Tuncay powers Boro to three points
by Imaad Bajwa, 22 March 2008
A Tuncay Sanli goal was enough to hand Middlesbrough all three points against rock bottom Derby.
The Turk’s 20 yard goal after good link up play by Stewart Downing and George Boateng ensured Gareth Southgate’s men took the points from a game they dominated.
The first half belonged to Middlesbrough. Boro’s first chance of the game fell to Downing. His trickery down the left flank caused Derby some problems and his cross-shot just trickled past the post.
Fresh from his England call up on Friday - David Wheater nearly put his side ahead after a period of sustained pressure by the home side. A Downing corner was headed on by Tuncay, the ball fell to Wheater’s feet but his flick at the ball was met by an onrushing Roy Carroll.
The home side’s link up play and set-pieces unsettled the shaky Derby defence, with Downing going close with a shot after a neat one two. Boro continued to apply the pressure to Derby as they looked for a crucial breakthrough and they went close through a Lee Cattermole shot that went wide of the post.
Boro got their deserved breakthrough after Tuncay fired them ahead with a 20-yard shot in the 32nd minute. Downing and Boateng combined on the left flank, Boateng then found Tuncay and he took time to find the right space to hit the ball past Carroll.
Referee Martin Atkinson was called into action on numerous occasions as challenges started to fly in from all angles. Mile Sterjovski was replaced by Emanuel Villa after a strong challenge by Cattermole left him unable to continue.
Boro had two penalty claims turned down after Jermaine Aliadiere appeared to be pulled back off the ball and Derby defender Dean Leacock later got away with a handball.
Derby had the ball in the net through Robert Earnshaw but his celebrations were cut short by an offside flag and replays appeared to suggest he was level.
Boro started the second half well, with Aliadiere and Boateng both going close for the home side. After Gary O’Neil was brought down on the edge of the box he dusted himself down and delivered a great cross for Aliadiere but the Frenchman’s header glanced wide of the post.
Boateng could have put Boro further ahead after a fierce drive was tipped over the bar by Carroll. A poor clearance by Jay McEveley from a Downing cross fell nicely into the path of Boateng who hit a sweet strike but Carroll tipped the goal-bound shot over the bar.
Aliadiere had two chances to put Boro further ahead but his poor efforts started to frustrate the Riverside crowd.
Derby then had two chances in quick succession through Earnshaw and Kenny Miller. In the 85th minute, substitute Hossam Ghaly’s long ball into the box unsettled Boro’s defence, the ball eventually fell to Andy Todd – who delivered a quick cross for Earnshaw but from six yards out he managed to direct his header away from goal. It was a great chance to level the match for the Wales international.
After Boro committed too many players forward for a corner, Miller dodged a challenge from Boateng and attacked the defence at speed but his 20-yard shot failed to test Mark Schwarzer.
The snowy conditions started to have an effect on both teams but the home side held firm at the back to gain the three points.