Championship - Goalless opener at Riverside

Eurosport - Sat, 08 Aug 09:13:00 2009

Middlesbrough's Championship season begun with a goalless draw against Sheffield United at the Riverside Stadium.

FOOTBALL Middlesbrough's Mark Yeates and Sheffield United's Nick Montgomery Championship 2009 - 0

In a game of few chances, Gareth Southgate and Kevin Blackwell could not outwit one another tactically as their teams struggled to test each other physically.

Keith Treacy for United and Mark Yeates for Boro both went close to opening the scoring in the first half, but the sides managed to cancel each other out throughout the full 90 minutes.

It was a reminder for Southgate's side of the tough task they face in negotiating the second tier, with United testing their ability throughout.

The Blades certainly looked sharper from the off, as Treacy almost marked his competitive debut for Blackwell's side with a goal just two minutes in. A long throw caused panic in Boro's area, and the Irishman's volley was well saved by Danny Coyne in a crowded box.

Warning had been served to Boro and they soon sharpened up, with Marvin Emnes making some inroads up front as the home side started to enjoy some sustained spells of pressure.

However, the indecision that had led to Treacy's early sighting of goal was repeated as a high ball saw Boro's defence at sixes and sevens. Didier Digard had to intervene, with the French midfielder hacking the ball clear after none of his defensive colleagues took charge of the situation.

As the first half progressed, Yeates made strides on his debut and on 23 minutes the former Tottenham winger forced a superb save from Mark Bunn with a dipping shot that looked in all the way from 25 yards out. Adam Johnson also started to motor on the other flank.

Robert Huth had to be alert as United wide man Ryan France hooked the ball across the face of goal with Brian Howard lurking at the far post, while at the other end Johnson dazzled with a couple of step-overs but negated his good work by firing the ball at Bunn's near post - where the United keeper parried - rather than cutting back for any number of supporting team-mates.

The half ended on a sour note for Boro as Digard hobbled off moments before the break to be replaced by Gary O'Neil.

There was instant drama upon the game's resumption when Johnson - who was quickly becoming joint architect of all Boro's promising moves with Yeates - went down under Kyle Walker's challenge inside United's penalty area. Taking the ball on on the left wing, Johnson passed the defender but appeared to be tripped as he closed in on goal. Referee Lee Mason's decision to wave play on was the correct one however, as Walker got a touch on the ball.

While the action continued to flow and breaks were made, no clear chances fell the way of either side. Leroy Lita's introduction from the bench gave Boro a little freshness up front, and he came within inches of meeting a Yeates cross but could not connect and as the final 10 minutes approached the hosts had still only registered one effort on target.

Both sides sensed a late winning goal was there for the taking, but no individual could provide one and it ended goalless on Teesside.

Joe Caron-Dawe / Eurosport

Comment 8 - 27 of 27

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  1. It looks like the same old problems are still there No­ goalscorer, lets hope Lita gets fit quick and does the­ business. It's no good playing Johnson and Yates if­ no one gets on the end of all the good work done by­ them.

    Digard injury to his groin again, why wasn't­ it sorted out during the close season.

    At least we­ seem to have a better goalie in Coyne then Jones and i­ think we will be OK defensively if we keep Huthand­ Wheater together.

    I also think that Sheff Utd will be­ one of the hardest teams to beat this season you only­ have to look at last seasons record to see how hard a­ team to beat they are.

    UP THE BORO

    From David S, on Sat 8 Aug 9:29PM

  2. GOD HELP US SOUTHGATE LEARNT NOWT STILL USING DEFENDERS­ AS MIDFIELDERS DOESNT HE KNOW YET IT DONT WORK ANOTHER­ SEASON OF STRUGGLE

    From Terry G, on Sat 8 Aug 8:10PM

  3. same as last season midfielders not supporting attack­ all stuck with defence a waiting for the blades to come­ to them never winning 2nd ball out of defence because­ they all defending on 18yard line GARETH TAKE LINES WE­ MUST SUPPORT ATTACK WHEN GOING FORWARD NOT ALL STAY ON­ 18YARD LINE THE BLADES HAD 6MEN WHEN ATTACKING WE HAD­ 2/3 SAME AS LAST SEASON NOT SCORING GOALS CHANGE THE­ SYSTEM OR WE WILL STRUGGLE ALL SEASON

    From Terry G, on Sat 8 Aug 8:04PM

  4. Donney,
    It should be DONKEY, where exactly did you go­ to school ?, you uneducated waste of air

    From mich.g, on Sat 8 Aug 5:28PM

  5. Jonathan G, you're right, to be honest what the­ point of these boards if they just going to get filled­ with abuse, it’s about time yahoo took them down or­ moderated them better.

    Billy, what have Man City won­ in the last 10 years? Nothing, what are Man City going­ to do in the next 10 years? nothing, Man City may have­ the money but Newcastle proved last season that even a­ big name club can go down and not all team are safe.

