It matters not today how the Boro goals are scored,
As long as we manage to somehow get three points up on the board,
Against Wolves who, some claim, are "certain" to be relegated,
So, surely, every Boro fan will go home highly elated.

Today sees Paul Ince back in town, the former Boro skip,
Let’s hope his contribution doesn’t bring another blip,
He takes the field without his shirt and the crowd, as one, just roars,
But, for the following ninety minutes, let’s hope that’s the last of his applause.

On a bright November afternoon, the game gets underway,
Provided Boro win this one, I don’t care how they play,
But we were almost instantly put really under the lash,
By speedy Wolves’ man, Camara, who attacked us like a flash.

Negative he wasn’t, to leave the Boro backs all on toast,
And then the move developed, leaving everyone exposed,
It only took one sloppy ball and the man went for the kill,
Twice he was unlucky but he showed tremendous skill.

Then we saw George Boateng who, until now’d impressed,
Lying on the touchline looking obviously distressed,
Thankfully he recovered, though hobbling somewhat on one peg,
Then the news came through that George was suffering a ‘dead’ leg.

French Franck then managed something no one else had seen before,
When he tried a hefty clearance and the ball began to soar,
It easily cleared the roof of the brand new Holgate stand,
And went floating down the river where it finally did land.

Ince then cleared the danger, as ever so resilient,
To end a promising Boro attack, he was nothing short of brilliant,
The way he undertook his task could not have been much better,
As he brought an end to a wonderful move by Gaizka Mendieta.

Mills went on a great long run, saw the ball and stole it,
Sent it to Maccarone, who then failed to control it,
Had he not set off too early it would have needed just a tap,
But the chance it went a’ begging and McClaren threw away his cap.

The visitors’ Naylor was then injured and his pain was clear to see,
Was Mendieta right to stop the game? Not all fans would agree.
But for sportsmanship ten-out-of-ten, do give the man his dues,
Then the way that Wolves retained the ball did lead to howls of boos.

Boateng on a forceful run, which ended with a wince,
When he was dispossessed once more by former Boro man, Ince,
But Boro kept on pressing; it became quite a procession,
Though all they got for all of that was two corners in succession.

The second one in by Zenden was delivered really fine,
Then Queudrue’s goal-bound header was somehow cleared off the line,
He bounced it off the turf and saw it hurtling towards the net,
But once again, ‘twas not to be; how unlucky can you get?

So far it’s not a good game, in fact it’s all gone flat,
But any sort of Boro goal would put an end to that,
A chance then came from a great ball in from non-other than French Franck,
But Boateng, though he tried so hard, couldn’t put it in the bank.

A glorious long ball from big Franck, who chose to go route one,
Was seized upon by Macca but soon again the chance was gone,
Sometimes there’s no other way when the ball you need to lay off,
But, sadly for the Boro fans, this time it failed to pay off.

A great ball in by Zenden, now who could ask for more?
It required a simple tap-in but this time Boateng failed to score,
Then Macca fluffed another one when well inside the box,
And he received from Mendieta who’d been working off his socks.

Maccarone missed another as he tried to hit a volley,
When other options were available, what he chose to do was folly,
But do lift your hat to Zenden, who was answering to the call,
His delivery was inch-perfect; that certainly was some ball.

As the half draws to a close, in a game that hasn’t thrilled,
A cross-cum shot from Zenden across the goal is drilled,
Macca once again got close; in fact he could have kissed it,
But, once more, ‘twas not to be, and everybody missed it.

The Boro lads, it must be said, have not been at their best,
And their many faithful fans will be totally unimpressed,
So do try to keep your chin up, as yet, not all has been lost,
Some harsh words are now called for but, hopefully, nothing will be tossed.

So now we have to wait to see the second half begin,
With Boro fans still waiting for another elusive win,
We now have Christie up front so let us show conviction,
And go full out at the visitors without restriction.

Gudjonsson got a yellow card and had no cause to yowl,
He clattered ‘Mendi ‘ to the turf; a clear, deliberate foul,
From 30 yards the Zenden kick somehow got around the wall,
But Oakes then saved quite comfortably and held on to the ball.

Mills was then so lucky when he was well and truly skinned,
By speed-merchant Camara, who then went off like the wind,
Southgate got the ball away by remaining so alert,
With Camara well inside the box and a goal had looked a ‘cert.’

Zenden zoomed a shot on goal that moved much in the air,
But the ‘keeper had no trouble; he was totally aware,
Though he took two attempts to hold it and it looked like he might crumble,
With the Boro forwards bearing down, waiting for any fumble.

A classic pass from ‘Mendi,’ who showed tremendous vision,
Flew right across the goalmouth with absolute precision,
Maccarone had another chance, so far he’s taken none,
Despite world-class skill from ‘Mendi,’ another chance was gone.

Juninho’s name rings throughout the ground with a break-through still awaited,
He’s ready now to come straight on; but the crowd’s breath remains baited,
But several minutes were to pass before an almighty cheer,
As the ‘Samba Star’ then took his place, the noise was great to hear.

Who’d make way for Juninho? It was difficult to choose,
But when the number was displayed, it was greeted by loud boos,
Many fans, it would appear, could not believe their eyes,
When Doriva had to leave the field; one mighty big surprise.

Mills went on a mazy run, which brought a Boro roar,
But he then tried the impossible; there was no way he could score,
Much better placed was Christie and also Mendieta,
Had either man been picked out, it might have ended better.

Splendid stuff by Cooper, a real hero at the back,
As he gets the better of Alex Rae to set up a Boro attack,
‘Mendi’s ball to ‘The Little Man’ who then set off at the double,
Then, with other men better placed, he again ran into trouble.

Christie’s look of mild amusement as he goes down in the box,
Expecting more than a corner as Jodie Craddock blocks,
The Boro fans are hopeful, but Wolves’ beleaguered, tired defence,
Keeps everybody guessing and in a state of high suspense.

We didn’t have too long to wait to break the awful deadlock,
Surely, Boro, at one goal up, have the visitors in a headlock,
Because Wolves were made to suffer for a lapse of concentration,
And the nature of the goal left them suffering great frustration.

Danny Mills, when going through, was very crudely blocked,
And within a matter of moments, the visitors were rocked,
Two swift-thinking internationals, Juninho and Mendieta ,
Took a quick free kick which brought the goal; they don’t come any better.

The way the goal was executed, was supremely astute,
‘Mendi’ was 35 yards out and the angle most acute,
He lined it up and lashed it; it really was ‘The Best,’
Sheer magic from the Boro pair, but from Wolves there was protest.

A second goal now for the Boro seems to be drawing near,
Then, what a run from Big Franck, the French Cavalier,
Being urged to take them all on as a barrier was erected,
But all he earned was a corner, when his effort was deflected.

It didn’t take much longer for the Boro fans to sit up,
As Juninho made it two-nil and the stadium was lit up,
Give credit to the ‘Samba Star’, whose finishing was great,
But don’t forget that Zenden really put it on a plate.

The quality of the Zenden cross was certainly top drawer,
Leaving it impossible for Juninho not to score,
But carried away we must not be; the warning’s really stark,
We still are relatively rather poor, in the last third of the park.

Alex Rae was sent off and the temperature was raised,
And Boro won the game two-nil, rightfully to be praised,
Some of the games we’ve seen him play have certainly been much better,
But for his speed of thought and action, it’s “Thanks to Mendieta.”