench that included former Boro player Mark Yeates.
Kink started on the right and Halliday left, but neither winger saw much of the ball in the early stages as it was passed around and through midfield. As a consequence there was little goalmouth action.
The first shot on target, in fact the first shot of the game, came approaching the eighth minute as Scott McDonald shot low from the edge of the penalty area and Steve Simonsen saved comfortably.
Boro''s hesitancy to pass quickly almost caught them out when Nicky Bailey, in central midfield midway inside his own half and with Kink in space away to the right, delayed passing, was dispossessed and United moved sharply to set up a chance for Ched Evans. Fortunately the striker''s low shot from inside the penalty area was well saved by the legs of Jason Steele.
United began with a 4-2-3-1 formation, and although that was also adopted by a famous World Cup side, this was not just like watching Brazil.
Boro found it difficult to break down, hot helped by a tendency to sit too deep. United looked sharper but they achieved as little as Boro, although they did it just a bit quicker.
Then, suddenly, after a period of promising Boro possession, Kink cut in from the right and delivered a cracking left-footed shot which dipped just too late as it cleared Simonsen''s bar.
Half-time: Middlesbrough 0 Sheffield United 0
Gordon Strachan made a change at half-time, replacing Kink with Julio Arca.
It was a similar start to the half, though, but gradually, as in the first half, Boro began to see more possession and after 52 minutes they took the lead.
Halliday played a lofted ball in the middle of the park and Scott McDonald flicked a header on but United''s normally dependable skipper Chris Morgan misjudged the bounce. Kris Boyd didn''t, latched onto the ball and stroked a low left-footed shot across Simonsen as he entered the penalty area.
The goal instilled a little more belief and relief by the bucketful for Boro, but it didn''t elicit an immediate response from the Blades, although Steele was forced to tip over from a teasing Nick Montgomery cross.
Click here to view a larger version of the above photo
Boro looked better now, if not as effective as they would like. Barry Robson, driving forward, saw a low shot blocked, as did McDonald a few minutes later, while Leroy Lita, a replacement for Boyd, was a willing worker and had the United defence stretched.
Jamie Ward went close as he shot from the edge of the box as the visitors rounded off quick move that was rare from them in the second half.
In the closing minutes it was Ward again causing problems as Boro backed off and his deflected shot almost picked out Daniel Bogdanovic.
In the first minute of injury-time Boro conceded a free-kick 40 yards from goal, Ward shot, Steele saved comfortably and that, pretty much, was that.
Middlesbrough: Steele: Bates, Wheater, McManus (Capt), Kilgallon, Halliday (Taylor 78), Robson, Bailey, Kink (Arca 46), McDonald, Boyd (Lita 69). Unused subs: Coyne (gk): Hoyte, L Williams, Miller.
Sheffield United: Simonsen: Nosworthy (Quinn 75), Morgan (Capt), Taylor, Ertl, Bartley, Britton, Montgomery, Cresswell, Ward, Evans (Bogdanovic 66). Unused subs: Aksalu (gk): Kozluk, James, Chapell, Yeates.
Referee: Dean Whitestone, Northamptonshire.
Bookings
Middlesbrough: Bates, 63, foul: Wheater 90+1, handball.
Sheffield United: None
Attendance: 14,633 (724 Sheffield United)
Conditions: Warm and sunny with the occasional breeze - cricket weather.
Website Boro Man of the Match: Julio Arca''s introduction made a difference
|
|
Stuart long
71 |
|
|
|
|
cameron long
47 |
|
|
|
|
|
ukboro
13 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hello. Sign In
