Premier League - Boro extend barren run

Eurosport - Sat, 21 Feb 17:58:00 2009

Middlesbrough remain in the Premier League relegation zone after they were held to a goalless draw by Wigan Athletic at the Riverside Stadium.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League Wigan Athletic Middlesbrough-Wigan Cattermole - 0

Gareth Southgate's side have now scored just one goal in their last nine league games and are still without a win since November. Wigan remain in seventh place.

Characteristically for such a historically low scoring fixture - just six goals in their last five meetings - the match began in cagey fashion, with the home side unable to break down their well-organised visitors.

Proceedings took a sour turn on 18 minutes when the two side's respective midfield enforcers, Middlesbrough's Didier Digard and Wigan's Lee Cattermole, clashed in centre of the park.

Former Boro player Cattermole won the ball as he went through Digard with a solid tackle, but Digard remained on the ground clutching his thigh. All associated with the home side were furious that Cattermole escaped without even a booking and, once the Frenchman had finally been stretchered off and taken to hospital, his team-mates spent the remainder of the half attempting to exact revenge on Cattermole as much as trying to break down a stubborn Wigan back line.

Julio Arca managed to coax referee Mike Dean into booking the Wigan man, but Afonso Alves's attempt to complete the job and get Cattermole sent off earned the Brazilian a yellow card of his own for the dive, before Gary O'Neil received the same for going down in the Wigan area in search of a penalty.

Of the actual football that was played in the opening 45 minutes, Middlesbrough dominated the possession but only forced one significant save from Chris Kirkland after Stewart Downing's well-struck low drive was tipped around the post by the Latics keeper.

A long-range strike from Amr Zaki and a Charles N'Zogbia free-kick were the only efforts that really called Boro's Brad Jones into action, and on both occasions the young keeper got two hands to the ball with his saves.

The introduction soon after the break of Jeremie Aliadiere paved the way for the game to finally open up after a tight first-half.

Gareth Southgate also brought on Tuncay Sanli as he pushed to end their terrible run, and Wigan boss Steve Bruce responded by putting Hugo Rodallega and Antoine Sibierski on.

Aliadiere could have announced his return from injury with a stunning goal, but he sent a well-struck volley across the face after Stewart Downing had found him unmarked at the far post.

Tuncay went to ground after knocking the ball past Emerson Boyce, but referee Dean would not listen to the Turkey international's appeals for a penalty, although on this occasion he kept his card in his pocket.

Rodallega remains in search for his first Premier League goal but he will surely not have to wait much longer on this showing, rising high to head a Sibierski cross over the bar before beating the offside trap and lifting the ball over both keeper and goal.

Middlesbrough almost snatched in a thrilling final spell completely at odds with the sedate start to the game, as O'Neil had a shot saved by the legs of Kirkland before Boyce headed a Downing cross clear just as Alves was preparing a simple nod in at the far post.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 19 of 19

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  1. Mentally ill, I am indeed you got me there. There is­ probably not enough rationale on the entire planet,­ cumulatively, to put together a solid argument that­ Middlesbrough will not be going down the way things­ look right now. Which is why I have deferred to­ soothsaying. I saw the draw against Liverpool. I saw­ it in the bones. Scoff, laugh, smirk, be derisive at­ your leisure. Middlesbrough is turning it around­ starting with an incredible point this weekend. I know­ this.

    From J.Houghton, on Thu 26 Feb 4:39AM

  2. well said bryan b...

    From butchkins, on Sun 22 Feb 10:14PM

  3. Bryan B,
    Your Chairman, by being 'loyal' to­ your manager, is taking you hurtling towards the­ Championship. And who says i support Wigan; i­ didn't . . . . . because i don't! Believe me, i­ have my reasons for despising your club, and in­ particular it's 'frontline' thug­ 'fans'!

    From cameron w, on Sun 22 Feb 10:06PM

  4. Bryan B - great stuff!! As a Boro supporter thro thick­ and thin - yes we r having our downside!! but right now­ as long as we go there and support - that's what­ Yorkshire people do - we support - Cameron W - I bet­ you are one of those that jump ship at the slightest­ (or no money) with your club - then wonder why .....­ then get off this site, and let the true supporters of­ their clubs talk, lament, or worship what is going in­ their foortball season.... we don't need losers on­ here - we need supporters of true English football, and­ that's what we are - thro thick and thin!!!

