Boro Panchoed by Villa
26 November 2007
Middlesbrough 0 Aston Villa 3
So, Newcastle battered, Sunderland slaughtered, Middlesbrough's big chance to get some North-East pride back. And, guess what, they were nearly as bad!!
Boro' did start off well enough and England fall-guy Scott Carson struggled to deal with a decent Downing effort and it squirmed out for a corner.
Villa are still in the building stage but they do have good spirit and great pace, particularly from the electric Agbonlahor, who was always a threat on the break. However it was his striking pal Carew who opened the scoring right on the break when Barry was given the freedom of The Riverside to cross and the big striker neatly controlled, swivelled and scored.
So a difficult second half beckoned and this was made more so when after only three minutes Cattermole somehow managed to knock the ball back towards his own goal and the lurking Mellberg gleefully slotted home to virtually put the game beyond Boro'.
It was definitely all over ten minutes later when the aforementioned Agbonlahor flew on to a Carson punt, held off Woodgate and slapped a shot past the flailing Schwarzer. Looks like Villa have an England international of the near future here.
Boro created a few half chances but there was never going to be any danger to the visitors who headed off very happy with a fine day's work.
For Boro it is back to the drawing board--again and, like the other North-East teams they must be relieved that there are some even worse teams in the league!!!
Now there's a thought!
» top | more articles | 
| 
| shown 82 times
