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Ali's Big Match Preview - Man City v Boro
By Alastair Brownlee October 5 2007
The call by skipper George Boateng for the players to come out fighting at Manchester City on Sunday has not only to be applauded but also backed up by actions on the pitch as Boro try to get the season back on course. Injuries to key players and a testing run of fixtures are all factors in the recent mini slump.



Nevertheless, it was a cause for concern that after conceding the second goal at Goodison Park on Sunday, Boro rarely threatened the Everton goal and long before the final whistle the result had become a foregone conclusion.

The last three away games at West Ham, Spurs and Everton have all brought not only defeat but seven goals conceded and none scored so the timing of Boateng’s call for the players to stand up and be counted could not be better timed.

It will, however, be a tough test on Sunday as Manchester City are really flying at the moment, sitting in third place in the Premier League with their opening four home matches all resulting in wins.

There was huge interest when Sven Goran Eriksson came back into club management at City and no doubt some sections of the media were waiting for the former England manager to fail but Sven looks like confounding the critics and has certainly put belief back into City.

One player to keep an eye on will be the Brazilian Elano who put in a terrific performance against Newcastle and scored a free kick that is already a strong candidate for goal of the season.

In a bid to lift the Goodison blues I went to the reserve match, ironically against Everton, at the Riverside on Tuesday.

The injury problems to the first team forced Steve Agnew to play a side filled with youngsters but they played some terrific football and were full value for the 3-1 win.

One performance, in particular, caught the eye and Graeme Owens looks to have a bright future.

Owens first came to my attention as a young fifteen year old who was part of the FA Youth Cup winning side in 2004. He can play on either wing but seems best suited to the right flank.

The fans who made the journey to White Hart Lane for the Carling Cup match saw Owens come on for his first team debut and he might be included in the squad for Sunday.

Owens is definitely someone to keep an eye on this season and I think he might end the campaign with a number of first team appearances.

The reserves are next in action at the Riverside on Tuesday as they take on Blackburn Rovers and I would recommend that fans go along and see the youngsters in action.

I would like to add my congratulations to those given to Jonathan Woodgate who picked up the Princes Trust Award for North East player of the year this week.

Woody thoroughly deserved the accolade and is not only a top quality defender but as a local lad has a huge influence around the club.

This is shown to great effect in the way he is helping David Wheater adapt to the Premier League. Wheater looks as if he has played in the top flight all his career but that is in no small part due to the guidance given by the player alongside him.

Whenever Bernie and I arrive at City of Manchester Stadium, thoughts inevitably go back to the match on 15 May 2005 when a place in the following seasons UEFA Cup came down to whether or not Mark Schwarzer could save a last minute penalty from Robbie Fowler.

What tends to be forgotten, with all the drama of the last minute shoot out, was that earlier in the match Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink had scored a free kick every bit as good as Elanos, and even after City equalised Boro had struck the post before referee Rob Styles pointed to the spot.

Thankfully, Schwarzer made a terrific save to become “the greatest Australian hero since Ned Kelly!”

Fans still ask where the phrase came from and it even reached the readership of the Sydney Morning Herald. I maintain that I had seen a film in which Kelly was portrayed as a Robin Hood type figure and in truth the only other Aussie I could think of was Rolf Harris!

So I think I made the right choice…

Listen to Ali's penalty save commentary right here...

Lets hope that Schwarzer is not as busy on Sunday and that we come away with three much needed points before the break for international fixtures.

I will be hosting Soccer Saturday at Century FM this weekend from 2pm until 6pm as I take a look at the football scene and then on Sunday I will provide updates from Manchester City as Boro take on the Blues.

There is not a Simply Red show this week but Bernie and I will be back with all the usual features on Sunday 14 October so make a date to give us a call on the usual number 08450021100 and text 85102.



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