The rain that’s really pouring from a grey and leaden sky,
Simply cannot dampen the Boro fans’ hopes that are so high,
The playing pitch will cut up and the surface will be slicker,
Can we now make ‘Moaning Sam’ feel just that little bit sicker?

After the Carling Cup Final big Sam remains so furious,
Describing many of Mike Riley’s calls amazingly as curious,
So another Boro penalty would really be quite nice,
As long as whoever takes it doesn’t try to kick it twice.

As details of the Boro team are being circulated,
It’s apparent that the defence is somewhat decimated,
And with Allardyce still claiming there’s another score to settle,
The Boro lads will really need to be right on their metal.

After victory at Cardiff ‘t would be sheer paradise,
If Boro could prove that lightning sometimes does strike twice,
Yet Bolton were the first to show signs of any real threat,
But Pedersen’s shot caused Schwarzer not the slightest sweat.

Then Boro came so very close to a sensational start,
And Maccarone really should have broken Big Sam’s heart,
A dream ball in from Mendi chipped towards the furthest stick,
Was tailor-made for a header but our man then chose to kick.

A free kick then from Zenden, which outrageously dipped,
Then off the wet surface it quite visibly zipped,
With the visitors’ defence thrown into disarray,
Their ‘keeper recovered very well then parried it away.

There have been occasions when Boro goals have been so sparse,
But their next one was an own-goal and the epitome of farce,
Nolan put past his ‘keeper with a clever overhead kick,
Leaving Allardyce totally stunned and the player feeling sick.

There were no red shirts around him and he wasn’t at all harassed,
His unbelievable goal left him totally embarrassed,
The ball hit the net with Boro fans’ cheers so loud,
With such a goal in his own net he’d have been extremely proud.

Pedersen looked a cert to score; as sure as eggs is eggs,
As he reacted swiftly and slipped the ball through Ugo’s legs,
He took the flick from Davies then never gave up the ghost,
And he was desperately unlucky as he clipped it off the post.

Greening took advantage of a Bolton aberration,
And then his pass to Juno was, indeed, a revelation,
The ‘Wee Man’ should have passed the ball but he wasn’t so inclined,
And the ‘keeper somehow saved his team from going two goals behind.

A second Bolton own-goal was so very nearly scored,
As the visitors, at the present time, appear somewhat overawed,
The ball was going wide then Howey gave the Boro hope,
By ‘handling’ it with difficulty; like a slippery bar of soap.

Campo then, for foul play, found the referee intervening,
To issue a stern warning, for a challenge on Jonathon Greening,
Up stepped Mendieta but found the distance just too far,
Though struck with awesome power the ball flew just over the bar.

Lovely play by Mendieta, inside the ‘foreign’ territory,
Barged over then by Nolan to end the search for further glory,
Up then stepped Juninho; the situation was long pondered,
But despite the preparation, the opportunity was then squandered.

A great ball to Juninho, Boro’s Joseph Job then whipped,
But it’s pushed out for a corner, by the ‘keeper’s fingertips,
It looked for all the world as if the ball was going in,
But it brought about a great save by the Trotters’ Flying Finn.

Then came about an episode that we all watched in disbelief,
With three golden opportunities to bring to Allardyce much more grief,
The ball bounced around from-man-to-man; it was really quite bizarre,
And Riggott somehow hit the post when the goal was wide ajar.

So ends an entertaining half, with chances by the score,
Amazingly it’s just one-nil when it might have been much more,
The visitors will no doubt come back, hell-bent on more attacking,
Let’s hope the Boro score again and send the Trotters packing.

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Nemeth takes the place of Job, who’d given everything,
But was ruled out for the second half with a slightly damaged hamstring,
So the game restarts before a crowd that’s obviously much thinner,
As many watch The National and hope they’ve backed the winner.

Okocha displayed wondrous skill that was simply quite meticulous,
Then went within a moment from sublime to just ridiculous,
Having forced a corner with a superb display of skill,
He then brought a glare from Allardyce: if only looks could kill!

Maccarone was involved again as Boro began to bubble,
And Greening’s first goal for a year saw the home advantage double,
Mendi fluffed his effort with the defence in disarray,
Jonno claimed the loose ball then quickly tucked it well away.

Nemeth’s running through on goal; almost totally unopposed,
Such a situation normally sees him clinical and composed,
He slipped at the last moment and that knocked him off his stride,
The chance then went a’ begging as he lashed the ball well wide.

Macca’s bursting down the flank and Bolton’s defence retreats,
Anticipation rises, drawing fans out of their seats,
He managed to steal just half-a-yard then made his way inside,
Then tried to find top corner left but he sent it slightly wide.

Okocha showed great petulance when beaten by strong tackles,
Booked for retaliation when he can’t escape the shackles,
The Boro fans sing, “Who won the cup?” from all corners of the ground,
With half-an-hour still left to play, I hope things don’t rebound.

Macca leaves the field of play after a truly splendid showing,
To well-deserved and loud applause that must have left him glowing,
On comes Stewart Downing, whose first touch was immaculate,
Then his first cross, deep into the box was, sadly, so inaccurate.

Ugo concedes a daft free kick just twenty yards from goal,
Quickly up steps Okocha to try and wrest control,
His free kick was quite splendid and it easily beat the wall,
But Schwarzer saved it comfortably: he’s done well overall.

That signalled now the end of Juninho’s day of action,
And the fans’ standing ovation displayed their genuine satisfaction,
Michael Ricketts took the field as the ‘Little Man’ withdrew,
That was the indication for the Bolton fans all to boo.

Okocha’s ball into the box showed tremendous perseverance,
But Ugo’s equal to the task with a brilliant headed clearance,
He gave away a corner but he proved he was alert,
As the kick was finally cleared and the Boro escaped unhurt.

Added time is now being played and the game is surely dead,
Then Ugo tacked rugby-style and was lucky to escape a red,
Pedersen was clearly pulled back when running through on goal,
And the Boro man saw a yellow card for his lack of self-control.

So it’s three more points for Boro and a victory’s always sweet,
And “well done” too to all the lads for another welcome clean sheet,
Today, when it really mattered, we were cool, calm and collected,
And we sent the Trotters on their way, looking totally dejected.