For all the previous penalty injustices. Dodgy ones called against – Luke Young’s hand ball at Villa…with his back completely turned against the attacker. And the ones not awarded – Lee Dong-Gook at United in 2007 anyone? We win that match and United might not be enjoying their current clutch of 3 consecutive league trophies. Don’t forget the failed conversions on those actually awarded – Stewart Downing at Sunderland the most referenced example, mostly because it best illustrated a season long capitulation culminating in relegation – and revenue generating transfer to Villa for ginger tea w/ Martin O’Neill and Sundays at Wembley. Boro finally got the rub of the green on Saturday v QPR. A couple of quick-fire – admittedly questionable – penalty decisions and converted them w/ conviction courtesy of Barry Robson. ‘Pure Hicktonite’ they’re saying. None of the faffing about that marred recent opportunities. The 2-0 lead it afforded right before half time was unassailable. QPR pressed and pried right until the end, most likely to avert the ‘look of thunder’ countenance frequently projected from under fire caretaker boss Mick Harford. Jay Simpson and Adel Taarabt, the on loan duo from north London Premier League neighbours Arsenal and Spurs, both forced quality saves out of Danny Coyne to preserve another clean sheet. Unbeaten in six at home – 4 wins…something resembling a proper unbeaten run.
It was a good ole Clashing on the live blog. A return to fitness by the enigmatic Mosso Cloudfiles stimulated a celebration of some of the best, relevant bite-size prose culled from the catalogues of the only band that matters. Ali Brownlee and Gary Gill provided support from a remote control – here’s what our smuggled-in-our-budgie-smugglers recording device captured:
Coyne; Naughton, Wheater, McManus, Pogatetz; Flood, O’Neil, Robson, Aliadiere; Lita, Killen
- No Scott McDonald – residual pain from the previous groin niggle he tried playing through – Lita/Killen up front
- Congratulations Emanuel Pogatetz- recalled to Austrian national side…Boro will have 4 on international duty this week: Killen/Robson/Naughton join Pogi
- Mark Drury captivated by the ‘dead-eyest’ look of consternation from Mick Harford
- Kaspars Gorkss using a volleyball motion on the pitch – a sure hand ball that goes unpunished…the sheepish looks from the QPR bench confirms his complicity in the infraction
- QPR very organized in the midfield w/ a bank of five – sound in their positions, influencing the match – Leigertwood especially
- JA still not inspiring any confidence – continues to get chances…sweet eff all results…
- Until now! Fouled by Peter Ramage in the box – questionable maybe, but who cares? Barry Robson wrests the ball the LL and powers the pen down the middle…Boro 1-0 QPR!! 39 mins
- And again! Leroy is clotheslined by Kaspars Gorkss in the box deep into stoppage time – Robson again – YES!!!! Boro 2-0 QPR
- HT – Boro 2-0 QPR…from Mark Drury – Mick Harford hoping to have a quite word w/ referee Andy Woolmer…phrases like ‘look of thunder’ and ‘glowering’ certainly sound menacing…
- 2nd half – QPR revert to a 4-4-2…Simpson and Antonio German join together up front
- Bright start to the half – Pogi joining the attack from the left flank and serving up a delightful ball that causes some bother in the Rangers box
- Gordo imploring JA to take on his marker(s) – classic French insouciance as a reply…
- ‘Barry Robson…stand still!’ is the sanitised version of the command barked from the gaffer
- Adel Taarabt joins the action and immediately tests Danny Coyne w/ a dipping, swerving effort from 25 yards – save
- Marcus Bent almost further validates the dynamic of former players scoring against the Boro by sticking the ball in the back of the net – fortunately he’s offside
- Carl Ikeme stands tall for his loan club – the Wolves keeper does well to repel both LL and GON late in the match to preserve the tame scoreline
- GG MOM – Stephen McManus – Mick and Wheats are forming quite the defensive pairing
- FT – Boro 2-0 QPR
We hold on, results go our way, and next week in Cardiff becomes absolutely massive…
February 28th, 2010 @ BA
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