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DEEP IN MY HEART
Middlesbrough vs. Derby County, 22nd March 2008, Riverside Stadium, Premier League
James Keen
So near and yet so far. We were minutes from doing the double over a side who have only lost once in the league this season. And how unlucky we were.
If the linesman had been bothered to watch the game, it would have been a free-kick to George and we would have cleared our lines. We would now be sitting a little more comfortably and with more of our pride restored.
It would have been the perfect way to go into this weekend's game with Derby County - a side who have been doomed since the day they won the play-off final.
At this moment in life there are three things that are certain; death, taxes and Derby to be relegated.
Derby could be relegated within the next three games and in most seasons they would already be relegated. It is lucky for them that this year the standard in the bottom half is a little poorer than usual.
Last week we played a side with jut one defeat all season. This week we play a team with just one win. Derby County are exactly the type of team that 'typical Boro' hate.
It should be a home banker but then again Reading and Cardiff should have been. We just don't do the business when we need to against these poorer sides.
We avoided the banana skin earlier this season when Tuncay's wonder strike earned us all three points and how we need another result this week.
Thirty-four points with seven games to go would look so much better than thirty-one with seven, especially when you consider we still have a number of sides above us yet to play. They include Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City, Portsmouth and Manchester United.
Without a win here we have to rely on beating Sunderland and Bolton and then pinching something against one of the better sides.
With Wheater and Downing called into the provisional England squad, it has been a decent week for the club although the three match ban for Mido and the injury to Shawky are disappointing.
The squad should have plenty of confidence though and should go into the Derby game expecting victory.
As will the Red Army watching from the stands.
Afonso Alves deserves a start, if only to help him settle. It will also give him a chance to play against the worst side in our league. He's not yet played a full ninety and he needs it more than anyone.
I am of the same opinion of George Boateng and believe that when Alves has a chance to settle in and gets some match practice, he'll be a great addition to our squad.
Alves has shown flashes of his ability, which is more than can be said for some of our players. However, I believe our form has taken a downward turn since he arrived. A number of players aren't playing well and so it's unfair to single out Alves.
Gary O'Neil and Stewart Downing have been reasonably consistent during our bad run and so we need the two of them to step up their efforts and take advantage of a game against a poor side.
A goal from each would be nice.
We still cannot forget the horrendous events of 'Black Sunday' but what we must do is use it to spur us on and to inspire us during the run-in.
Since then we have two good away draws under our belts. What we must do now is lay the ghost to rest by helping Derby secure their return ticket to the Championship.
They have several players with prior Premiership experience: Earnshaw, Miller, Savage, ex-Boro boy Andy Todd and Ghaly but they have not managed to settle in the division.
We must respect them but not too much.
At the end of the day they are still a poor side with a habit of losing.
We need to make sure they lose again.
C'mon Boro!
The Outcome: In my heart I believe we can put four past them and win 4-0 but my head says that we'll narrowly win 1-0.
Last Time: Middlesbrough 5-1 Derby, Nemeth 49, Marinelli 57, 82, Boksic 61, Mustoe 73 (3/11/01)
Boro Form (most recent result first): DDLLWL
Derby Form: LLDLLD
Probable Teams:
Boro: Schwarzer, Young, Pogatetz, Wheater, Huth, O'Neil, Rochemback, Boateng, Downing, Aliadiere, Alves
Derby County: Carroll, Edworthy, Moore, Leacock, McEveley, Lewis, Savage, Jones, Miller, Earnshaw, Sterjovski
Man to Watch: Andy Todd (for no reason other than that he's a bit rubbish)
RETURN TO DEEP IN MY HEART INDEX HERE
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