Having just enjoyed a few days in the lovely Spanish sun,
It’s now back down to earth for there’s a big job to be done,
Back home at the Riverside it’s rather sultry and quite warm,
But I’d imagine it’s not quite the same as being in Benidorm.

George Hardwick was the latest player to take leave of this earth,
And the fans all stood in silence in acknowledgement of his worth,
For the wonderful life, over eighty years, that he had managed to forge,
Let every Boro fan hope today that we can do it now for George.

Last week, for some reason, the Boro rather lost the plot,
Now they’re seeking to win at home their fifth game on the trot,
So barring repeats today of some previous last-minute shocks,
The Riverside will once again be like the great Fort Knox.

Zenden scampered well across the halfway divide,
Then passed on to the ‘Wee man,” who was almost by his side,
He was then pulled to the ground, by Villa’s man, McCann,
And Juninho was clearly a very angry man.

For a moment the Villa looked like an army of Fred Karno,
As Queudrue was barged painfully in the back, by Nolberto Solano
A three-man defence faced our very own Spanish star,
And, sadly, Mendieta sent it high above the bar.

Mendi won the ball again and then Job was released,
Confronted by Gareth Barry whom he very skilfully fleeced,
Then it was Queudrue’s turn when a hefty gap appeared,
But it once again just petered out with the danger quickly cleared.

The next move involved Macca, who again did really sparkle!
Then Vassell’s sheer speed of foot almost brought about debacle,
Three yards he quickly made up and we looked headed for the slaughter,
And Ugo really did appear as if he was treading water.

So Vassell has now very clearly laid down his marker,
And, but for Mark Schwarzer, things would have looked much darker,
The angle was a tight one but brought from Mark a wondrous stop,
Just when the Villa front men looked like they might run amok.

Barry downed Juninho and was ‘rewarded’ with a yellow,
And, as one, the Villa dugout got the signal then to bellow,
To demonstrate to all concerned that they really felt unhappy,
Then the kick by Frank Queudrue could perhaps be best described as ‘scrappy.’

Villa force a couple of corners and Boro’s backs are to the wall,
And twice we saw Maccarone turn his back towards the ball,
Boro are under pressure and we’re really being bogged down,
And Hitzlsperger’s so unlucky: he has a shot of great renown.

Someone got a block to Bolo Zenden’s cross-cum-shot,
Then the ball broke free to Danny Mills, who quickly chose to have a pot,
It bounced straight off Solano so the target wasn’t found,
Though he struck it really sweetly and it appeared goalwards bound.

Samuel crossed into the box and picked out Juan Pablo Angel,
But he was robbed by Queudrue, and “Didn’t the man do well!”
Angel was just shaping up to place the simplest close-ranger,
When Q came on the blind side and skilfully cleared the danger.

It’s Villa on attack again as the Boro appear to snooze,
When a twenty-five yards’ thunderbolt is unleashed by De la Cruz,
It seemed headed for the corner with Mark in a horizontal dive,
But, thankfully, it missed the target and Boro managed to survive.

Big Mark sets up a Boro attack with a quite tremendous clearance,
Then Mendi picks out Maccarone, who shows magnificent perseverance,
He tried to chip the ‘keeper as the two came face-to-face,
And Sorensen pushed it out of play, though for Macca, no disgrace.

Mendi takes a corner with players standing cheek to jowl,
Though the ball eventually finds the net, it’s quickly ruled out for a foul,
Everyone seems puzzled as Villa’s players came to a halt,
As an “unheard” referee’s whistle brought an end to this assault.

A dream ball in from Mendi as the impetus once more swings,
It so clearly is the Spaniard, who’s pulling all the Boro’s strings,
Only the timely challenge of Mellberg’s intervention,
Prevented Joseph Job from fulfilling his intention.

Boateng let one fly at goal but it’s not his day, alas,
Although he managed to find the target, with an effort oozing class,
For a wondrous save from Sorensen proved he was the Boro man’s equal,
And decided that there wasn’t to be a hugely longed-for sequel.

