Just Keeps Getting Worse

Manchester United 4 - 1 BORO

We might have hoped to get a result against Manchester United because we had some key players back, including Jeremie Aliadiere and we have had a formidable record against United in recent years, even at Old Trafford.
But we couldn't really have gotten off to a worse start as Nani embarrassed us all with his amazing drive that hit the top corner of the net from around 25 yards out, yet another contender for goal of the month scored past BORO.
But Aliadiere gave United a shock as, just 2 minutes later, he headed home a Tuncay cross after some clever foot work by the Turkish International.

Tuncay looked good and BORO were starting to match United with some good passing and positive chances. But then Downing slipped in his own penalty area before executing a wonderful pass for Wayne Rooney to rocket a shot past Mark Schwarzer, giving United the 2-1 lead at the break.

BORO's luck appeared set to change though as Ronaldo was presented with an abundance of chances, all of which he hopelessly fluffed. But Carlos Tevez, linking up sublimely with Rooney netted United's 3 and surely put the game beyond BORO just 10 minutes into the second half.

Efforts from Downing came close but he saw an earlier header spin jut wide of the goal and likewise a curling free-kick, whilst Lee Cattermole had his looping shot superbly saved by Van Der Sar.

5 minutes left of normal time and Tevez decided to bag another goal, once again linking in well with Rooney before striking from a tight angle only to be thwarted by Andrew Taylor thinking he was the goalkeeper. Diving in front of Schwarzer to stop the shot and almost certainly giving away a penalty for hand ball, had the ball not deflected over the disorientated Schwarzer and dropped just over the goal line and into the net.

"We had a very young side and sometimes mistakes will happen. But our young players were outstanding today and they are a shining light." - BORO boss, Gareth Southgate.