With Boro’s usual manner a defeat came to our hands, oh dear lingering with Stoke and arm in arm with the Geordies, we have to pick ourselves up away to Everton.  Martin O’Neil’s men played some mesmerising foot…Hang on? Time to run to the toilets and throw as much water over your face as you possibly can, Guess What?  It still won’t change the fact that Boro bloody won!

When looking at the line-up; the old rub of the chin and a good think was needed before digressing and bracing yourself for this game but a couple of things were needed to take into account in going into the game.  Villa might off been a little jaded, but who gives a toss we weren’t and we proved that Boro were resilient to the end. 

Opportunities came few and far between for both sides but a defensive error from Nicky Shorey (hee hee) led to Tuncay smashing in.  You could imagine that six-yard box ‘get out of the way frenchy’ as Aliadiere was in the crossfire making Boro earn a 1-0 lead. 

Villas equalizer came far too quickly, save and block a plenty resulting in a looping cross from Milner and Sidwell watching the ball and eventually nodding it to make it 1-1.  The obvious question would be is Mr Downing’s jumping ability, but going into the first half at 1-1 was still encouraging.

We had to endure home team pressure of course with chances from Agbonlahor and Ashley Young, but Boro remained defiant.

A strike from Didier Digard in the wet was enough to make Freidal parry it towards Alves, who neatly tucked it aw…No way! The worst possible angle of that miss was On MOTD2 behind the goal; it almost looked as if he deliberately missed it.  Afonso needs do the old school tactic in training where it’s him, a set of balls and an empty net.

Second half seemed back and forth chances from both ends and it seemed like anyone’s game whoever was to score was to win and bag the three points but not us surely? We don’t score the late goals we concede them. 

Aliadiere ran into no mans land squaring it to Boro’s 6 million signing Steve Sidwell…who wasn’t wearing a Boro shirt?  A neat lay off for TUNCAY!!! Slap me with a wet fish we’re 2-1 up! Unbelievable stuff! Hang your head in shame Sidwell after making you sure you get a point and then throwing it away.

I didn’t care it made me weekend and it’s made me week.  Us Boro fans are in total amazement and in sheer jubilation at the fact that Boro are unbeaten in 4 games.  Top 10 for Boro bottom 3 for the mags and mackems; my word if there’s a week to rub it in this is it. 

The quotes from Gareth really tell you how important and significant that result was; “We responded to a challenge and that’s seven points from three away games, which probably makes this the best result since I became manager.”

<Good quote from Southgate when he was asked if he felt sorry for Sidwell “No, not really, we tried to buy him twice, he turned us down, so I don’t feel sorry for him” Ed>

Encouraging performances from everyone in particular Riggott who seems to be finding a little form, so much so he’s keeping out Wheater, Downing put in a very good shift to ensure he’s still the player to be picked.  Tuncays brilliance gave him his 2^nd & 3^rd of the season putting Boro in a nice position of 8^th.

MarkA