The Clarets met their Waterloo at the Riverside Stadium last night losing 2-1 to Middlesbrough thanks to two goals from Boro substitute Tarmo Kink. Even worse for Clarets fans to stomach was the fact that the second of his brace came in the fourth minute of the four minutes of added time just when it had looked like we had at least secured a well-earned point .
The result means we drop a place to sixth on 10 points now six points behind league leaders, QPR who at the moment can`t seem to do any wrong after beating Ipswich 3-0 at Portman Road last night.
Brian Laws, much to the delight of Clarets fans, had decided to change his starting eleven for this game. As predicted, Tyrone Mears returned after his one-match suspension replacing David Edgar at right back who dropped back to the bench. However Laws also named Chris Eagles and Jack Cork in his starting eleven, something which Clarets fans had been wanting for some time. The side looked in so much better shape when they came on from the bench against Preston at Turf Moor on Saturday and it would appear Laws agreed by naming them in his starting eleven for the Boro clash. Martin Paterson and Dean Marney drew the short straws having to be content with a place on the bench. We still however persisted in having a loan striker up front and that was Chris Iwelumo. There had been some concern he had still not fully shaken off his hamstring problem despite scoring a hat-trick last Saturday but he came through in the end.
In summary then the Clarets line-up was as follows:
Jensen, Mears, Carlisle, Bikey, Fox, Alexander, Eagles, Cork, Elliott, Wallace, Iwelumo
Subs: Grant, Edgar, Cort, Marney, Paterson, Rodriguez, Thompson
Boro fans were not a happy bunch ahead of this clash, listening to comments on local radio and they were certainly not expecting to win. This could explain the very poor turn out from the home contingent with a gate of only 15,033 and plenty of empty seats evident. About 1000 of those were Clarets fans and we seemed to easily outshout the Boro supporters who looked less than inspired rattling in the home sections of the ground. It was perhaps typical that it was Burnley in the end who gave Gordon Strachan a lifeline by coming away pointless.
Yorkshire referee, Jon Moss got the game underway and it was Boro who gave the Clarets an early shock. In the fourth minute a rampant-looking Leroy Lita put over a dangerous cross and Scott McDonald should have done better from close range electing instead to somehow scoop the ball over the bar, much to the relief of Clarets fans. He then later forced a good save from Jensen before lifting another effort over the top. The Clarets had little to shout about in the first half with scoring opportunities few and far between although gradually they did come more and more into the game. A cross from Wallace found the head of Iwelumo but the ball flew over the bar. Bikey then came close with a header from another Wallace cross but the ball hit the post. 0-0 then at half-time and you just sensed that the Clarets had once more failed to hit top gear despite the line-up changes.
Laws made no changes for the start of the second half and it was Boro who came close to breaking the deadlock first. Gary O`Neil hit a vicious volley at the far post bringing out another fine save from Jensen before the Clarets began their best spell leading to the first goal. In a 20 minute period, the Clarets seemed to take control with some mazy runs and crosses from Chris Eagles in particular. It was Wallace though down the opposite flank forcing a corner in the 65th minute that led to our opening goal. Alexander took the corner and Bikey got up to head home past Steele. How many times have we scored from a corner this season? We used to be a laughing stock in that department so that change for the better is something positive to cheer about at least!
That goal should have demoralised Boro but we let them off the hook and seemed to take our foot off the gas allowing them to come at us for the remainder of the game. Strachan though made an inspired substitution on 75 minutes bringing on Kink for O`Neil and four minutes later the Estonian international had levelled the score. He picked up a lay-off from McDonald to rifle home a low left-footed shot past Jensen into the bottom corner of the net.
Burnley looked to be holding on for a still satisfying point with four minutes of added time running out but disaster struck for the Clarets in the last of those four minutes.
Leroy Lita was judged to have been fouled just outside the penalty area despite the protests by the Clarets and from the free-kick, Kink thumped the ball home past Jensen into the top corner of the net. With the seconds of the last minute of added time ticking down, there was just time for Jensen to rush up to the other end after the Clarets were awarded a corner. It came to nothing though and Boro fans went home happy having secured only their second win of the season. The Clarets fans though had to go home demoralised with the club still looking for their first away win of the season.
