Source: Northern_Echo
Aliadiere ends his scoring drought
WHENEVER Jeremie Aliadiere scores, he tends to end a drought of some sort.
His double that secured another three points in Middlesbrough’s push for promotion against Ipswich on Saturday was no different.
Four minutes after his introduction as a second-half substitute, the Frenchman worked between Ipswich defenders Gareth McAuley and Liam Rosenior to nod in his first goal since last December.
His first strike of 2009.
For a striker, it is a record that hardly demands selection.
Afonso Alves scored more times in a Boro shirt; look where that got him – at the top of the Gareth Southgate’s departures list in the summer.
But Aliadiere is different.
While his goalscoring record is awful, high work-rate and a positive attitude earned the respect of the fans and management who believe he has more to offer in front of goal.
His first against Ipswich proved that, while his second – a stunning low drive into Richard Wright’s far corner – offered an insight into the capabilities of a talent nurtured alongside some of the world’s best strikers at Arsenal.
Goals have always been a rarity for Aliadiere since his move from the Emirates Stadium in June 2007. While three last season and five the year before have done little to help his cause, there is another trend that strengthens his claims.
Because Boro don’t lose when the man from Rambouillet finds the net. Not since the defeat at Manchester United in October 2007, when he netted his first for the club, has that been the case.
Is it reason enough for the 26-year-old to be included at Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow night? That’s for Southgate to decide, but Aliadiere insists he does have the firepower to lead the line.
“I’m not bothered what people say, I let people talk,” said Aliadiere. “There are times when I won’t play well but when I score like I did it makes people realise what I can do.
“Last year I was in midfield for most of the season and you don’t get as much opportunity to score as you do when you are up front. But if I play up front this time I’ll show people I can score.
“Hopefully those goals have done me some good. There’s so many games coming up when you’re not in the team you have to make the most of your opportunity.”
It was not until Aliadiere’s introduction that Middlesbrough wrapped up a comfortable victory over an Ipswich team that Roy Keane has failed to inspire to victory yet this season.
But rather than worry about Keane’s problems, and on the evidence of this display he has a few, Southgate can focus on ensuring progress continues to be made by his own players.
From the moment Ipswich defender McAuley dawdled in the 16th minute to allow Marvin Emnes the opportunity to centre for Gary O’Neil to glance in the opening goal with a looping header, Boro never looked in any danger.
On the rare occasions Danny Coyne – preferred to Brad Jones, despite the Aussie’s return to fitness – was beaten, David Wheater and Adam Johnson were on hand to head clear off the line from McAuley efforts.
It was moments like that which laid the foundation for Middlesbrough to take control.
When Aliadiere entered the fray at the expense of Leroy Lita just after the hour, the substitute glanced a neat header beyond Richard Wright from Johnson’s precise left wing delivery.
Twenty minutes later he added his second and his side’s third by turning in the area, creating space and unleashing a low drive into Wright’s far corner.
“I was pleased for Jeremie.
Like a few others on the bench he wasn’t pleased to be out of the side but he had a crucial impact and that competition for places is what we want,”
said Southgate.
“It’s hard for me to pick a team and I had to leave out several players who had good cases to be in the side.”
Not even an injury-time penalty from Jon Walters, after impressive debutant Seb Hines brought him down in the area, could prevent Middlesbrough from beating Ipswich for the first time since 1993.
Aliadiere, however, insists that nothing can be taken for granted and hopes Boro’s young squad can turn in mature Championship performances, starting at Hillsborough tomorrow night.
“When I first came you had George Boateng, Jon Woodgate, older players, experienced ones, so it’s a different mentality now, a bit younger,” said Aliadiere.
“It’s only the beginning of the season, you need that experience to deal with all the games, sometimes being young and hungry is not enough.
“There’s a long way to go, there’s so many games, but we we’re capable of finishing in the top two or even winning the league.”
