You may well remember that last week I spoke,
About winning three points today, down here in “The Smoke,”
When we take on the might of the Tottenham ‘Spurs,
And we haven’t won here for a couple of years.

The match is “sold out” and fans are obviously eager,
And back earlier than expected is one, Christian Ziege,
But as he takes the field to a huge Boro “boo,”
We welcome back Boateng after injury and flu.

It’s a game of great promise; a wonderful event,
And Tottenham’s home record is, so far, one-hundred-per-cent,
But it’s three points for the Boro, for which we’re all clamouring,
So go out there, lads, and give Tottenham a hammering.

We got off to a flyer whilst showing wonderful class,
Great counter-attacks; pinpoint accuracy of pass,
A fine ball from Geremi found Boksic with precision,
He cushioned it then lost it: a corner the decision.

The corner was whipped in just where it could hurt,
Though Southgate’s head met it he couldn’t convert,
But the pressure was kept up in this great Boro spell,
Three corners in no time: we’ve really started off well.

The Boro, so far, have been relentlessly pressing,
And a goal for our heroes would sure be a blessing,
But a short pass by Boksic went totally astray,
And Redknapp was unlucky not to make Boro pay.

Ball whipped in by Geremi, the best one so far seen,
And what a spectacular own-goal that one might have been!
But just as it seemed that the Spurs’ goal was ajar,
Richards headed spectacularly just over the bar.

It’s quite obvious that the Spurs are already in trouble,
As Boro are rampant and starting to bubble,
And Christian Ziege, who’s done nought for the cause,
Is already being subbed to loud Boro applause.

Despite all the pressure it‘s still quite a shame,
That we’ve not yet got Macca right into the game,
But that will be rectified and that is for sure,
For it’s only that final ball in that’s still poor.

Greening found Stockdale whose pass was misplaced,
Etherington then pinched it and goal-wards he raced,
But Boateng had tracked him and got his foot in,
Sufficient for Schwarzer to save us again.

It’s the pace of the Boro men that Spurs fear the most,
And they’re playing like the visitors and not like the host,
But, though each Boro player is answering the call,
We’ve not so far troubled ‘keeper Keller at all.

Superb skill by Job as he got on his bike,
Then he let a shot fly: what a wonderful strike!
As the goal opened up for him, Job didn’t linger,
And Keller saved well with the tip of a finger.

He sent the ball out with the deftest of flicks,
Unbelievably our corner tally stands already at six,
But the kick was then taken with far too much haste,
It wasn’t the best one: in fact, quite a waste!

After losing his man, a shot rifled by Keane,
Was the first Tottenham threat that, so far, we had seen?
But the Boro’s defence wasn’t about to be rocked,
When up stepped big Ugo and Keane’s effort was blocked.

There then quickly followed another real Boro thrill,
As Geremi seemed certain to make it one-nil,
But “what a tackle from Doherty!” One must always be fair,
His last-ditch intervention kept the fixture all square.

Instead of playing advantage the referee said “free kick,”
And then up stepped Geremi who almost did the trick,
It fell well for Boksic but it seems he’s lost the habit,
And Keller made a brave dive and managed to grab it.

So far for Spurs’ management this game’s been a wrench,
And Hoddle’s looking quite concerned, already on the bench,
Then Iversen claimed a penalty but it didn’t stand the test,
And referee Graham Poll showed absolutely no interest.

But a Boro goal’s about to come, that’s what I suspect,
With the much-improved Greening again the architect,
When he lays on a tap-in for the Boro’s man from Rome,
Who then promptly shows he can score away from home.

Greening danced along the line, tormenting and then teasing,
Got right down to the by-line: the ball sent in most pleasing,
Though Job, for once, miscued, we saw Macca win the fight,
From just a yard, he didn’t miss; and for Boro fans? Delight!

Almost immediately we again saw ‘keeper Keller troubled,
And, if truth be told, the Boro’s lead should by now have been doubled,
Boksic picked out Job well but, then, things all went sour,
He should have easily beaten Keller but his effort lacked power.

