Living with Hope

By Peter Gilbert

Middlesbrough 0 Leicester City 3

To be honest I wasn't going to go to this game since I hadn't found the time to organise myself a ticket but a friend at work, a 'Boro fan, came up trumps and so I was away and on the road first thing on Saturday morning, it's a long way to the 'Boro and I'm not talking about Loughborough am I !!

The weather was wet and murky and I picked my friend up on the way. Believe it or not he lives in a place called Hope – Living in Hope is a necessity being a 'Boro fan he assures me. His line of conversation in the car is far from optimistic and I sense that we already have them on the ropes. Steve Gibson their chairman and Bryan Robson the manager are his main sources of disquiet.

I am tempted to remind him that 'Boro are full of top quality players in all areas of the team and in Boksic they have one of the best strikers in Europe, but I don't I just try to remain quietly or even menacingly quiet. I give him several knowing looks and patronising smiles and as the miles slip away I seem to have made some psychological advances.

Then I hear on the radio that Gunnlaugsson won't be playing, his latest injury being appendicitis, he's been rushed into hospital. Is there no end to the catalogue of misfortunes this man has to compete against?

We drove on and on and talked at length about the midweek England match and the imperious Emile Heskey. My blood runs cold as the 'Boro fan from Hope announces 'They should give Peter Taylor the England job now.' Now I'm as patriotic as the next man, I'm not sure however if I would allow my club to die for my country.

The game started with City well and truly thrown back onto the ropes as 'Boro won 4 corners in the first 5 minutes.

Then we suddenly broke out and from one of our earliest attacks Izzet broke into the box at speed and Dean Gordon felled him unceremoniously. Izzet rose to his feet dusted himself down and calmly took the penalty, despatching the ball into the bottom corner.

The 'Boro defence were obviously intimidated by our physical front two of Benjamin and Akinbiyi who if they were in possession of the calm and clinical aspects of the game we would have been -.but wait what is this? Akinbiyi controls the ball he feeds Lennon who broke down the left crossed the ball crisply and Benjamin nodded it home with all the qualities I was just about to say we were lacking. So there you go after 12 mins we are 2-0 up.

Robbie says hello to Stamp who went berserk moments later in a return tackle and was lucky not to be sent off as the Welsh demon lay motionless being treated on the floor.

'Boro were playing with an array of attackers: Boksic, Deane and Whelan, but it mattered not, the game was being played in midfield and our trio of Lennon, Savage and Izzet were absolutely dominant. The 'Boro cameo acts were performing more or less in the changing rooms.

Akinbiyi darted forward but scuffed his shot; Benjamin immediately ran towards him shouting words of encouragement and clapping his hands which was great to see. How unlike some other striker, who is no longer with us.

Savage was rampant, displaying a whole array of skills with biting tackles, precise passes and intelligent running. His every touch was applauded by City fans as he ran and ran totally enjoying the occasion.

City looked good on the break and were playing the perfect style of football for an away team.

After 30 mins. Flowers in goal hadn't made a save in fact he'd hardly touched it as the City defence mopped up anything that came their way.

'Ole 'Ole 'Ole we shouted as we passed the ball around almost unchallenged in a sequence of about 25 passes that ended with a good cross and a header from Akinbiyi

Then 'Boro had a chance, the ball fell to Deane at the far post who had a free header which flew pathetically wide.

City were straight back though and hit out on the break via Benjamin. The quality of our football was breathtaking and as Lennon won the ball yet again the 'Boro fans broke out into a loud booing of their side. They looked desperate at the back.

The only area of difficulty we seemed to be having was in Akinbiyi's confidence who was occasionally too keen to get rid of the ball.

However our defensive qualities started with Akinbiyi and Benjamin and 'Boro just couldn't get anything going at all as a consequence.

An Izzett shot was fumbled by Schwarzer in the 'Boro goal but it fell harmlessly free.