Mendi showed such great control and quite remarkable vision,
As he quickly picked out Joseph Job with absolute precision,
He just turned and rifled it and it went in off the post,
Leaving Mr. Gibson and his ‘crew’ totally engrossed.

Joseph was celebrating before the ball had hit the net,
As soon as it had left his foot and after he’d done his pirouette,
The net was left a’ shuddering and the bench was going wild,
And Boro fans, who’d waited long, were totally beguiled.

But, within about a minute, there came a most almighty crunch,
When Boro once more went to asleep and fell to a sucker punch,
The Villa’s Barry was left unmarked but where was our defence?
His header stunned the Boro and the damage could be immense.

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Some of us watched the parading of the great F.A. Youth Cup,
And now it’s down to Boro to provide a speedy pick-me-up,
Well-earned congratulations to all the Boro youths,
Whilst their heroes will be hearing now, more than a few home truths.

Goal-scorer Barry’s injured and he’s looking quite depressed,
But his afternoon has certainly been so full of interest,
He’s been cautioned and he’s scored and been vociferously booed,
Now he’s replaced by Whittingham and looking most subdued.

Boateng concedes a corner in a manner rather horrid,
With apologies to all around, I’ll swear he looked quite florid,
He made up for the error when he cleared the ball so well,
And put it promptly out of play due to an injury to Vassell.

Solano and George Boateng were both then seen to clash,
It all looked rather harmless and certainly no forearm smash,
The Boro man fell, holding his chin, and the ref. felt Nobby’s collar,
But the red card will boost the Villa; you can bet your bottom dollar.

The outcome was surprising for a rather minor scuffle,
And Delaney is now on the field in an Aston Villa shuffle,
These problems for the visitors I’m sure they’ll try hard to surmount,
But with Villa now depleted, the Boro must really make it count.

A long goal kick found Macca and in on goal he sped,
A glorious opportunity to put the Boro 2-1 ahead,
He tried to lob the ‘keeper and really set the game alight,
Though credit goes to Sorensen, the ball once more lacked in height.

Mendi put a great free kick into the crowded area,
It might have brought the Boro success, had they been a little warier,
Once again it’s Maccarone, who was given the chance to shine,
But his effort lacked real purchase and it was cleared from of the line.

Macca’s now inside the box and brings a massive Boro roar,
The ball deflects to Joseph Job and “Surely he must score,”
As Boro go in for the ‘kill’ they have out all their knives,
But Mellberg gets it clear as Villa battle for their lives.

The ball spun to Juninho for another impressive run,
He was once more rather greedy and struck it straight at Sorensen,
Job looked to the heavens then, in total desperation,
And Macca’s name was taken for a show of sheer frustration.

Now into the fray comes Villa’s beanpole, Peter Crouch,
He’s really tall and gangly and he’s certainly no slouch,
We’ll have to stop the service to him: certainly in the air,
But I’m sure that Ugo and his men are very well aware.

Juninho leads a promising charge with Boro three-on-three,
Job attacks Delaney, who somehow blocks quite valiantly,
The ball rebounds to Zenden, who looked an absolute cert to score,
But Sorensen thought otherwise and saved the Villa lads once more.

McClaren then made changes that were a matter of contention,
The withdrawal of Mills and Queudrue were viewed by some with apprehension,
I suppose that if it comes off he’ll be seen as quite a hero,
But if the worst should happen then his rating might be zero.

We didn’t have too long to wait before we heard the resounding “Ouch!”
As we quickly went a goal behind to the lean and lanky Crouch,
He only needs a sniff at goal and he’s very often shown it,
So the Boro really do look down-and-out and we’ve well and truly blown it.

The final whistle blows and the boos just say it all,
In the game’s last dying embers, we finally had to fall,
Many will no doubt query why McClaren chose to tinker,
Disappointment can not be disguised: this result was one real stinker.