Defeat Again

BORO 0 - 1 Reading

BORO ended a week in which they qualified for the FA Cup quarter-finals and secured in-form defender David Wheater on a new contract, with a shattering home defeat to Premiership free-fallers Reading.

It took an injury time goal from James Harper to seal BORO's fate, as a tired home side battled on after playing 120 minutes in the mid-week FA Cup fifth round home tie against Sheffield United.

The opening exchanges appeared to belong to Reading as they launched several attacks, but without prize as their strike force proved to be, as in recent weeks, a cause for concern. Several chances went begging as first Shane Long's header flew over the bar, before Stephen Hunt's effort skewed high over the BORO goal.

However, the tables turned in the latter exchanges of the half as BORO mounted a charge, Stewart Downing being BORO's best player going forward, proving to be a constant threat along BORO's left hand-side.

Kevin Doyle saw his goal disallowed as referee Rob Howard ruled that Andre Bikey had fouled Mark Schwarzer in the build up.

Afonso Alves continued to impress, in glimpses, as he showed the home crowd how good he can be for BORO; his free-kick forcing a good save from Marcus Hahnemann.

Emanuel Pogatetz, was almost flawless throughout as he deputised for the injured Robert Huth, working well with David Wheater, who signed a new contract with his home-town club in midweek. However, neither could prevent Stephen Hunt's late cross from finding James Harper who calmly slotted the ball home past Mark Schwarzer.

Attendance: 23, 273
BORO Blog BORO Man of the Match: Stewart Downing


Also this week, BORO allowed defender Chris Riggott to join Stoke City on loan until the end of the season and youngster Jason Kennedy has moved down the road to Darlington on loan. David Wheater followed in the footsteps of Stewart Downing by committing his future to the BORO with a new three and a half year deal, citing the clubs ambition, the support of the manager and Stewart Downing's decision to stay as the main factors in reaching his decision.

Pictures courtesy of BBC Sport (news.bbc.co.uk/sport) & Google (images.google.co.uk)

Secret Revelation

It is no big secret that Dong-Gook Lee has failed to set the stage alight since joining BORO in January, last year. But the news that the out-of-form striker was on the verge of a Riverside departure was kept well quiet.

The Evening Gazette have reported that the Korean striker was one step away from returning home to Pohang Steelers, the club BORO signed him from just 13 months ago. However, despite seeming like a done deal, the transfer has stalled just short of the Korean transfer deadline as Lee failed to sign the deal which would see him return home.

Steelers had first option to take the player back, if he didn't no succeed in England, and, that being very much the case, they were more than happy to take the player off BORO's hands and BORO are more than happy to let him go.

The deal should have been finalised a number of weeks ago, but BORO had to delay the move and hang onto Lee as cover for the injured Tuncay. Now that Tuncay is back, BORO are keen to move Lee back to his homeland and Steelers are itching to get him back before the end of their transfer window, tomorrow.

It is now believed that Lee will intend to run out the remainder of his contract with BORO, until the summer, in the hopes of drawing interest from elsewhere. However, with just two goals to his name since joining BORO and a stop-start first team spot it is unlikely that he will spark interest from anyone.

BORO Squeeze Through

BORO 1 - 0 Sheffield United

BORO have squeezed through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup after narrowly edging to a 1-0 home win over a battling Sheffield United side, tonight.

BORO played host to the Championship side after the two sides played out a 0-0 draw at Bramall Lane on February 17th and were favourite amongst pundits to advance to the next round.

New boy Afonso Alves was handed his first start; in a game that was always going to be a battle, and so it proved. The two sides got off to a bright start and Alves looked more on form than in previous appearances, he could have had an early goal when Rochemback's corner found his fellow Brazilian, who could only nod wide of an empty goal.

An on fire Rochemback then fed in Downing who looked odds on to bag his 6th goal of the season, however he fired wide and the early exchanges began to peter out as each team launched aimless long balls down field.

The second half began even worse as neither team appeared to have a game plan other than win. Time after time BORO frustrated as they lashed hopeless balls from a partially inexperienced deffence, with Seb Hines and Jonathan Franks playing alongside Luke Young and Emanuel Pogatetz at the back.

Fabio Rochemback continued to impress as he scrapped for every ball and played a series of clever and accurate passes and showed that Gareth Southgate is right to hold his faith in him. Compatriot Afonso Alves also showed glimpses of what's to come, with some good movement and some good efforts, but the Brazilian forward was replaced by Tuncay in the 73rd minute to the sound of booing from the home crowd who wanted to see their new player grab a goal.

Tuncay immediately reminded the home fans of what he is capable of as he chased every ball and tried to link in well with Downing, on the left, getting into some good positions but just failing to finish.

James Beattie had United's best chance, close to the end of normal time as he threw himself at the ball from six yards out after a deflection, but the ball went into the side netting past the on-rushing Mark Schwarzer.

So the game went, inevitably, to extra time and descended into a free-for-all of scrappy desperation as both teams battled for a goal.

The first half of extra-time ended at 0-0 with BORO having had the better chances, one ntoable one from Tuncay as he picked up the ball inside the box before delicately lifting the ball over the defender before stabbing a shot towards goal, Paddy Kenny got down well to save for a corner.

BORO then grabbed the scrapiest of scrappy goals as Mido headed the ball on to Tuncay whose control bounced back off the defender into Mido's feet, he smashed the ball toward goal, but the shot was heavily deflected over Paddy Kenny as Chris Morgan turned goalkeeper to dive and divert the ball onto the post. The ball then came back to Kenny who, facing his own goal, attempted to scoop the ball away but could only palm into the back of his own net.

BORO then held on, by the skin of their teeth, to the lead until the end to secure their place in the quarter-finals, where they will host Cardiff City and former BORO striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

Attendance: 28, 108
BORO Blog BORO Man of the Match: Fabio Rochemback

Photos Courtesy of BBC Sport (news.bbc.co.uk/football) & MFC.co.uk (www.mfc.co.uk)

Stewie Meets The Press

Stewart Downing, today spoke to SkySports, having finalised his new five-year contract with his home-town club.

Click here to see his interview

Courtesy of Sky Sports (www.skysports.com/football)