Akinbiyi was looking good breaking down the flanks fed with the ball at leisure by the City midfield trio who had an embarrassing amount of time and space to work with. It seemed that when Savage received the ball there was no-one within 20 yards of him. Surely Captain Marvel knew something about midfield? If he did he certainly wasn't telling his players about it.

The home fans booed their team off at half time and we all knew which dressing room we would want to be sipping our tea in.

Certainly 'Boro came out as if they had heard Captain Marvel raising his voice somewhat. City had to kick the ball off the line a couple of times but they did it and they even looked good when they did that. Midfield was more of a combat zone now and possession was not guaranteed for City. Nevertheless Savage was still able to put his forwards away from time to time despite flying tackles around his ankles which made him look rather like a man fishing in a river full of crocodiles.

City settled back into the game and their quality football began to emerge.

Davidson had taken a few knocks during the game and was replaced by Darren Eadie at left wing back and would add some speed to City's 3-5-2 line up. I really think wing back is Eadie's best position.

Sure enough: Akinbiyi collected the ball well in the box and fed the ball well across goal and Eadie with his first touch slid the ball into the back of the net.

It was almost embarrassing as City swept forward in droves in one incident City outnumbered 'Boro by 3 to 1. Akinbiyi again fed Lennon who found himself bearing down on a 50/50 ball with Schwarzer who felled his man. No penalty was given and Lennon was lucky to receive only a yellow card for his retaliation.

City were merciless piling the pressure on for our delight and pleasure as we danced and sang and cheered and clapped down by The Riverside. We were leading 3-0 but it could have been 6(six) so complete was our domination.

Jobe and Stamp were replaced by Mustoe and Marinelli in the 'Boro midfield as they became desperate to make some sort of impression -anything would do but nothing appeared.

The expensive and highly reputed Boksic on massive wages was becoming totally anonymous and really didn't enjoy Taggart breathing down his neck.

Even when 'Boro did shoot as Whelan did from all of 30 yards Flowers flew through the air and pulled off a magnificent save. However there was a price to pay and Flowers damaged himself sufficiently to need a replacement in the shape of Royce to come on. 'Boro introduced the popular and spirited Festa who although on the transfer list at his own request received a massive cheer from the home supporters. He is their version of Robbie Savage and his reception is something of an indication of how the disillusioned 'Boro fans feel..

'Boro then hit the post with a Boksic free kick.

City went through a quiet patch so PT as good managers do; brought Benjamin off, Gilchrist came on and Eadie moved up front, what a great squad we have.

City were on the way to their 4th away win in 7 matches and had scored more goals in this match than in any other this season and had conceded only 1, which is not bad by anyone's standards.

The 'Boro fans set off for home but those remaining began to chant 'Robson Out Robson Out' as City majestically dropped down into 2nd gear and began to enjoy an uninterrupted kick about.

Apparently Robson has spent £60m since he took over and this is their 6th Premiership defeat in a row. But we don't care really, we are happy to revel in yet another magnificent Leicester City performance.

Player Performance

Flowers: Hurt his shoulder making the only save required from him, I hope he's OK he's very important to us.

Rowett: Quietly efficient all afternoon.

Taggart: An unusually quiet afternoon, had so little to do.

Sinclair: Tried to get into the game, but had nothing to do.

Elliott: Majestic, imperious but he too had nothing to do.

Davidson: A quiet game ended up injured.

Savage: Fantastic: 'Boro started in spirited fashion but he was highly instrumental in snuffing out their enthusiasm, his performance just wiped them out.

Lennon: Combative, committed and staying.

Izzett: Bright, lively, audacious showed great delicate skills.

Akinbiyi: Played very well, receiving the ball, holding it up, laying it off in inventive fashion. Put himself about for the whole match. His touch has improved enormously.

Benjamin: Scored his 1st Premiership goal, was a threat throughout the game, a great team player who has great potential.

Subs:

Royce: Came on midway through the second half, looked competent.

Gilchrist: Came on when City changed shape, played well.

Eadie: Played as left wing back then inside left, scored a good goal.

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