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Football: Europe has a faraway look for off-key Boro
Independent on Sunday, The, Jan 1, 2006 by Kieran Daley at the riverside
Middlesbrough should start to face up the fact that they will have to carry their fine European form right through to the final of the Uefa Cup and then win the trophy if they are to enjoy another taste of continental competition next season.
After failing to impress again in this draw Boro have won only two of their past 10 Premiership matches and now find themselves a dozen points shy of the clubs holding the tickets to Europe through the League.
Against a City side who have won only one of their last eight League games, a draw was probably inevitable. If there was any consolation for Steve McClaren, Middlesbrough's manager, it was that his side kept their first clean sheet since August. For that they had to thank Mark Schwarzer, who made a superb save from Joey Barton late in the second half.
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Middlesbrough, short of confidence, started well enough but when Barton raced down the field and tried to pick out Andy Cole at the back post, only for Chris Riggott to make the interception, it signalled that City were starting to dictate the pace of the game. They were hampered by the loss of the dominant Antoine Sibierski at half-time with hamstring trouble.
A sloppy piece of play by Barton almost cost City dear in the 49th minute when he lost possession, and Doriva raised Boro's hopes again in the 66th minute when he found space 25 yards out but hooked his shot too high.
City then broke quickly and Schwarzer did well to save Cole's effort after a cross from the impressive Nedum Onuoha.
Schwarzer made another stunning save in the 75th minute to prevent City from taking the lead. He got down smartly to turn a glancing header from Barton around the post and equality was maintained.
Middlesbrough
Schwarzer
Riggott
Southgate
Queudrue
Parnaby
Morrison
Doriva
Mendieta
Pogatetz
Viduka
Yakubu
Subs: Hasselbaink for Yakubu (79), Bates for Barnaby (79), Maccarone for Pogatetz (85)
Manchester City
James
Onuoha
Dunne
Distin
Jordan
Sinclair
Jihai
Sibierski
Barton
Cole
Vassell
Subs: Ireland for Sibierski (45), Wright-Phillips for Vassell (80)
Attendance: 28,022
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)
Copyright 2006 Independent Newspapers UK Limited
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.
