When Tuesday’s team was first announced I really felt quite miffed,
But the win by Boro’s second string gave the town a great big lift,
We’ve now won three games on the trot and hopefully there’ll be more,
I’ve got no doubt at all myself that, today, we’ll make it four.

So the fans are feeling jubilant and with many valid reasons,
For this is Boro’s best-ever start in at least the past seven seasons,
But today’s game’s no pushover, as some folk seem to claim,
For Bolton – today’s visitors – have scored in every Premiership game.

Well, now the game is under way and wouldn’t it be nice,
To take three points at home today from Bolton’s Allardyce?
And, from the moment that we kicked off, the spectators’ volume soared,
As the Boro charged eagerly forward and really should have scored.

Boksic made a great run, down to the dead-ball line,
His ball to Maccarone was, simply, quite divine,
He cut it back to Macca, who was only six yards out,
But he fired it wildly over so the move had come to nowt.

Good play now from the Boro, showing everyone their intent,
Queudrue whipped a good ball in: you knew precisely what he meant,
It shot across the area but no Boro man could get near,
And good work by Simon Charlton saw him head the ball well clear.

A pass from ‘Q’ to Maccarone and the ball nestled in the net,
But the linesman held his flag aloft: offside? I wouldn’t bet!
Just as the ecstatic Boro fans began to voice their adulation,
A flag that took “two days” to raise, meant nothing but frustration.

Southgate then found Ugo with a totally brilliant pass,
The move went on to Joseph Job, then to Geremi: oh, what class!
They’re pressing ever forward, ploughing a long, relentless furrow,
The ball’s then headed out of play so it’s a corner for the Boro.

The delivery was a good one but, by Macca, was miscued wide,
But we’re playing with such swagger, leaving Bolton mesmerised,
It’s the speed of Maccarone and, from Job, a constant threat,
Not to mention Alen Boksic who has the visitors in a sweat.

Boro fans’ hearts then skipped a beat when Boksic, looking fitter,
And, only six yards out from goal, missed another absolute sitter,
Wonderful vision by Joseph Job set up Boro’s best chance yet,
But once again we failed to see a bulging Bolton net.

Now Bolton coming forward with their heads by no means bowed,
Djorkaeff caused real danger as he fired one through a crowd,
Schwarzer may have been unsighted as his handling wasn’t great,
But he grabbed it at the second attempt then passed it to a mate.

Great vision from George Boateng and his ball was just a dream,
But Job couldn’t quite finish it and it makes me want to scream,
He’s six yards out: in front of goal: the chance on which to thrive,
I can’t believe it’s still no goals from chances totalling five.

As usual, it seems, that the Boro have had most of the play,
But against such opposition, we need to put the ball away,
It’s been almost one-way traffic and we’re running Bolton ragged,
But we’ve got to make this pressure pay and it’s time a goal was bagged.

Maccarone’s flick to Joseph Job, who’s certainly showing lots of clout,
And then we all saw Greening, turning Campo inside out,
And Queudrue, through a little gap, then pushed the ball infield,
It was wickedly deflected and so a corner it did yield.

Geremi’s pinpoint corner into an area that was packed,
No surprise at all to anyone that Ugo was the first man to react,
He rose above the others and then gave it such a clout,
That the ‘keeper for the visitors had no chance to keep it out.

Despite the numerous chances that we’ve had, so far, today,
It took the Boro’s centre-back to show the other men the way
He managed to find sufficient space: above the others to rise,
And the rocket, scored with awesome power, was really no surprise.

There really can’t be any doubt that Ugo has the will,
For only moments earlier he had kept the score nil-nil,
So from brilliant defending he scored a superb goal and then,
I wonder if he’s thinking now, “Well, are you watching, Sven.”

Then suddenly, without warning, the game takes a little hitch,
As manager, Steve McClaren’s chasing wildlife on the pitch,
It brings some light amusement to the Riverside’s packed house,
Thankfully, concentration wasn’t lost: it was just a little mouse.

