Deep In My Heart, Sheffield United v Middlesbrough || Middlesbrough F.C. news, reviews and comment

DEEP IN MY HEART
Sheffield United vs. Middlesbrough, 17th February 2008, Bramall Lane, FA Cup Fifth Round
James Keen

It has been an uneasy week for our old saviour Bryan Robson, as he desperately tried to hold on to his job in South Yorkshire. It was to no avail though as just days before the big showdown with his old club, Robbo was relieved of his duties at Bramall Lane.

How this affects the game at the weekend only time will tell but what the events of the last week should tell us is that Sheffield United is not a happy club.

Following relegation from the Premiership, the Blades have struggled to gain a foothold in the Championship and have slipped into a relegation battle following just nine wins from their opening thirty-six games.

The fact that they have suffered just one defeat in the last six is a mute point. This is because they have four draws to their name in that same period and their only win was in the FA Cup. This tells you that they are in trouble.

Obviously it has been decided that the best way to progress is to change the man at the top and to be honest, it's a decision that most on the red side of Sheffield will welcome.

Boro go into the game on a very contrasting run of form. Just one defeat in nine has seen us climb above the Skunks and to within touching distance of eleventh place. This would, of course, be an improvement on last season.

And so with League form almost settled, we can afford to cast a wandering eye on to the Cup and a competition where we are only three games away from a place in Europe.

Imagine that eh?

The competition has really opened up this season - with just six Premiership sides left to battle it out and with two of the "Big Four" drawn together in the last sixteen. This means it could be the year that Boro make it back to the Final.

I know it's still a long way off and I also know that we are still the least fancied Premiership side left in the competition but a win at the Blades and a favourable draw (remember that three sides in that draw are guaranteed to be from outside the top flight) and we could begin to dream.

The arrival of Alves has had a positive impact at the Boro. This is not due to his performance last week, which was distinctly average, but for the fact that it has spurred the other lads in the squad.

Jeremie Aliadiere in particular has upped his game since the deal became apparent. He wants the position alongside our record signing and he is giving Southgate food for thought with his performances recently.

We've also seen Mido allowed to continue his rehabilitation without the indignity of being wheeled out in front of the world's media looking out of shape - and with nobody trying to hide it.

I never want to hear anyone commenting on how many parmos he's had again.

I was also pleased to see that Tuncay has returned to training. The arrival of Alves should mean that we don't need to rush him back into the squad.

Alves' arrival has also resulted in Stewart Downing signing a new five year deal. What an impact! And he's only played about twenty minutes!

Against a side like Sheffield United there is one thing that matters: Attitude.

We need to compete on the same level as them, fighting for every ball and keeping the same levels of aggression and passion that we have done in the past few weeks.

We cannot afford to go to United and try and play for a 1-0. We must go there and dominate them. And when chances come our way, we must take them.

Southgate will realise this and so won't weaken his side.

If he does rest players then perhaps we might start to believe Woodgate's opinion that Southgate is not a "proper manager". It would be very naïve to rest any of your first eleven against a side who were a Premiership side only ten months ago.

It would also be very naïve to think that League consolidation is more important than showing a desire to win a trophy.

I, like every other Boro fan, remember that day in Cardiff and would pay anything to feel that way again.

It's in Southgate's hands, it's in the team's hands and it's in our hands as fans.

We must believe, we must take advantage of Sheffield United's current frailty and we must march into the last eight and give ourselves a glimpse of that beautiful famous trophy.

Join me in the dream and wish the lads to Wembley. The dream could start in front of the TV cameras on Sunday.

C'mon Boro!

The Outcome: My heart is telling me we will turn United over 3-1 with Alves scoring a brace and Downing striking (worth a bet), but my head is telling me that we'll scrape by 2-1.

Last season (Premier League): Sheffield United 2-1 Middlesbrough, Hulse 35, Jagielka 90, Yakubu 49 (30/9/06)

Boro Form (most recent result first): WDWWDD
Sheffield United Form: DDDDWL

Probable Teams:
Boro: Schwarzer, Young, Pogatetz, Wheater, Huth, O'Neil, Arca, Rochemback, Downing, Alves, Aliadiere.
Sheffield United: Kenny, Naysmith, Morgan, Killgallon, Geary, Speed, Quinn, Martin, Beattie, Shelton, Cotterill.

Man to Watch: Gary Speed

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