    From Smoggie, on Sat 8 Aug 1:08PM

  6. These boards are the worst ever.
    Do any of you fools­ look at the piece you're supposed to comment­ on?
    Its just a load of peurile abuse with no­ thought.
    ...And Billy(no 14), just because a load of­ billionaire plaything's monet=y got into your team,­ you'll still always be a supporter of­ Manchester's 2nd club.
    Now grow up

    From Jonathan G, on Sat 8 Aug 12:16PM

  7. Stop whinging.A good point for the Blades.From Paul.

    From Paul, on Sat 8 Aug 11:05AM

  8. i see boro are starting in the way that bodes \well­ for the rest of their season, cant hit the net , good­ job its the first game. maybe on the way back from the­ ground they will score on southfield road. on that­ showing boro and newcastle will be fighting for 2 of­ the bottom places , come on somebody , lmao

    From guyzimmermann, on Sat 8 Aug 7:56AM

  9. hohoho..............................
    Liverpool can win­­ many tropy this season
    bye2 Alonso
    welcome Alberto­­ Aquilani

    best 4 ever

    From Muhamad NoorFaiz, on Sat 8 Aug 7:54AM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    So League One Footie for the Blades Bicycle Club next­ seasom while West Ham United FC sail into the Champions­ League as EPL Champions 09/10 :-)

    From art_tidesco, on Sat 8 Aug 7:23AM

  11. Anyone trying to read into the first match of the­ season is like judging a kitchen chef by the­ ingredients he is using.

    From Half A Brain, on Sat 8 Aug 4:20AM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    ~~ To my surprise!!! I just saw him on­ _____LovingRich(d0t) COMe --CLUB________.Is he Sing-le­ again?
    CHECK IT and you will be surprised!

    ~He's­ with several hot bikini-girls on the photos..What's­ he looking for there?

    I am QUITE curious~~~~~.­
    _________*

    From erewser, on Sat 8 Aug 2:48AM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Too right Billy. I don't know anyone who's­ mentioned "Middlesborough" for years who­ hasn't included "boring" in the same­ sentence. Sometimes you just wish some of the top­ football club names would come back into the Prem.­ Notts Forest yes please, Burnley with their tradition­ and doin over big London clubs - o yes good to see.­ I'd love the Saints to get back in there (with a­ few quid obviously). But Middlesborough?! Don't­ think so. Yea Hartlepool and Grimsby and (soon) Hull­ just their level. Ta ra. Blue Moon.

    From sasettle, on Sat 8 Aug 12:41AM

  14. the first game of the season!!!!!!! it was never gonna­ be a classic!!! im sure these two teams will be in­ the top 4 or 5 by the end of the season!!!! get a grip­ everyone!!!!!
    come on WOKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From surreystonesupplies, on Sat 8 Aug 12:38AM

  15. Very stale start to the season utds defence looks ok.

    From iancampbell11, on Sat 8 Aug 12:17AM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    "Gareth Southgate, Gareth Southgate Your Nose Is­ Bigger Than Your Club!!".
    Typical SMOGGIE­ supporters booing their own team off the pitch at the­ final whistle in only their first Home game of season­ against a been there, seen it and done it much superior­ Football Club Sheff United, which points to a grand­ total of around 5, 000 home fans turning up for the­ next Home game at the Riverside (LMFAO).
    It's so­ great and refreshing to see BORER back where they so­ rightly belong, they are and always will be nothing­ more than the little tiny Town Football Club with an­ equally little Tiny Town Football Club fan base and it­ won't be too long before they will be once again­ rubbing shoulders on the undercard to local rivals­ Darlington, Hartlepool Utd and York City as they were­ throughout the 60s/70s/80s & 90s.
    I t was such a­ pity that they somehow managed to survive after the­ closure of the gates at that sh@thole joke of a ground ­ Ayresome Park back in 1985.
    "Goodbye SMOGGIES the­ Football World would be a better place with your total­ demise!!".

    M.C.F.C Til' I Die

    From Bilbo, on Sat 8 Aug 12:10AM

  17. A dire start by two wannabe Premiership teams. This­ was their opportunity to stamp their authority on this­ division, but both sides were too scared of losing, to­ go out to try to win it. I'm a Boro fan, but they­ need to pull their finger out and create chances. They­ need to take the game to the oppositon, not sit back­ and let the opposition come to them.

    For the rest of­ the season: COME ON BORO!

    From girlborofan, on Fri 7 Aug 10:58PM

  18. Donney why don't you go back to playing with­ yourself and leave the boards to those with a little­ more intelligence than you. You total cretin

    From Viva Espana, on Fri 7 Aug 10:50PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    2 5hite teams with no aspiration of winning, classic,­ what a way to open the season.....

    From yorkie, on Fri 7 Aug 10:33PM

  20. once a blade, always a blade, from a geordie fan.

    From leanne p, on Fri 7 Aug 8:30PM
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