Match report - Boro v Bolton 12-2-05

By Up The Boro Man
February 12 2005

A big warm 'welcome back' to Chris Riggott, as Boro went into this one as the underdogs. Bolton were on a run and we have more than half a team missing...

Boro started with three centre backs and just one up front - an unusual move considering that Bolton were using Kevin Davies as a lone striker. Perhaps we were trying to paper over the cracks in our midfield?

And Joseph Job missed a glorious chance to give us the lead on two minutes. The ball bounced luckily for him and he found himself in space down the middle. An easy chance went begging as Job's weak shot went out for a goalkick. He should have done better.

The early attack spurred Boro on and we were looking by far the better side after ten minutes. Jimmy Floyd seemed to be more confident and showed a couple of the neat touches that were his trademark not so long ago. Hopefully, his form will not be long in returning.

Davies created a rare opportunity for Bolton when his cracking shot was expertly saved by Mark Schwarzer. Both teams were going for it with a gusto and as the game was threatening to turn into a real blood and guts affair, Job fluffed another great chance for us when he completely mishit Jimmy's through ball...

A few minutes later, he did find himself in a perfect position for a tap in but Doriva's pass never arrived. Instead it disappeared to Job's left and into oblivion when it should have hit the net.

Boro should have been three up on the half hour mark but we saw out the final third of the half trying to nullify the threat of Davies. It was obvious that Steve McClaren had identified him as a major threat.

The last ten minutes of the first half were played out in driving rain and Boro went into the interval having produced slightly the better performance. The three points were there to be taken but could we finish the job? Could Job finish a chance...?

Half time fan reaction: "Joseph Job should be taken off because it seems like his head is up his arse today. We could have been two up if he had done what he is paid to do..."

"There's nothing to fear from this lot. We can win this! Come On Boro..."

The second half started off in a scrappy manner and the ice was broken when gobbing camel El Hadj Diouf swaggered onto the field. It was unclear whether he was to act as second striker or play in a supporting role. Either way, we had the option of switching to a flat back four...

The most meaningful attack of the first fifteen minutes of the second half saw Jimmy and Morrison combine well to give us an attacking opportunity. The inventive was excellent as Joseph Job was presented with the perfect opportunity to give us the lead but yet again, he wasted it. Perhaps if he had got it somewhere near the target it would not have been so bad but the ball entered orbit and never looked like returning to The Reebok Stadium before it had completed its planetary tour.

The Lizard came onto the pitch in the 65th minute, replacing Joseph Job. Superlatives for Job's performance could not be used as any appropriate ones would have cast negative images on a player who had tried quite hard thus far.

One player who was never in danger of inducing negative images was James Morrison. As well as fighting for every ball and never giving up the chase, his supporting role was played out with a quality asssurance that should give us all hope for the future, immediate and long term.

INTO THE RED ZONE...

Into the last ten minutes and this is usually where it gets hot. Mop haired Spaniard Campo was withdrawn, presumably for making no impact on the game.

Boro were forced to drag almost the whole team back to defend as Bolton strived to take the result and The Gaffer flew into a rage as a Speed shot went wide with the Boro players left as mere spectators.

Bolton were hemming us in with eight minutes left and we were grateful for the presence of Franck Queudrue who was a tower of strength throughout...

Several Bolton attacks were quashed and Boro hit them on the break as Reiziger broke the ball out of defence and on another day, Jimmy Floyd may well have scored. He just doesn't have the sharp shooter's confidence that he had when he first arrived on Teesside...

Schwarzer kept us in it with a great save from Ocacha and Boro broke again from the resulting clearance. The break came to nothing and as two minutes were added on, Boro attempted to bring Tony McMahon on but the referee would not stop play...

It was all academic anyway as Boro finished with a point and a clean sheet.

That was a good point and it keeps us in sixth place and on the threshold of another decent unbeaten run. We had our chances today and could have won but the positive side is that we came here as underdogs and held our ground and avoided defeat. Well done Boro.

Full time fan reaction: "An encouraging performance, especially from the defence..."

"It's not often I'm happy with a draw but no complaints today. We're on the way back..."


There will be plenty of strong opinions in The New Holgate tonight... Let's have your say on the match...

More comment on today's match can be found in The James Bassett Column, published Monday morning.

The Boro Bard's Boro v Bolton poem will be published on The Boro Bard site in the next few hours.