    From Tasmin, on Sun 22 Feb 8:11PM

  5. cattermole is a thug

    From Crazydave, on Sun 22 Feb 7:57PM

  6. Cameron W. aka Angry Ant. I think you need to get a­ grip mate. Your comments regarding joke club, chairman,­ fans etc. are way off the mark mate. The chairman at­ this club at least shows the kind of loyalty towards a­ manager needed when the club are in a barren spell.­ Just look at Newcastle, they've had god knows how­ many managers over the last few years and they're­ not much better for it. Although historically, at least­ Newcastle (and I am a Boro fan) have actually won­ something! The same can't be said for Wigan can it­ mate? Formed 2 minutes ago, won a clutch of lower­ league niff naff trophies and finally promoted to the­ big time a few years ago. While I agree that Boro­ haven't exactly won a great deal at least we have­ won a major trophy, been in a European final, FA cup­ finals, league cup finals and been in the top flight­ for most of our history. For Boro its more a case of­ 'Always the bridesmaid - never the bride'. To­ say all that is a joke only shows how envious your­ 'teensie-weesie' club is of our­ 'teensie-weensie' club that we've enjoyed­ at least some excitement in our history in between the­ low seasons like this one. Middlesbrough may be an­ unfashionable club and will always find it difficult to­ attract decent players and managers. Both the fans and­ chairman know this - therefore, citing us as thinking­ we're 'Too good to go down' is utter s**t­ spouted by ill-informed clouts like you. To illustrate­ this - you state that the attendance of 24000 is­ somehow something to be ashamed of.. well you must be­ really ashamed pal because your AVERAGE attendance is­ 18170!!! (from football365 stats)
    I think Boro­ attendances are more to do with economic reasons than­ lack of passion for the club.
    Boro may well go down­ this season mate, and our strikers may not be able to­ hit a 'bulls a*se with a cricket bat' at the­ minute, but all I know is that we've been there­ before and would be back sooner rather than later.­
    Would Wigan? Who knows? So take your rugby ball and­ F/off

    From Bryan, on Sun 22 Feb 4:56PM

  7. In response to Ronald S's query: yes, i think you­ will find that at least one of the posters, Jason­ Houghton (Comment-10), is indeed mentally ill -­ especially if he thinks 'the boro' will get a­ point against Liverpool!!!! As for me? I am just plain­ malicious and vengeful!

    From cameron w, on Sun 22 Feb 10:54AM

  8. Jason Houghton:
    They demonstrate the fact that your­ players CHEAT!!!!

    From cameron w, on Sun 22 Feb 10:43AM

  9. Are some of the writers of these comments mentally ill­ or just plain stupid

    From Ronald S, on Sun 22 Feb 10:30AM

  10. a point next weekend vs Liverpool

    From J.Houghton, on Sun 22 Feb 2:23AM

  11. Although the bookings may not have helped attain the­ better result, they do demonstrate a certain spirit-

    From J.Houghton, on Sun 22 Feb 2:21AM

  12. I eat cheese.

    From J.Houghton, on Sun 22 Feb 1:54AM

  13. in response to cameron w: SHUT UP!!!!!!

    From Robert, on Sat 21 Feb 8:55PM

  14. IS THE BORO CHAIRMAN PREPARING FOR CHAMPIONSHIP­ FOOTBALL NEXT SEASON?HE SHOULD LOOK AT WHAT IS­ HAPPENING TO CHARLTON ATHLETIC.I THINK HE IS LISTENING­ TO THOSE PUNDITS WHO ALWAYS SAY MANAGERS SHOULD BE­ GIVEN TIME EVEN IF THE TEAM IS HEADING FOR­ RELEGATION.BORO IS DOOMED FOR RELEGATION THIS SEASON IF­ THEY CONTINUE LIKE THIS.

    From valach, on Sat 21 Feb 7:39PM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Good to see 'the boro' faithful turning out in­ force to support their team when they need them -­ 24,020. What a joke turn-out for a joke club at a joke­ stadium; run by a joke, incompetent chairman, with a­ joke team managed by an even bigger joke manager. But­ the biggest joke of all is the joke fans who think they­ are 'too good to go down'; when you have the­ Premier League's biggest joke striker in the­ cheating Alves then you will never score and you will­ go down easily - . . . . . . . a bit like him and the­ other 2 cheats arca and o'neil. I was always taught­ never to laugh at the expense of those less fortunate­ but as far as 'the boro' are concerned . . . .­ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ha, ha, ha, ha, ha,­ ha, ha, ha, ha. Now know your place, just a­ teensy-weensy club in North Yorkshire . . . . . ha, ha,­ ha, ha, ha, ha - yes, zzcap2000, you are indeed . . . .­ DOOMED!!!

    From cameron w, on Sat 21 Feb 6:49PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Hey, I'm an open minded girl from US, I'm­­­ interested in exotic things, photography, dating and­­­ sports...I have my photos on --- T a l l h u b Co m­­­ ---, I love tall guys!
    Do you love traveling and have­­­ some experience? Just find me out.

    From aifuson02, on Sat 21 Feb 6:07PM

  17. Strange cause tuncay and alfonso are good strikers, got­ nothing in the middle to make things happen, and your­ best player doesnt want to be there so.....bye bye down­ you go...

    From glenn, on Sat 21 Feb 6:05PM

  18. enjoy the championship boro time is running out.

    From AUDREY G, on Sat 21 Feb 6:00PM

  19. we;er doomed i tell you doomed

    From chris, on Sat 21 Feb 5:52PM
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