The 128th Tees-Wear derby wasn’t exactly a spectacle; in fact you kind of thought that the number 128 would have been a good omen for the Boro, but you’d be wrong.

Gareth reshuffled players around a bit, playing Julio Arca in his old position on the left and playing Tuncay on the right hand side. Josh Walker was given the nod and he did anything but disappoint, a calming influence in the midfield with simple and easy passing breaking up the midfield.

Obviously, the threat from the mackems was the two up front with a combined ability of pace and power, Gareth decided to elect our centre backs on merit rather than ability in Riggott and Wheater who didn’t flap throughout the game. Boro had a couple of half chances; a powerful shot from Downing met the centre of Fulops goal only to be caught in standard fashion. Julio Arca was on the prowl for another goal against his former club by having a shot high and wide and one that just slipped wide.

Boro finally netted the opener through Alves, a clever knock down from Alves for Downing to get running with, only to be passed back neatly and met with a cool calm finish. Fantastic Boro just nicking one before half time so this should build a good stepping-stone for the second half?

This wasn’t meant to be, a simple drop back and hold the lead again… how many times are we going to do that? When the person next me said we’ve dropped back deep now, I looked at the scoreboard and it was 67 minutes! So all of a sudden we have to invite pressure unwillingly, Boro, who lie jointly with Stoke over goal difference are having to hold a 1-0 lead for 23 minutes plus, no no Gareth go for the second and kill the game off for God’s sake.

Overall the game was pretty flat, Kenwyne Jones did the inventible and scored from a David Healy cross, as Boro were left to heal our midfield as Walker and Digard got carted off with injuries with a well earned standing ovation for the pair we had to result to desperate measures and play Matthew Bates at the heart of our midfield. If we were so desperate why didn’t we just stick Huth there and he can kick a couple them into touch and to protect the back four?

Anyway it’s back to the drawing board; I’d mention Mido in this match report for reasons why I don’t know so I’ll leave it be. A good crowd but not a good game. Huge game next week at the Hawthorns.

MarkA