Match Stats
Middlesbrough: Steele, Hoyte, Bates, McManus, Robson, O’Neil (Kink 75), Halliday (Boyd 72), Arca, Tavares, McDonald, Lita
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Hines, McMahon, Bailey, Smallwood
Booked: None
Goals: Kink (79, 90+4)
Burnley: Jensen, Mears, Carlisle, Bikey, Fox, Alexander, Eagles (Rodriguez 87),Cork, Elliott, Wallace, Iwelumo (Thompson 68)
Subs Not Used: Grant, Edgar, Cort, Marney, Paterson
Booked: Yellow cards for Carlisle, Bikey and Wallace
Goal: Bikey (65)
Possession: 42% Middlebrough, 58% Burnley (Source: BBC Sport)
Referee: Jonathan Moss (West Yorkshire)
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Damn! Hate conceding late on like that, guess after Preston it was our turn to taste the bitter effects
Think you have it right TMP – horrible to concede late but I think 10 points from our opening games is a little more than performances deserved and is a good return overall. Just a bit disapointed because I didnt think that Boro were that good a side. A draw would have been the ‘right result’ but a win was definetly there for the taking!
Got to agree but cannot get my head around our tactics midway threw the second half 1-0 up playing a bad team second sub jrod and played him on the right wing? why not play him up front with tommo and go for the second goal best form of defence is attack another goal would have sealed the win yet again three points lost
Wasnt it level when Jay came on fed up? After agree with your point though, If we wanted to take Eagles off, surely Marney on and Wade right if you wanted to keep the same formation!
What was the verdict on Mears following his return from suspension? Did he look to be at the races or still going thru the motions…..Will be at Palace on Saturday for a closer look assuning he starts.
It hurt like mad to lose it at the death, and to the Championshi whiping boys, we might have known it.
A sickener to loose in the last minute of extra time , but at least Laws rang the expected changes. Only those at the match will know how effective they were, but let’s hope Brian is getting close to knowing his best team. Still can’t get into the forums tmp, despite having e-mailed the ‘administrators !
As a critic…….I thought Mears did ok, not sure that it is even worth debating as Eagles stood out as MOM and ran his socks off. On other threads I warned of the dangers away from home of Grezza, Cork and Wade because lets face it two of them are not natural midfielders and between them they gave away some shocking free kicks time and time again. I am pleased to say I got home in under 2 hours and I await a confirmation letter from the Constabulary lol if they caught me! So much for SatNavs 2 hours 36mins!
Cheers VR. I did see the BFC foul count was huge so your comments shed light on that stat. Eagles should have earned his place at Selhurst Park so look forward to seeing more of the same.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, after going one up Laws took off Big Chris I suspect to protect his hamstring, Thomo was woeful as a replacement and all of a sudden the pace we had been generating slipped, not helped by a dead leg to Eagles. Wallace was about as much use as a chocolate fireguard imo and I am yet to see any real positives from him this season…….yet
Agree VR – Thommo was about as disapointing as I have seen him in a claret shirt when he came on and also agree that Wallace has yet to really produce much this season. I just hope their is more to come!
What now? we have the players and the talent but can they all fire on all cylinders together, if they do we’ve made it. I play a lot of golf and the only difference between many players is consistency and this is our problem. I can only hope BL has the answer. In my humble opinion we have underperformed so far and can only get better.
Shame Thomo did’nt perform thought he’d be rearing at the bit.
It is now which two players do you add to Grezza, Cork, Wide Chris and Big Chris to achieve a balanced side for the next game, for me its Marney and Wade……U?
Marney Im not overly confident in his ability, he has still to prove he is an automatic choice as far as im concerned.
Thought we really lacked mobility up front against Boro, we needed to have more intelligent forward play than what was being offered by Iwelumo on his own. Pato or Jay Rod would feast upon Iwelumo’s knock-downs as Ebanks Blake did for Wolves a couple of seasons back. Wallace would be the fall guy for me from what I’ve seen thus far.
Welsh Claret I can’t seem to find what you wanted predicting for the Palace game? put it up here and I will put it in for you, I am not sure what the problem is with you not being able to get on the forums but if you email me at paulnadin1@hotmail.co.uk, I will attempt to get it sorted for you.
The moment you play JayRod or Thomo alongside Big Chris you have to then find the two central midfielders to boss the game, currently we rely on 3, do you trust Grezza and Wade to boss midfield? Its a real headache getting the balance right.
Thanks 8c8, I can’t get into the forums at all. Can you put me down for Palace 1 Burnley 3 please ? I’d like to see Patto alongside Big Chris as well cc, just to see how it works. I don’t think it’ll take Brian too many more games to find his best team but as you say VR, getting the balance right isn’t a piece of cake. Although Marney hasn’t impressed me unduly so far, I think he could well turn out to be ‘Mr dependable’, always working hard but not standing out. He would have scored a cracker but for Lonergan, a good solid shot on target into the right hand corner. Thanks again 8c8, I’ll e-mail you describing the symptoms !
If you do play two up front and at the moment I think an Iwelumo/Paterson pairing is our best option, then unless you drop Grezza, it would have to be Elliott(back on wing), Eagles on t’other flank and Cork in the middle for me. Do away with holding midfield role and Eagles, Elliott, Cork, Wallace might be strongest option with Carlisle as captain