ALI'S BIG MATCH PREVIEW - SPURS v MIDDLESBROUGH, CARLING CUP THIRD ROUND 26-9-07
Alastair Brownlee



Although it was disappointing to have been given an away tie in the Carling Cup I think that Wednesday's trip to White Hart Lane gives Boro a real chance of staying on the road to Wembley and trying to reproduce the glory of 2004.

Spurs seem to be a club in crisis with constant speculation surrounding the future of Martin Jol, a situation not helped by a 1-1 draw at Bolton over the weekend that leaves the north London club third bottom of the Premier League.

The pressure on the likeable Jol will grow if we knock Spurs out of the Carling Cup but sympathy has to be put to one side as the aim has got to be progress in a competition that has silverware and a place in Europe as the prize.

Boro are starting a tough run of matches and fans will be clocking up the road miles with Premier League away days at Everton and Manchester City to come before the next home game with Chelsea and then a journey to Old Trafford.

With such a testing set of fixtures there was huge relief around the treatment room on Monday that Mido and Tuncay did not have long-term injuries after the bruising encounter with Sunderland and that both have a chance to play at Goodison Park on Sunday.

The potential lack of striking options was a main talking point with Bernie and I on the Simply Red show on Century on Sunday. Some texts we received even suggested that Mr Slaven himself gave his boots a polish but its far too late for that!

Nevertheless with Aliadiere ruled out for a month and the Carling Cup tie coming too soon for Mido and Tuncay, it looks as if Dong Gook Lee will be the lone striker at Spurs.

The South Korean did score his first goal for Boro in the previous round in the 2-0 victory over Northampton so let's hope that the competition is a lucky one for a striker who has yet to make his mark in a Boro shirt. It's certainly a big chance for him on Wednesday night.

Going back to the derby on Saturday, the pain of the late Sunderland equaliser is still hard to take especially as I thought that we were good value for all three points.

Stewart Downing's goal was top class and it was a refreshing change to hear on a national football phone in fans of other clubs praising Stewy and even calling for his selection in the next England starting eleven.

This is going to be a massive season for the lad from Pallister Park and I am backing him to add to his tally of three goals for the season so far at Spurs, a club he actually supported as a schoolboy!

The biggest blow though at the Riverside wasn't the Miller goal but the loss of Julio Arca for two months with medial ligament damage. Arca is a terrific footballer to watch and I just hope he is back to his best as soon as possible.

It is a pity that Gary O'Neil is cup-tied for the match at Spurs as on his home debut he really looked the part and was our Box Clothing Stores man of the match.

A midfield with O'Neil on the right and Downing on the left should ensure that our strikers receive top class service during the season.

Any visit to White Hart Lane brings back memories of the Carling Cup quarter-final from December 2003. After conceding an early goal to Darren Anderton the exit door was looming until Michael Ricketts scored with just four minutes left.

The press box at Spurs is quite cramped and I can still see Bernie's face as Steve Ollis, who is a big Boro fan and was seated next to Slav, throw his arms around Bernie in delight and screamed "YES!' into our effects microphone!

The emotion continued with the penalty shoot out and after Taricco missed for Spurs a successful spot kick for us and we were through. At that moment Franck Queudrue picked up the ball and started to walk towards the penalty spot juggling the ball on his head like a seal.

I am not sure that Steve McClaren knew that Franck was going to take the kick and the manager yelled "What the **** is Franck doing" as the full back continued his balancing act towards the penalty spot.

Thankfully for all concerned Franck scored and the commentary of 'Sacre Bleu Franck Queudrue!" echoed around the airwaves and was even printed on Boro scarves.

As we all know Boro went onto lift the cup and lets hope it's the same this season.

I will provide score updates on Century FM on Wednesday and be back again with the Everton preview on Friday.



SEND THIS TO A FRIEND
RETURN TO ALASTAIR BROWNLEE INDEX PAGE HERE

 

 
   Sitemap || Search Site || Terms and Privacy || Set as Homepage || Bookmark Site
This website designed, maintained and managed by Waking Lion ©2004-2008