Boro had to respond to their 5-0 drubbing at home against Chelsea last week in gritty fashion, a draw would have been an acceptable result but once again we were left to rue what might have been a bloody good win. 

In the first half it was end to end stuff, where on one side Aliadiere not realising he was onside shot a very casual volley only to hit the cross bar.  The woodwork was used again only this time in our goal, as Santa Cruz went through a caught out Riggott (ooo-er Missus -  Ed) hit the post with a left footed strike.

What was even more frustrating was ‘that’ offside decision against Tuncay.  The lad showed fantastic anticipation and intelligence, something that judging from the official’s decision is not allowed.  Plus what a great goal, that really would have lifted the spirits of fans and players due to the elation of what a good goal, but it wasn’t meant to be. 

Blackburn threatened but with only Santa Cruz up, Derbyshire seemed to dropping off a little too deep, Santa Cruz was well marked, sure he had the odd bit of luck where he luckily slipped by but with 3 centre backs on his case he knew he’d be in for a tough old day. 

Blackburn had kept the majority of the possession and played like the home team, but that didn’t stop us from playing badly, oh no, we looked threatening on the counter attack.  Aliadiere seemed to be breaking away quickly taking men on and passing at the right time.  Andrew Taylor evened out the bad decisions tally due to a very suspicious handball over Brett Emerton’s head but notice this, on the TV replays they have to really slow it down in order to see it, so if your sat on the sofa watching it in slow-mo you’ll say ‘handball?!’ But to see it in real time you’d have to have superhuman vision to see that. 

When half time blew I needed time to reflect, of course I was happy that it had remained 0-0 and we had to endure home team pressure as well as creating a couple of chances ourselves.  The game lacked bit of punch, but come the second half and finally a goal, Afonso netting his second of the season in very stern fashion past Paul Robinson.  He had a chance that came extremely close beforehand with his left peg but a slight deflection made it go for a corner. 

With 22 seconds left a corner was given and with the big keeper coming up Blackburn had to throw the kitchen sink into Boro’s box, unfortunately ‘will get the work permit or not’ striker Benni McCarthy nodded in the equalizer 22 seconds before Boro could record 3 points.

It just wasn’t meant to be…Again.

MarkA