Premier League - Poor Boro down with defeat

Eurosport - Sun, 24 May 21:28:00 2009

Middlesbrough dropped out of the Premier League with a whimper as they crashed to their 12th successive away defeat, losing 2-1 to West Ham at Upton Park to end a miserable season.

FOOTBALL Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate and Tuncay Sanli after the final whistle at West Ham 2009 Premier League - 0

For a brief moment in the second-half the visiting fans had hope when Gary O'Neil equalised Carlton Cole's first-half opener but seven minutes later Junior Stanislas put the Hammers back in front.

Gareth Southgate's side needed to win the match to have any chance of extending their 11-year spell in the top flight but they now must prepare for life in the Championship.

Middlesbrough had more of the play in the first half but didn't force Robert Green into a single save in the opening 45 minutes with their abysmal crossing.

They were then caught out down the left for the opener, just after the half hour mark, with Luis Boa Morte putting clear the overlapping Herita Ilunga.

The left-back then rolled across a fine low ball and Cole redirected it into the corner of the net to remind Fabio Capello that he is fit and ready for England selection.

At the break Southgate would have been at least encouraged to find that his rivals for relegation were all losing and certainly Boro showed more purpose in the early stages of the second-half.

They equalised just four minutes into the second period with Tuncay playing a lovely delayed pass which allowed O'Neil to come alongside him and put a low shot into the corner of the net.

However, O'Neil would turn villain seven minutes later as he lazily failed to track his man Stanislas back allowing the young Hammer to drill a low shot towards the corner of the net.

Brad Jones should still have saved with ease but he let the ball squeeze under his body to gift West Ham the lead.

After that it was a slow and painful death for the Middlesbrough fans as they never looked remotely like getting back into the game with West Ham always looking the more likely side to score.

There was still time for O'Neil to put a further stain on his performance moments before the end as he was lucky not to be sent-off after a bad two footed tackle on Diego Tristan.

Middlesbrough were not so lucky in their bid to stay in the Premier League though with their shocking away form eventually proving their undoing.

Seán Fay / Eurosport

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  1. Hey Butchkins; commiserations mate - who'd've­ thought it huh!
    Footyfan4eva; again commiserations to­ you - you've been a breath of fresh air to these­ football forums, and at least we'll still get to­ banter with you next season.
    Keep the faith, let's­ hope for better times ahead for both our clubs next­ season.

    From cameron w, on Mon 25 May 11:42AM

  2. I discorvered a hot place
    ------Wealth y F inder C o­ M------ where many sexy singles- who like dating and--­ chatting there. I'm an open- minded girl with­ s---exual a--ttraction and big b---oobs. I-- am ­ Waiting 4 u

    From sexyfishfghh, on Mon 25 May 8:55AM

  3. boro you were a great team but u knew if west ham­ beat you you will be getting relagated anyway i feel­ sorry for you boro even tho i am 11 lol but still its a­ shame you got relagated

    From Bronwyn, on Mon 25 May 6:42AM

  4. boro you were a great team but u knew if west ham­ beat you you will be getting relagated anyway i feel­ sorry for you boro even tho i am 11 lol but still its a­ shame you got relagated

    From Bronwyn, on Mon 25 May 6:42AM

  5. It's a terrible shame for Boro and their fans,but­ the season is finished now.Next season with a couple of­ wise older heads added and a promising bunch of­ youngsters coming through Boro will be straight­ back;and be better for it.For poor Newcastle I fear­ they have bigger troubles to sort out.WBA deserve a pat­ on the back for playing good football and sticking to­ their principals.Well done Tony Mowbray.

    From paul, on Mon 25 May 6:09AM

  6. boro and newcastle are another problematic teams which­ i think not in the players but in the staffs.. like­ leeds..

    From Ben, on Mon 25 May 5:28AM

  7. middlesbrough should start selling stars - afonso­ alves, huth, tuncay, o'neil

    From Ben, on Mon 25 May 4:46AM

  8. We will do well not to get relegated again if that­ balloon, Southgate is still there. He took a mid table­ premier league team and UEFA Cup finalists and turned­ it into a tin pot second division side. At least Keane­ got out at Sunderland when he realised he was out of­ his depth.

    From garylenton, on Mon 25 May 4:22AM

  9. Let the fire sale begin!

    From Butch Coolidge, on Mon 25 May 3:09AM

  10. lower leagues should be interestin next season, big­ reputations in d bottom divisions, d likes of newcastle­ boro west brom forest charlton soton leeds millwall etc­ fightin for promotion from their divisions makes it­ worth a watch

    From barry, on Mon 25 May 1:43AM

  11. we are down....we,ll be back,I hope lol.

    From butchkins, on Mon 25 May 12:13AM

  12. I watched this on Setanta. If you have to score a few­ goals then why in the love of God do you not shove 3 or­ 4 strikers on and have a bloody go. Boro will struggle­ next year as the stars, if there are any really, will­ want out. They will not come back quickly as the­ Championship is tough and the top 10 are better than­ the bottom 10 in the PL. In fact why not actually­ change it around next season with 10 up 10 down. It­ would be more competitive then.

    From taff, on Sun 24 May 11:04PM

  13. Don't worry Boro, you will be back soon!
    The point­ is that NewCastle wants to be back as well and it's­ not that easy next year the championship!
    KEEP THE­ SQUAD, AND PLEASE CHANGE COACH!!!

    From Sergio, on Sun 24 May 10:25PM

  14. Well it's being coming for some time we just are­ not good enough and have allowed to many good players­ to leave without replacing them It will be a miracle if­ Tuncay, Downing, Wheater, Huth and O'Neil­ remain.
    However Alves will be gone which is OK he is­ just not good enough.

    Boro need a goalkeeper Jones is­ not upto it I prefer Turnbull but he is a little young.­ I would try and get Foster on loan from Man U.
    We need­ a Right Back, Centre Half Central Midfielder who can­ tackle and hold the ball and a Striker who knows how to­ score.

    Not alot to ask especially without any money. I­ think we might struggle next year but I will still give­ my all to the team and manager who I think should not­ be blamed fully for this.

    UP THE BORO.

    From David S, on Sun 24 May 10:21PM

  15. 3 years ago we the boro were in the uefa cup final and­ now relagation...so sad for the town of Middlesbrough­ as i fear we will never recover

    From adrian.jones34, on Sun 24 May 9:39PM

  16. I have been a Boro fan for over 20 years. I have to say­ over the last 4 seasons I was getting sick and tired of­ the poor performance each week, I think it will be the­ best thing for Middlesbrough to go down and take a good­ look into what's gone wrong. My view you wont see­ Boro in the top flight for a long time.

    From matthewemmett, on Sun 24 May 9:31PM

  17. Boro's relegation is not a big news compared to­ Newcastle demise. You will be back next season before­ anyone notices again because everyone will be looking­ at Newcastle..

    From Half A Brain, on Sun 24 May 9:29PM

  18. unlucky boro i wanted u 2 stay up but unfortunately u­ lose hope to see u again bak in prem league

    From kingsley.ampaw, on Sun 24 May 8:34PM

  19. Sorry boro but you have to say this has been coming for­ a few seasons now, me and my mate said at the start of­ the season that you would be down, and as for Newcastle­ you deserve it swaping and changeing managers all the­ time you complete idiots!!

    From Tom M, on Sun 24 May 8:16PM

  20. Comiserations Boro.

    From Funky Buck Spubble, on Sun 24 May 8:14PM
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