Unforgettable

BORO 8 - 1 Manchester City

BORO put in a truly unforgettable performance, yesterday, as they ran riot at The Riverside in an 8-1 final day thrashing of Manchester City. Yes, that's right, EIGHT.

Man City started the brighter. But after an early injury forced Benjani to leave the field, City appeared to lose their spark and their problems were just starting as, after just 15 minutes, captain Richard Dunne was sent off for knocking down Tuncay inside the penalty area.

Top scorer Stewart Downing coolly dispatched the resulting penalty, smashing the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

BORO immediately found their confidence and started stroking the ball around with class and composure and Fabio Rochemback looked like a new player as he linked in well with others and showed off some clever touches.

BORO's pressure and dominance was starting to pay off as Afonso Alves added a second goal. Fellow Brazilian, Rochemback, cleverly jinked past two defenders before feeding the ball through to Alves who smartly slotted the ball past Isaksson.

BORO then started creating chance after chance and could have been three up inside the first half, if not for some great saves from Isaksson and an unbelievable reaction stop to deny George Boateng from less than six yards.

The second half continued where the first half had finished and BORO made light work of City's now non-existent deffence as it seemed they would score with every attack. It took fewer than 15 minutes for BORO to grab their third goal as a deflected cross from the right looped towards Downing, who smashed a truly phenomenal first time curling volley around Isaksson and into the goal. The crowd went wild as Downing was mobbed by ecstatic team mates.

Just two minutes later, Alves made it 4-0 as he charged free of the City deffence and chipped the ball over Isaksson who could only get a hand to the ball. Gelson Fernandes made a last ditch effort to clear off the line but could only slide the ball further into his own net.

Downing then came close, again, with a similar effort to his earlier volley. But the ball fired just over the bar. Rochemback then unleashed a power driven free-kick at Isaksson who stung his hands as he parried the shot into a crowd of players, before rising to deny a BORO fifth.

But it was just ten minutes before BORO did make the breakthrough for their fifth goal. Adam Johnson replaced Julio Arca just after the hour and went about ruling the right wing, before picking up the ball in midfield and driving towards goal, drilling a hopeful effort from 20 yards that deflected off Michael Ball and past the wrong footed Isaksson.

Darius Vassell was presented with a chance for a consolation goal Castillo stormed down-field and crossed from the left after being pushed wide by Schwarzer. Vassell dived into a headed effort that skewed horribly wide from 10 yards out.

Fabio Rochemback then capped his superb performance with a contender for goal of the season. BORO were awarded a free-kick, 35-yards out from goal and Rochemback stepped up to the challenge, drilling an absolute pile-driver of a shot into the top corner of the net with such speed that Isaksson had no chance.

Jeremie Aliadiere then made it seven as he turned inside the box and fired across Isaksson into the far corner of the goal. City did grab a late consolation, however, as Elano cut in from the right and smashed home a fantastic finish past the static Schwarzer.

But it was BORO who hammered the final nail into Sven Goran Eriksson's coffin as Aliadiere found Alves wide open inside the box, squaring the ball to the Brazilian to complete his hat-trick and record a monumental win for BORO.

In a horrible downer, however, understandably infuriated City fans turned their anger on each other at the final whistle as riots broke out amongst the away supporters. Fans clashed with police and stewards, leaving one Teesside officer needing hospital treatment as seats were torn from their fittings and hurled at officers and crowd control staff. It is important to point out that no BORO fans were involved in the ugly scenes that required heavy reinforcements and police dogs to bring the situation under control.

Gareth Southgate: "It was a great performance to say goodbye to our fans.

"The circumstances at City may have made things difficult for them and it was a massive uphill task once Richard Dunne has been sent off."

Attendance: 27, 613
BORO Blog BORO Man of the Match: Fabio Rochemback

Pictures & Quotes courtesy of BBC Sport (news.bbc.co.uk/sport) & SkySports (www.skysports.com/football)