Scunthorpe United v Middlesbrough

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Football League Championship

Scunthorpe United :
Murphy, Williams, Byrne, Jones, Spence, Sparrow (Thompson 84), McCann, Woolford, O'Connor (Wright 53), Hayes, Hooper.
Subs not used:
Lillis, Canavan, Togwell, Morris, Forte.

Middlesbrough :
Coyne, Huth, Grounds, Williams, McMahon, Wheater, Yeates (Arca 84), O'Neill, Johnson (Hoyte 90), Lita (Sanli 74), Enmes.
Subs not used:
Steele, Taylor, Hines, Franks.

SULSESC REPORT

by Andrew Metcalfe at Glanford Park

AS I am still on a high after that magnificent win at Wembley in May, I decided to attend three games in eight days.

Having seen off Derby three days earlier in an excellent match, hopes were high of a result against Boro.

I am sure most supporters' must-watch matches this season are the four against Newcastle and Middlesbrough. All these games on a Saturday would be perfect, but no - the fixture computer decided we would get both home matches on a Tuesday evening and Newcastle away on a Wednesday. The only one on a Saturday is Middlesbrough, but that is on Boxing Day. Not easy when you live the other side of the Pennines.

Midweek matches mean driving so an early start, accompanied by Chris Eaton, one of my many Manchester City supporting friends, ensured an arrival at the Honest Lawyer shortly after 5 pm for a pre-match couple of beers. I was expecting to see a few SULSESC members in the HL but sadly there were none, just Martyn Girdham and Darren Robertshaw at the ground.

Dr. Vic was absent, but I think this is due to his wife banning him from attending matches with me, especially any in Sheffield, as he always gets wrecked and falls over. And I get the blame!

The game itself was watched by a healthy crowd of 8,000-plus, including more than 2,000 Middlesbrough fans.

The 19-year-year-old, Jordan Spence, made his Iron debut and what a good debut it was. He looks a very promising player but so he should be, having come through the ranks at West Ham and represented England at U17, U18 and U19 levels, including captaining the sides.

In the early stages, the Iron had several half-chances but Boro had more clear-cut opportunities, which was an indication of how the match would pan out.

Boro went ahead after 28 minutes with a superb Premiership-class goal. A great through ball by O'Neill was volleyed past Murphy by Adam Johnson.

After the goal, both teams had chances, including one each to O'Connor and McCann for the Iron, and to Enmes for Middlesbrough.

Three minutes into the second-half, Boro doubled their lead when they were awarded a dubious penalty for a supposed foul by O'Connor on Rhys Williams. Murphy saved superbly but the referee gave a second penalty when the Iron 'keeper appeared to foul Johnson in a mad scramble for the ball. Johnson scored easily from his second attempt.

In an effort to retrieve the game, United made a few substitutions and continued to create chances, especially for Jones, Hooper and Woolford.

Boro were also creating, however, and Murphy saved very well from a shot by Enmes.

After the game, I was not too dismayed. We were beaten by a very good side full of internationals, worth millions, and with Premier League experience. The Iron were not outplayed, showed plenty of spirit and the defence looked to be better organised. Jones, at last, showed glimpses of why we paid a club record fee for him.

Hayes, as always, was dangerous - what a great player he has become.

My own thoughts for the season are that to win games, we need to score at least three because with our shaky defence, we are always going to concede.

Are we becoming a team that is too good for Division One, but not good enough for the Championship?

On this showing, we look like a team that has a chance of staying up. We only need three clubs out of Barnsley, Swansea, Plymouth, Peterborough, Doncaster or Crystal Palace below us and we are safe.

If we show the same spirit in my next game at Hillsborough on Saturday as we did tonight, we might even get a good result there.