Keane then plays a good ball through which Etherington thumped,
It’s the first time he’s been tested but Schwarzer again came up trumps,
Then a set piece ball found Ferdinand not correctly using his head,
And he sent the ball so awfully high it landed in row ‘Z.’

Spurs again gave the ball away which Geremi took with ease,
But then we saw their ‘keeper, saving luckily with his knees,
It was great play from Joseph Job and the bald Italian feller,
But again, it really must be said, “great save by ‘keeper Keller!”

With Boro on the rampage and Spurs’ fans looking at their clocks,
We were witness to pure magic and sheer genius from Boks,
Only two yards out from goal his ball was begging to be stuffed,
But Job then totally missed it and the chance, again, was fluffed.

That was wonderful skill from Boksic that we have all just seen,
But then we saw that magic can also be performed by Keane,
When left unmarked he threatened: my goodness! How he tried!
He did his utmost just to place it and it drifted narrowly wide.

----------------------------------

To try and get back into it, Teddy Sheringham’s now brought back,
So it looks as if the Spurs may launch a new three-pronged attack,
But no changes to the Boro side which has totally dominated,
Let’s hope for even better things from the same players nominated.

Within a couple of minutes of the two teams coming back,
Boro were desperately unlucky in their very first attack,
Showing great acceleration Geremi crossed one hard and low,
How on earth did Macca miss it? We’ll really never know.

It was a glorious opportunity and from just about six yards,
And everybody felt another goal was on the cards,
But like all of those beforehand, this corner came to nought,
And the score is not reflecting just how hard our men have fought.

Geremi’s wonderful skill is tying Tottenham up in knots,
With Boro still pushing forward and constantly raining in the shots,
More goals, I feel, are bound to come, the way the Boro’s playing,
And Hoddle sits there dumbfounded, shaking his head and praying.

A rare moment of real danger, as Robbie Keane really shone,
He pinched the ball from Greening but the chance was quickly gone,
A ball flicked out to ‘Teddy,’ who picked out Iversen, back stick,
He nodded down to Keane who then completely missed his kick.

Then straight up to the other end; the charge being led by Macca,
Culminating, finally, in yet another Boro cracker,
Amazingly, the Spurs’ defence as one, appeared to freeze,
Geremi took his time, then aimed, and scored with consummate ease.

With Boro simply oozing class, we’re cutting them to shreds,
And two-nil surely means the Spurs can retire now to their beds,
After waiting now for many years we’re playing with great style,
Although it isn’t over yet, we’re winning by a mile.

Queudrue defended really strong as Tottenham now grew bolder,
It was just as well for ‘Teddy Boy’ was hanging on his shoulder,
With a corner kick conceded, in favour of ‘Mine Host,’
The Boro had a stroke of luck as Iversen struck one off the post.

Immediately the Boro attacked and Hoddle looked to the heavens,
As Job was put through, one-on-one, and Spurs at sixes and sevens,
It can be said, quite truthfully, our team’s now running hot,
As Joseph calmly carried it, then neatly picked his spot.

Dare I suggest that Boro’s away fans have never been so thrilled?
So, surely, come next Saturday, the Riverside, will be filled,
The brilliance of the Boro has left the Spurs exasperated,
And their hundred-per-cent home record has now totally evaporated.

And so it did continue, with Boro the better team, by far,
Even Robbie Keane sent a sitter flying ‘miles’ above the bar,
Then we could have had another goal, of which to further boast,
But Boksic was unlucky and hit the outside of the post.

In the closing, dying seconds, with one final Boro flourish,
Geremi also struck a post in a game all fans will cherish,
Two hundred games for Schwarzer and that is really no mean feat,
He did everything we asked of him and kept another clean sheet.

At three o’clock today the Tottenham cockerel stood there rampant,
But by five we had ensured that all his crowing had been dampened,
What a difference it has made, now having more than one goal-getter,
I beg you to enjoy it while you can because it doesn’t get much better.