The three points today on offer, are for both teams truly vital,
Though neither side is threatening to go on and win the title,
With the rain still tippling down: it’s really quite torrential,
So get stuck in, you Boro lads, those points are so essential.

Elland Road for Boro, is not a happy hunting ground,
As the game gets under way in a huge cauldron full of sound,
It is plain for all to see the weather will play a vital part,
With some water on the surface and spray thrown up from the start.

Leeds attacked us down the right and very nearly succeeded,
When Queudrue’s error brought a corner that was needlessly conceded,
A rather weak Smith header as the ball came in from deep,
Was gathered in by Schwarzer as players fell ‘round him in a heap.

French Franck is ‘done’ by Milner and then the ball is whipped in,
Came Riggott to the rescue as unnoticed he had slipped in,
He was really at full stretch but managed to head the ball away,
And Boro breathe more easily and live to fight another day.

Mendieta tried a curler, which was almost to perfection,
But it earned only a corner, after a very slight deflection,
Zenden took the corner but it all went horribly wrong,
With every red shirt on the near post, the ball was sent too long.

Juninho’s run on United’s goal was cynically defended,
When central and inside the ‘D’ the ‘Wee Man’ was upended,
He’d left three white shirts in his wake and what followed wasn’t planned,
As ‘Mendi’ sent it high into the upper tier of the stand.

A quick free kick by ‘Mendi’ then set up a Boro attack,
As Boateng brought in Davies who went on to have a crack,
His effort was a good one and really dangerous it looked,
But sadly for the Boro, out of play the ball was hooked.

Maccarone’s show of petulance was really quite absurd,
But Graham Poll soon sorted it with just a quiet word,
Yes, it’s true, his shirt was pulled, and then he showed frustration,
Then the referee quickly put things right without a moment’s hesitation.

Now the rain’s stopped falling and we can even see the sun,
And Zenden disappointed in a game that must be won,
With ‘Macca’ standing clear with hands held high, he cried,
But the Dutchman never saw him and he slashed it horribly wide.

The way the game is going has the Leeds fans agitated,
Whilst those supporting Boro are now feeling quite elated,
With the Leeds defence now showing it’ll be very soon unlocked,
A tremendous drive by ‘Mendi’ was magnificently blocked.

“What a save by Robinson,” as he saved the home team’s day,
Then the ball fell to Juninho who would surely make him pay!
But it flew just over the “Wee man’s” head though he sure gave them a fright,
He narrowly failed in his attempt through a simple lack of height.

Boro were finally opened up when Leeds got behind Franck Q.,
The danger then got greater when we saw Davies miscue,
Could this now be the first time for the Leeds crowd to rejoice?
As once more they had discovered their loud, collective voice.

Juninho wastes another chance; he wasn’t up to scratch!
He shot when others, better placed, could only stand and watch,
But at least he had a pot at goal and for that nobody’s knocking him,
Despite the fact a few fans behind the goal are mocking him.

Zenden leads another wave of Boro’s flowing tide,
His tremendous strike from thirty yards is only inches wide,
The in-form Mendieta was the man we saw attacking,
His run was quite terrific but the shot left something lacking.

The first half’s been quite good to watch; the defence remained so strong,
But once again it’s in attack where we’ve not been quite on song,
We’ve hit the target only once and McClaren’s heart must be bleeding,
Throughout we’ve been in full control and it’s amazing we’re not leading.

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So play resumes in this vital game on which so much is riding,
With Leeds there for the taking we can give a real good hiding,
Doriva and Maccarone left the Leeds’ defence for dead,
And although they managed to clear the ball, they’re only hanging by a thread.

Milner was a lucky man, as the Boro threat grows much stronger,
He cruelly brought down Davies who won’t now play for very much longer,
A furious McClaren’s then seen with Graham Poll and squabbling,
The ref. had missed the Milner foul that left young Davies hobbling.

We didn’t have too long to wait, and everyone agreed,
A terrific strike saw Zenden give the Boro a one-goal lead,
Maccarone helped create it and he played a massive part,
As the Boro fans are chanting whilst the home crowd loses heart.

It was clear for all to see how the host fans’ hearts did sag,
As Zenden pulled a rabbit out of the magician’s bag,
“You’re going down,” the Boro fans taunt as Smith then lost his cool,
Going in with both feet showing, to add ‘spice’ to this Yorkshire duel.

As Leeds crank up the pressure a free kick’s to be defended,
But a brave header from Riggott means the danger is soon ended,
The ball in was a great one as it flew in like a rocket,
But the Boro man had the upper hand with the defender in his pocket.

A corner did result and in on goal the ball was curled,
And Schwarzer in the Boro goal looked to be beaten to the world,
Smith rose up like a bird and we had no-one on the post,
It missed by just a “midge’s” and the ball looked in, to most.

What lovely football from the Boro as they skilfully interchange,
Then ‘Mendi’ finds a little gap as he approaches shooting range,
He gets the ball then turns and shoots; it goes just inches wide,
A goal’s deserved on today’s display and that can not be denied.

A dream ball in from Parnaby fell right at Zenden’s feet,
He sent it back across the face but ‘Macca’ failed to meet,
So inviting was the ball, the slightest touch is all it needs,
But it drifted harmlessly out of play so it’s a goal-kick now to Leeds.

Bridges has come on for Leeds and the tempo has been quickened,
And they attacked us four-on-three and almost left us sickened,
With Southgate and Riggott left upfield the Boro were exposed,
But “What a challenge from Boateng!” The man deserves a toast.

Joseph Job is brought on and knows what his job entails,
Although we’ve totally controlled the match we’re still biting at our nails,
But very quickly came the chance and didn’t he take it well?
He put the game beyond recall with Leeds’ defenders A.W.O.L.

First came a lovely dummy from our little Samba Star,
One ball over the top left the home team’s goal ajar,
Half way down the pitch he ran: retain his cool? You bet!
He went around the ‘keeper and slid the ball into the net.

With six games in a row now lost, and home fans already leaving,
Their situation’s critical and many must now be grieving,
Then Michael Ricketts is introduced and, as he is running free,
He’s brought to ground by Robinson, for a pen, and number three.

The foul was in the area and everybody shouted,
The penalty was awarded, as no-one had ever doubted,
So up stepped Michael Ricketts, as cool as any cucumber,
Easily slotted home the ball and brought to three the number.

With another game already lost: gloom hanging o’er their city,
Robinson got a red card which I thought really a pity,
I’d hoped that Graham Poll might have shown some commiseration,
For the once-proud Leeds United, now facing imminent relegation.