Once more the Boro seem to be right in there with a shout,
As Massimo Maccarone wins a corner out of nowt,
We’re looking for that second goal but I cannot see any signs,
The corner is a poor one and Jaaskelainen clears his lines.

Two men fighting for the ball and Campo went on to win it,
He passed it on to Nolan and Mark Schwarzer kept us in it,
The ball flew in on target: it certainly wasn’t going wide,
The Aussie saved magnificently meaning Nolan was denied.

At half-time, Sam Alladyce, will not be feeling bad, I’m sure,
Because the Boro’s finishing has certainly been poor,
We’ve had so many chances, already this game to kill,
And Bolton simply can’t believe that they losing just one-nil.

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Farrelly and Ricketts now brought on and the second half’s just started,
And I have to say Sam Allardyce isn’t looking too downhearted,
They’ll seek to get back into the game and that is Bolton’s pledge,
For he knows that, once again, the Boro are living on the edge.

An early opportunity lost and not due to bad luck,
So many players were involved and each one passed the buck,
Maccarone and then Boksic each had the chance to score,
But they chose to pass to Geremi and the chance was soon no more.

A glorious ball from Greening in our very next attack,
Left “overweight” man, Campo, lying flat out on his back,
The ball came inside the area: he got in such an awful mess,
Deflected it ‘round the ‘keeper: so, was it a corner? Yes!

Southgate wins a header; he’s been wonderful by and large,
There’s a line of Boro forwards, with Job leading the charge,
Maccarone’s in the area and he had the chance to shoot,
But the experience of Campo saw him take it off his boot.

Boro get a free kick when Boateng was pulled down rather hard,
Geremi chose to take it and he missed by just a yard,
He chose to go for power and it seemed destined for the top,
And, had it been on target, it was quite impossible to stop.

Greening’s up there, once again, displaying real aggression,
Finds Queudrue inside the box in a wonderful position,
He spots Maccarone six yards’ out and things look really great,
A free header but he fluffed it, though ’twas put upon a plate.

We then saw Geremi lose control: his play was somewhat sloppy,
That was really no example for the other lads to copy,
And Djorkaeff for the visitors sought to bring the Boro sorrow,
Great save again by Schwarzer whose birthday it is tomorrow.

Immediately we again attack: just hear the Boro fans roar!
Chance fell to Alen Boksic who, so far, has failed to score,
He elected not to shoot when he was better placed by far,
It was left again to Greening who volleyed well over the bar.

A shot went wide from Frandsen but the ref. saw a deflection,
The decision was the wrong one and Boro players raised objection,
The ball fell dangerously for Bergssen, but the chance he failed to take,
And it then allowed the Boro to hit them once more on the break.

Job wins a very good header as the ball comes from the rear,
Boks is on the half-way line, onside and running clear,
So it’s two against the ‘keeper, now someone needs a good clear head,
Geremi had time to pick his spot – two-nil and Bolton dead.

The Bolton players went “mental” and their complaint can’t be denied,
Although the ref. didn’t give it, we looked suspiciously offside,
But Geremi still had lots to do and he did withstand the test,
And Farrelly was then cautioned for leading the justified protest.

Boksic had worked awfully hard but he really needs to score,
He’s now replaced by Nemeth, to a long, resounding roar,
Within about a minute we sought more pressure to impose,
As Job then flashed one o’er the bar: my goodness: that was close!

There’s just about ten minutes that are now left on the clock,
And it seems to me that Robbie has picked up a little knock,
So, with the score two-nil and another victory looking imminent,
Cooper’s on for Stockdale who needs a rub down with the liniment.

Just before the final whistle was, thankfully, sounded by the ref.,
Another absolute sitter was missed by Bolton’s Djorkaeff
It was a cushioned header by Ricketts, right into his colleague’s path,
But the score remains unchanged and it’s now time for the bath.