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ALASTAIR BROWNLEE'S BORO v ASTON VILLA MATCH PREVIEW 23-11-07
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The failure of the national team to qualify for the European Championships has cast a shadow across football in England but what better way to lift the gloom than for Boro to pick up three points against Aston Villa and start a push up the table away from the relegation zone?
It is somewhat ironic that Villa are the visitors to the Riverside in the week that Steve McClaren lost his job as England Head Coach.
Looking back on McClaren's time at Boro, the 4-0 defeat inflicted by the Midlanders in February 2006 was probably the low point of his time on Teesside. The frustration at the time was summed up by one fan who threw his season ticket in his direction.
McClaren recovered by guiding the team to the UEFA Cup final but it will take, you feel, some time for him to restore his reputation after his inability to guide the Three Lions to Austria and Switzerland. This has left the game at a national level in a state of despair.
Villa have goalkeeper Scott Carson who made a howler by letting in Croatia's first goal on Wednesday night. If Carson is on duty at the Riverside the message to our strikers must be to shoot on sight!
The way ahead for England could be on display at the Riverside on Saturday as in Gabriel Agbonlahor, Villa possess one of the brightest young strikers in the Premier League.
Agbonlahor's value to Martin O'Neill's side was summed up in the recent 2-1 win at Birmingham City as sixty seconds after clearing a Liam Ridgewell effort off the line he grabbed a late winner.
That victory not only earned local pride but also pushed Villa up to eighth place in the table giving hope of a push for a top six finish.
Boro also boast a number of England under-21 players with David Wheater, Lee Cattermole and Adam Johnson all playing their part in this weeks 1-1 draw in Portugal.
Johnson was also the England goalscorer and it has been quite a season for the young winger as he was outstanding in his loan spell with Championship leaders Watford.
Aware of not only Johnson's five goals for the Hornets but also his overall form, Gareth Southgate ended the winger's loan spell at Vicarage Road and a confident Johnson will provide the manager with fresh options ahead of such a vital game.
It was good to catch up with Emanuel Pogatetz this week who is delighted to be back fully fit after the summer operation on his knees. Pogatetz was player of the year last season and his ability to play left back as well as central defender is a major plus.
The Austrian international made his comeback in the goalless draw at Bolton just before the international break, when he came on as substitute for the injured Andrew Taylor. He also said he would love to be involved this Saturday.
Pogatetz relishes a battle and although he has worked hard on the disciplinary side of his game that got him into trouble with referees in his first season, he hasn't lost any of his competitive edge and that is just what Boro need in their current situation.
The last two fixtures have at least underlined the team's willingness to work hard to try and get away from the relegation zone as the 1-1 draw with Spurs was followed up with a useful point at Bolton.
Despite the entertainment at a numbingly cold Reebok Stadium being at a minimum, the game did provide the second clean sheet of the season. Proving hard to beat is a reputation that Boro must establish in the weeks ahead.
A lot has been made of Aston Villa's excellent record at the Riverside. Apart from the 4-0 mauling in 2006, there was also a 5-2 thumping in 2003 and not forgetting last season when the visitors recovered from going behind to a Fabio Rochemback free kick to pick up all three points in a 3-1 win.
I prefer to look back to the visit of Aston Villa to Ayresome Park in February 1988.
The match was chosen for live television but with Boro a goal down going into the final ten minutes it seemed as if the promotion push was about to stall.
Alan Kernaghan then grabbed an equaliser, which was followed by an iconic Boro moment as Tony Mowbray dived full-length to head home a Brian Laws cross for the winner.
The Holgate End went wild and at the end of the game Mowbray's clenched fist salute summed up not only his feelings but also those of a team united with the fans.
It's that spirit that will be needed on Saturday.
Bernie and I will reflect on the match on Simply Red Sunday on Century fm at the usual time between 11 and 1 pm.
Up for grabs, as always, will be Sunday lunch for two at the Bluebell Hotel in Acklam together with a chance to win a signed copy of Voice of the Boro.
Joining us to talk all things Boro will be Gordon Jones, Gary Pallister and Mark Proctor.
So why not give us a call on the usual number 0845 0021100 or text 85102.
Up the Boro !!
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