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Manchester United 4 Middlesbrough 1 - Match Report
By Elizabeth Medhurst October 28 2007
Middlesbrough travelled to Old Trafford hoping for a minimum of a draw against Manchester United, but preferably to bring home the first win in eight. It was not recent form but Boro’s record of not losing here in six visits that gave the foundation to this hope.
Aliadiere was welcomed back from injury swapping couches in the treatment room with Mido. Southgate chose Wheater over Riggott, and Cattermole to replace Boateng who started on the bench. Woodgate took the captain’s armband.

Hargreaves started for Manchester United for the fourth time this season, and as expected Ronaldo and Nani provided suport to Rooney and Tevez.

Schwarzer, Young, Woodgate, Wheater, Taylor, O'Neil, Rochemback, Cattermole, Downing, Aliadiere, (Hutchinson 56) Tuncay
Turnbull, Hines, Boateng, Lee

THE FIRST HALF

Rooney started at a sprint, charging to take the ball from Taylor and straight to Schwarzer, showing the intent from the off. It was all United for the first few minutes, so much so that before the crowd had had chance to draw breath United went in for the kill. Nani sped past O’Neil, picked the ball up from the left hand side and his right foot found the net from nothing - if 30 yards coulod be described as nothing. One more early goal, albeit a wonder goal.

Manchester United 1 Middlesbrough 0 (Nani, 3)

In return Aliadiere tried to get into the game but was thwarted by Hargreaves. Woodgate then made an uncharacteristic slip and gave the ball away to Ronaldo, who found Tevez with a deep pass. David Wheater did well to try block this, but ultimately it was Schwarzer that had to make the save. There was a definite sense that another goal would appear very soon.

It did, but not for United. O’Neil ran down the right side, beating O’Shea and allowing Tuncay to provide Aliadiere with an inswinging cross so he could claim his debut goal for Boro with a lovely glancing header.

Manchester United 1 Middlesbrough 1 (Aliadiere, 6 )

With the game turned on a sixpence, United were momentarily rattled. Boro continued in the 4 4 2 formation, finding space where they could. By twelve Ferdinand was forced into some sloppy moves giving the ball to Downing. Aliadiere could not make anything of the resulting flick on from Rochemback, and did not in fact move, causing concern that he may have picked up an early injury.

A potentially dangerous free kick was diffused when Rooney found the wall instead of the net, and Boro kept up the pressure, allowing United to see chunks of danger, making them reactive instead of directing the play as earlier. The visitors were judging the pace well.

After a few more minutes of each team showing the other too much respect it was Boro who tried to increase the goal count. Tuncay charged down the right hand side and got the ball into the box from 35 yards, getting round the back of Brown. Downing’s header just went wide from close range, landing a whisker passed the post. No-one could explain how that wasn’t a goal, Boro being desperately unlucky.

As United tried to up the stakes Boro displayed terrific defensive organisation by continually closing them down, the eleven or so goal attempts so far being testament to this. There was one scare when Ronaldo found a break and shot across the face of goal, going wide, but was inches away from putting the home side back into the lead.

Boro strength continued, putting United into a game they did not expect. However it only took a single error to change things. In a passable impression of Santa Claus Downing gifted the ball to Rooney 12 yards out on the edge of the area, and of course when this happens there is a high price to pay. Rooney made no mistake making full capital out of this error.

Manchester United 2 Middlesbrough 1 (Rooney, 33)

The visitor’s play then went slightly flat after making such good progress. Schwarzer stopped Ronaldo making it three with a great save, attempting to revive the hope. Overall this open, flowing game of football had provided entertainment and goals, and a solid-looking Boro were unlucky not to be equal at this stage. During the three minutes of added time United surged forward and put Boro in huge danger, but Schwarzer eventually overcame a three on one attack. In retaliation Tuncay shot wide across the face of the United goal showing that the visitors had a lot of fight left and the game was far from over.

THE SECOND HALF

No changes for Boro as the second half got under way. An early corner saw Downing trying to make up for his earlier error, but it was easily headed out by O’Shea. Young had an opportunity to create a break, but it was wasted. The home crowd were subdued and United had not come back with much of a spark either. Boro remained 4 4 2 and started to regain tenacity and control.

On 53 Cattermole tried a shot from 30 yards out and forced Van de Sar to pull out an emergency save, putting it on the top of the net for a Boro corner. This was taken by Rochemback, but Brown got to it before Tuncay. Down the other end of the pitch it was Ronaldo against Woodgate and Young, a sequence that showed great play from both sides, particular brilliantly read by the Boro captain. However immediately after this interception the scoreline increased once more.

Tevez crossed to Rooney who in a stroke of genius back heeled back to Tevez, who answered by dispatching another wonder goal. It was well deserved but devastating for Boro.

Manchester United 3 Middlesbrough 1 (Tevez, 55)

Aliadiere was struggling with his hamstring and had to leave the pitch after fifty six minutes being replaced by Hutchinson who was once again chosen over Lee. To Boro’s credit the team did not give up, although understandably went a little flat.

For United Hargreaves gave way to Fletcher and the home side looked relaxed, confident and solid, believing that the game was won. They retained the lion’s share of the possession and started to close down the visitors. Tuncay and Cattermole were still standing out for Boro, trying to create results out of opportunities, but again and again relatively small things were getting in the way, a consequence of United’s relative safety and Boro’s rapidly dwindling belief.

A further United change saw Giggs come on for Ferdinand. By this time very little action was worth noting on the pitch as there was an air of inevitability to the result. United were cruising along comfortably in first gear. Tuncay was then taken off, his eighty minutes of play being once of the best performances for Boro, and Dong Gook Lee entered the pitch hoping to make a mark on the game.

It seemed that United were not content with three, and wanted to get four for the fourth consecutive time, so they stepped up the pace, sensing that all Boro belief had vanished. A powerful break by Rooney in his own half saw Rochemback try to tug him back, but he broke clear leaving Rocky with only a yellow card for a reward. Rooney continued to show balance, pace strength, delivering the ball to Tevez. This looped over the top of Schwarzer to hit the back of the net, at first looking like it was going over the top. Maybe this would have been saved if it hadn’t hit Taylor on the way in, but the goal was credited to Tevez to rub salt into Boro’s wounds.

Manchester United 4 Middlesbrough 1 (Tevez 85)

There was no respite given by the home team as they continued to keep Boro under the cosh. Deep into injury time the injured Cattermole was replaced by Boateng, but Boro showed no further attempts at goal, the full time whistle being a temporary relief from the misery of the moment, but no comfort as the troubled times remained.

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