We’ve probably played worse far worse this season but I’m not sure I’ve ever left the ground quite as disappointed as on Saturday. Gordon Strachan’s first game in charge promised to be the start of a brand new era. Wiping the slate clean. But in the non event we got mugged by lowly Plymouth and our promotion prospects took their biggest knock to date. Plenty of work to be done now on the training ground if we are to get back on track and get everyone believing again, players and especially supporters.
It all started pretty well. It was a welcome return for Emanuel Pogatetz at left back bringing experience, communication and a steadying influence to the defence. There was no Didier Digard, a loss to the midfield but Julio Arca started as an old fashioned inside right and how well he played. Cutting in from the right and dribbling into the box Arca caused no end of problems to the Plymouth defence. Oh and I must applaud the away fans, there were just so many having made that incredibly long trip to support the Green Army.
We could and should have been a couple of goals up in the first half. Adam Johnson’s pull back was met by Marvin Emnes first time and only foiled by a desperate last ditch clearance. Mind you we weren’t having the chances all our own way, Brad Jones made a superb full length diving stop as Plymouth showed a confidence and fluency in attack to belie their lowly status in the league.
New loan signing Marcus Bent replaced Emnes at half time and straight away we benefited from his extra presence up front. In fact the experienced forward should really have crowned his debut with at least 2 goals. With the goal gaping he put a header outside the post and with time running out a superb Johnson centre shaved his head. You can only think it is lack of recent match practice and Bent should prove to be an important acquisition.
Plymouth’s goal was a sickening blow but hardly an isolated incident. For all our dominance of possession Jones was the far busier keeper and had to make a couple of outstanding saves as Plymouth hit us on the break. The ever lively Jamie Mackie punished Wheater as he was deceived by a long ball and the Argyle forward had the strength and speed to brush our skipper aside before lamping it past Jones. A very bad goal to concede and it certainly rocked us back on our heels.
One of the big pluses in this game was the performance of Sean St Ledger, who as well as defending confidently poured forward with the ball at every opportunity. It was one of those runs that ended in a Plymouth sandwich and the ref awarding a penalty. A real lifeline for Boro, I’m not sure if it was the correct decision but then again this was one of the most woeful performances ever given by 3 officials at the Riverside (for both sides). It was like a flashback to last season as Adam Johnson mimicked Stewart Downing and missed his second penalty of the season. He hit it hard enough but shaved the outside of the post and so threw away an opportunity to get back into the game.
There was a terrible injury midway through the second half, such appalling bad luck that having worked so hard to get fit again Emanuel Pogatetz should suffer what looked like a serious facial injury. He was attacking the ball from a corner and appeared to head not only the ball but the defenders head full force with his face. It was like a flashback to a sickening incident away at Basel where Poggi smashed his cheekbone in and faced lengthy reconstruction. Horrific that he should suffer another similar incident.
Bcak in the game and there were 7 mniutes added because of the injury, plenty of time to get a few more chances. But Boro couldn’t find the composure to convert when it mattered most. Most of the fans had left long before the end so there was no mass booing. Just a terrible feeling of disappointment and deflation. So much promise and yet such a let down. There isn’t another home game until the 21st so we need to get back basics again and start another another search for answers. In the meantime we must keep our fingers crossed about Emanuel Pogatetz and hope Bent, Lita and Emnes can develop that golden touch between them. Strachan must work hard now to get us back on track for promotion. |
