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DEEP IN MY HEART
Middlesbrough vs. Bolton Wanderers, 19th April 2008, Riverside Stadium, Premier League
James Keen
We must be doing something right because every quarter of the press has been impressed with us in recent weeks. This is in spite of the fact that we've not actually beaten anyone.
Boro are, amazingly, being praised by all aspects of the press for once, with Southgate's refreshing attitude to coaching getting him touted for the England manager's job in the future.
We've had a number of tough games to be fair and we have come out of them well, with draws away to Spurs, Arsenal and Aston Villa and a great performance at home to Manchester United.
There have been a lot of draws and not many three point hauls since the turn of the New Year. But at least we're back above the Mackems and still in reach of the Skunks.
We've had some bad news on the injury front with Huth and Taylor still sidelined. Now we hear that Gary O'Neil is out until pre-season, although he would have been suspended for this game anyway.
We should still have a good enough squad to beat Bolton though.
One man's loss is another man's gain and this is a good chance to give Adam Johnson a couple of starts, whether it's on the left or right.
It should help keep him happy for the time being at least. A player of Johnson's calibre will not be happy sitting on the bench forever and we don't want to lose such a rising star.
Afonso Alves continued his upturn in form against Spurs but failed to cap a hard running performance with a goal.
With a little bit of luck and a more clinical approach, we would have earned a rare win in the capital.
Whilst we were drawing against Spurs, Bolton were winning a crucial game in their battle against relegation. They picked up a 1-0 win from a rare Kevin Davies goal and so they will hit this game with confidence and expectation.
Boro have, in theory, nothing to play for. Bolton meanwhile have everything to lose. This should work to our advantage, unless Bolton get a bit tasty with their tackling.
At which point Boro may succumb.
We have done well against Bolton in the Premiership. We are unbeaten in eight against them and have had 4-3 and 5-1 wins against them in the last two years at the Riverside.
We have a chance to put further ground between ourselves and the chasing pack. We must also finish above Sunderland and Wigan for no reason other than pride and sanity.
We are a better side than our league position suggests but we are nowhere near consistent enough to ever compete for the European places.
If we can find some sort of consistency and remove the 'Typical' factor of our results, we have a good chance to build.
I couldn't care less if we lost all eight games against the 'Big Four' next season as long as we beat the rest of the teams in the League at least once.
I don't have delusions of grandure - unlike our black and white neighbours - but I do believe that we have the capabilities to compete with the likes of Portsmouth, Aston Villa and even Everton.
We have made a move forward this season, however much it may appear to be a sidestep.
We have a squad void of big egos, a team built on no-nonsense defending and a pacey attack. In theory, we have the potential to bring exciting football back to the Riverside.
We have spent money on players and Gibson has already committed to spending further in the summer. He has been talking about bringing in more players of the calibre of Ravanelli, Juninho and Emerson - players who get bums on seats and then off them again with wild celebration.
We start this future against Bolton on Saturday. We need a lively, vociferous crowd and a committed and passionate team.
We must win and we must win well.
If we can send Bolton crashing into the Championship it'll bring a little smile to my face,and finally some retribution to the fan who hit me round the back of the head in the Millenium Stadium when Bolton scored in the League Cup Final.
I don't dislike Bolton but they have become a bad replica of themselves, playing their own game poorly. A season of Championship football will do them good.
And if we play a little part in getting them it, then so be it.
C'mon Boro!
The Outcome: My head has decided that we will win reasonably well: 3-1. My heart thinks that our lack of clinical attacking will cause us to suffer and draw 1-1. This would be a vital point for Bolton and two points dropped for us.
Last Season: Middlesbrough 5-1 Bolton Wanderers, Speed (o.g.) 6, Xavier 10, Viduka 23, 84, Downing 43, Nolan 25 (20/1/07)
Boro Form (most recent result first): DDLWDD
Bolton Form: WLLDLL
Probable Teams:
Boro: Schwarzer, Young, Grounds, TPFKAMD, Wheater, Johnson, Arca, Boateng, Downing, Aliadiere, Alves
Bolton: Al Habsi, Steinsson, Hunt, A. O'Brien, Cahill, Nolan, Campo, McCann, Guthrie, Diouf, Helgusson
Man to Watch: El Hadj Diouf
RETURN TO DEEP IN MY HEART INDEX HERE
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