The Boro team today should really seek to entertain,
As they bring down the Riverside curtain on another long campaign,
Against the City side from Manchester it’s not set to be a cruise,
But we really ought to have too much for Kevin Keegan’s Blues.

Our highest-ever finish is very sadly now a goner,
But there’s nevertheless a full house for the final lap of honour,
Because, although the fans are saddened that the season’s once more faded,
At the end of play today the Carling Cup will be paraded.

So, with the time exactly 3 o’clock the nerves begin to bristle,
When we hear the piercing sound of referee Riley’s whistle,
The Boro’s first attack didn’t cause the slightest trouble,
As they set out on the journey to just the season’s second double.

Maccarone’s early touches were looking promising, overall,
Then he was ‘downed’ inside the box but he’d already lost the ball,
The crowd howled out in unison but more in hope than expectation,
And I’m sure, in truth, that most agreed, with the ref’s interpretation.

Prowling in his area we see the angry Boro boss,
Straining every sinew to try and get the word across,
He must have used the magic words for in the very next assault,
Maccarone scored a vital goal, though probably by default.

Macca left his man for dead, then in a manner most tenacious,
He beat the England ‘keeper from an angle quite outrageous,
No doubt he’d looked for Nemeth but found the goalkeeper flat-footed,
And as he found the target, the Boro fans’ joy was undiluted.

One long ball by the City found the Boro in disarray,
But for Ugo’s terrific block then we’d have surely had to pay,
The Boro bench is furious and they just won’t tolerate,
As we almost hand the equaliser to Man. City on a plate.

The Boro goal apart, it’s all been really rather scrappy,
And David James in City’s goal does not appear too happy,
He possibly has an injury: at least that’s what I’m surmising,
Though his deputy’s not warming up and that I find surprising.

Next we saw from Boro yet another promising probe,
That ended with a sky-high lob from the foot of Joseph Job,
The shot was disappointing as he’d colleagues in support,
And all were certainly better placed and they turned away, distraught.

Then came another promising move but we can’t escape the shackles,
As Distin saves a certainty with the most immaculate of tackles,
To thwart the Boro stars with a truly wonderful interception,
Which brought from all the City fans a huge and well-deserved reception.

Joseph Job received the ball from quite terrific play by Macca,
Who worked so hard to win the ball and then sent in a cracker,
Then Job was undecided and his efforts went awry,
When he was caught in two minds and dispossessed by Sun Jihai.

Some wonderful improvisation by the Slovakian, Szilard,
Nemeth the joint top-scorer, who is held in high regard,
Great work by Mills and Joseph Job then Szilard made it two,
To leave the visiting City fans feeling no doubt awfully blue.

Then we saw the Boro, who should have had a stranglehold,
Give away a simple goal by blowing hot and cold,
And then within a moment even greater danger beckoned,
With City so unlucky, when they failed to score a second.

Mendi gave the ball away then Wanchope, like the wind,
Took on Danny Mills, who was far too easily skinned,
In on Schwarzer’s goal the big man then sought to advance,
And coolly found the corner, giving the ‘keeper not a chance.

So Boro are now struggling and they’re totally deflated,
Whilst City, on the other hand, are most invigorated,
Anelka carved us open and things now looked so precarious,
Then the striker had a rush of blood and outcome was hilarious.

City have made it very clear they’re not ready to kowtow,
They got the ball in Boro’s net which the ref did not allow,
Barton was unlucky, I’d pronounce, upon reflection,
But, thankfully for the Boro, the ‘keeper got the ref’s protection.

Then Ugo missed two sitters in a crazy Boro spell,
As the ball bounced all around the box like a game of bagatelle,
That was twice within ten seconds which I hope we’ll not regret,
For the Captain, sadly, only found the side of City’s net.

It hasn’t been a pretty half, which was awfully disjointed,
And Boro leave the field of play with the fans most disappointed,
It’ll be a heated half-time talk with so much to be digested,
After Bernie almost fell asleep and feared he’d be arrested.

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During the half-time break I’m sure McClaren was really stroppy,
And yet the game restarted awfully slow and rather sloppy,
Then came a massive mix-up and the whole of the Riverside shook,
And Boro were oh so lucky to finally wriggle off the hook.

Wanchope picked out Reyna, who already had a start on,
Boro’s Danny Mills and then he cleverly flicked to Barton,
He tried the deftest back-heel and Schwarzer failed to take command,
Earning from Captain Ugo the most serious reprimand.

Good work again by City finds the Boro’s defence unlocked,
But Ugo once more saved the day as a shot was cleverly blocked,
And McClaren’s on the move again giving the lads a dressing down,
He wants the day to finish with a smile and not a frown.

There’s no doubt Kevin Keegan thinks he can upset the applecart,
And now we see Wright-Phillips tearing Zenden well apart,
He got down to the by-line with a move quick as a flash,
Then the shot flew high and wide and it was really rather rash.

Bosvelt’s about to leave the field as City now get set,
To bring on Sibierski for his added aerial threat,
And Downing’s on for Macca as the fans boo in derision,
It was difficult to understand: a really strange decision.

Elliott and Macken take the field to try and save the day,
As City take off Anelke and the enigmatic Wanchope,
With his very first touch young Elliott really should have scored,
He obviously spells great danger and he can not be ignored.

City gain a corner and their fans get louder by the minute,
Their confidence is such that they think that they can win it,
The corner came to nothing and sent young Downing on the break,
He passed to Mendieta whose shot found that James was well awake.

The ball sat up well for Bolo Zenden, whose eyes were all agog,
Then Barton got a yellow for a foul on Ehiogu,
The strike on goal from Bolo brought for Boro just a frown,
For, although he struck it beautifully, he just couldn’t keep it down.

Nemeth kicked the ball away in a show of sheer frustration,
And the ref produced a yellow for this little aberration,
Then Barton found Sibierski, with the game’s best ball by far,
And he somehow missed a sitter: it was really quite bizarre.

There was a momentary switch-off by the Boro’s Danny Mills,
He seemed to lose the ball’s flight and the error really chills,
McClaren runs up the tunnel looking a little worse for wear,
But he quickly reappeared albeit minus a bit more hair.

It was not a massive spectacle; in fact it was quite scrappy,
But having won three further points, I’d think the fans are fairly happy,
But overall they’re disappointed to see the season once more splutter,
The league’s been so frustrating and that’s our bread and butter.