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DEEP IN MY HEART
Middlesbrough vs. Portsmouth, 3rd May 2008, Riverside Stadium, Premier League
James Keen
A guttering end to a poor season is what we could be in for. At times we have looked like challengers and at other times we've looked like a bunch of amateurs.
The result against Sunderland was hopefully not a nail in a relegation coffin. But sadly it still could be.
We are not geared up for the fight and traditionally we end the season badly. This is a sign that the teams below us could catch us in the coming weeks.
However, one thing that bodes well is that this season, when the threat of relegation has reared its head, we have pulled out the right result the following week.
And this week we need another of those games.
Pompey are a good side but in recent weeks, their minds have been turned to the fact that their only route into Europe is now the FA Cup.
It's a bad sign for our mates Cardiff but a good thing for the Boro.
We need to capitalise on their distraction, fly in with the challenges, be physical and kick them off the park in the first twenty minutes. By that time, they won't want to know and will be looking to get the game over as soon as possible. And if that means losing, then so be it.
If Boro cannot take advantage of a side with bigger fish to fry then we deserve to go down.
But personally, I'd prefer to stay up and line up against Boro Reserves next season in the Premiership. By Boro Reserves, I mean West Brom of course.
It could be an interesting season next year, with the sides likely to go up all a little bit poorer than the standard promoted sides.
Hull? Stoke? Bristol City? None of them look like they will have any longevity in the Premier League and even West Brom haven't had the quality to pull away from such a poor band of sides.
So realistically next season should be stress-free as relegation shouldn't really be an issue.
We can therefore play with a bit of freedom and push on to the top ten because that's where we need to be. In fact, by now we should be higher.
I was glad that our two 'major' signings, Tuncay and Alves, scored at the weekend. It's nice to see those kind of players hitting the net because they will be judged by the amount of goals they've scored come the end of the season.
I had a little pang of jealousy this week as I watched Christian Vieri misfire Fiorentina out of the UEFA Cup, pitching Rangers against lowly Zenit St. Petersburg in the Final.
It was just two years ago that we marched to that Final in a blaze of goals and glory and yet now we are looking over our shoulders worrying about relegation and with a top scoring left winger on eight goals.
It's not a good state of affairs.
The UEFA Cup helped Sevilla kick on and this is what should have happened to us too. But instead we've fallen backwards.
If we are to prevent ourselves falling even further by the wayside, we must survive.
We have taken a big risk in recent years with our youth policy and in the long run it should make us a more competitive club. But at the moment we haven't got enough experience in the squad to make a difference when things aren't going right.
We're already resigned to losing Rochemback in the summer and Schwarzer is likely to depart too. There will therefore be changes to our squad next season, hopefully for the better.
We need to invest in more creativity in midfield and we probably need another option at the back.
A goalkeeper is also a must as both Ross Turnbull and Brad Jones have proven in recent weeks that they aren't ready for first team billing.
They are decent keepers but because of their own nervousness they do not fill their defenders with confidence.
We could do with Schwarz making an appearance in this game. He has been missed.
It's a must win game and with Mark Lawrenson tipping us for a 2-0 win, it must surely be another defeat. We can hope to the contrary though!
Come on Boro, make us all smile! Please...
The Outcome: My head tells me that it'll be a 1-1 draw but my heart is saying it will end 0-0.
Last Time: Middlesbrough 0-4 Portsmouth, Kanu 7, 57, Benjani 50, Todorov 90 (28/8/06)
Boro Form (most recent result first): LLDDLW
Portsmouth Form: LLDWWW
Probable Teams:
Boro: Turnbull, Young, Taylor, TPFKAMD, Wheater, Tuncay, Arca, Boateng, Downing, Aliadiere, Alves
Portsmouth: Ashdown, Johnson, Hreidarsson, Campbell, Distin, Krankjar, Muntari, Diop, Diarra, Defoe, Baros
Man to Watch: Jermain Defoe
RETURN TO DEEP IN MY HEART INDEX HERE
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