Premier League - Boro edge out 10-man Stoke

Eurosport - Sat, 30 Aug 17:49:00 2008

Middlesbrough needed a goal from Sanil Tuncay six minutes from time to secure a 2-1 victory over 10-man Stoke City at the Riverside stadium.

FOOTBALL Tuncay challenges for the ball Middlesbrough v Stoke Premier League 2008 GETTY IMAGES - 0

After Amdy Faye was given a straight red card in the 36 minute Boro took control of the contest and immediately went in front thanks to a brilliant free-kick from Afonso Alves.

However, Gareth Southgate's side missed a host of chances to double their advantage, including a Stewart Downing penalty, and 20 minutes from time Stoke drew level when Justin Hoyte turned the ball into his own net on his home debut.

Middlesbrough though managed to secure their second home win out of two this season when Tuncay, who had previously squandered a number of opportunities, placed home the winner after Didier Digard's mis-hit shot fell to him in the area.

For the majority of the first half hour Stoke bossed the midfield and looked the more composed side, as they consistently put pressure on the Boro backline.

They almost had the lead on 19 minutes too when Liam Lawrence's curled free-kick almost found the bottom corner only for Ross Turnbell to make a fine save.

However, the match flipped on its head with Faye's red card, as the Senegalese midfield made a two footed lunge on Gary O'Neil which referee Mike Dean instantly decreed was worthy of a straight red.

The foul was committed in a central position 35 yards out and Alves then made it a double punishment when he curled home a superb strike into the top corner that left Thomas Sorensen rooted to the spot in the Stoke goal.

After that incident, it just seemed a matter of time before Boro would double their advantage as they laid siege on the Stoke goal both before and after the interval.

However, chance after chance fell by the wayside, with Tuncay being the squanderor- in-chief; the Turk will be particularly embarrassed by one effort he blazed over from just eight yards out after a fine check back from Alves.

It was Downing though who missed the hosts best chance as he smashed a penalty off the crossbar after Alves had been felled by Seyi Olofinjana in the 63rd minute.

Seven minutes later Stoke claimed an unlikely equaliser as home debutant Hoyte spent too much time worrying about Dave Kitson at the back post and ended up seeing Lawrence's low cross hit his knee and trickle into the net.

Boro then looked leggy as they tried for an equaliser despite the in-form Mido coming on for Alves.

However, the ball the finally fell favourably to Tuncay one last time in the 84th minute, and while Stoke looked to play the offside trap, out-rushing substitute Andy Wilkinson had left the Turk onside.

This time the striker showed the necessary composure and buried a low drive into the corner of the net to fire the Teesiders up to fourth in the table for the time being at least.

Sean Fay / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 10 of 10

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  1. Was a great match, very entertaining again. I think­ Boro will score more as the season goes on and strikers­ will start to put their chances away as they need to,­ but we always do it the hard way. Think a top 8 finish­ is on the cards, even the match of the day panel,­ including Alan Shearer are saying we are playing well -­ SHOCK - haha

    Up the boro !

    From oggy.jnr, on Sun 31 Aug 7:41PM

  2. middlesbrough us stokies will give you that­ game----wait till you come to the britannia­ stadium'''''it will be a different­ story ask the aston villa fans
    ******city till i­ die******

    From craig.allen23, on Sat 30 Aug 8:56PM

  3. boro put more people in hospital with heart scares than­ any other team in the premiership can somebody please ­ show them how to finish before they finish me off

    From chris h, on Sat 30 Aug 5:55PM

  4. Middlesbubba should feel fortunate that Stoke fell to­ 10 men as it was this point that turned the tide. Stoke­ had taken the game forward consistantly and ­ middlesbubbas keeper even dropped a save. WEll DONE­ STOKE .. you played well reguardless.. and congratz to­ middlesbubba hope you enjoy the rest of season in form.­
    ahh Middlesbubba is what i call em cause thats how i­ said it as a child, force of habit now lol

    From ango, on Sat 30 Aug 5:52PM

  5. The most exciting side in the prem, but god do I wish­ we could score. Stoke should have been dead and buried­ by at least 5 goals today. We might not be so lucky­ next time. Why is downing taking the pens what about­ Alves taking them, he is supposed to be the main goal­ scorer.

    I still think we need a top class keeper, but­ I do prefer Turnbull to Jones. I think Foster at Man U­ would be a good buy.

    From David S, on Sat 30 Aug 5:33PM

  6. Although Stoke lost today (Well done Boro ) we must­ look at the positive things from this match
    I feel one­ stupid two footed tackle resulting in a sending off­ lost us the game & there was now way back
    once­ Stoke went down to 10 men although we almost snatched a­ point via the own goal so I feel we were very unlucky­ to come away from that game with nothing.
    If Stoke can­ play consistently like they did in the 1st 30 minutes­ before the sending off then we are in with a good­
    chance of survival in the Prem and we may claim a good­ few scalps along the way but its still early days
    and I­ dont think anyone will think of us a push over just yet­
    Lets see how we get on against the toffees at home in­ a couple of weeks time.
    Gooo un Stoke

    From Dave, on Sat 30 Aug 5:32PM

  7. BORO SHOULD PRACTISE THEIR FINISHING..maybe Tuncay was­ trying too hard to please the home crowd.When finally­ he composed himself he scored! Well done Boro. Chelsea­ 4 Life!!!

    From maximusLAC C, on Sat 30 Aug 5:27PM

  8. i like boros new signings essepcially digard and hoyte

    From Andrew, on Sat 30 Aug 5:21PM

  9. Looking at the chances we missed I really think we need­ a 20 goal plus goal scorer, maybe we should get Dimitar­ Berbatov instead of him going to Man Utd

    From DaddyDavid, on Sat 30 Aug 5:20PM

  10. jesus i was so worried we would mess it up AGAIN by­ missing loads of chances (penalty miss ??!!!!!!)and­ then letting in ANOTHER own goal. All praise the­ terrific turk!!

    From michaelasevers, on Sat 30 Aug 5:05PM
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