Source: Northern_Echo
Boro jump over Hoops
BARRY ROBSON was once again the toast of Teesside as Middlesbrough put behind a recent run of two consecutive defeats to get Boro's play off aspirations back on track and, create a bit of club history in the process.[LNB] The influential midfielder, who netted the club's match winner against Peterborough two weeks earlier, was the hero once more when he netted two first half penalties to give Middlesbrough their first win in three. It keeps Boro firmly on the coattails of the top six. The triumph was not enough to see Gordon Strachan's side climb the table but they are now equal on points with seventh placed Blackpool, who lost at Barnsley, while sixth placed Cardiff are two points better off.[LNB] The 2-0 victory, coupled with the 5-1 triumph at Loftus Road earlier this term, meant it was the first time Middlesbrough had ever done the double over the Londoners, who have yet to record a clean sheet since a 4-0 victory over Preston in October.[LNB] A largely uneventful contest burst in to life when Boro were awarded two penalties in the last six minutes of the first half. Hoops right back Peter Ramage looked to have played the ball when Jeremie Aliadiere burst down the left hand side of the box but the referee felt differently and Robson smashed the resulting penalty down the middle of the goal. It was the Teessiders' first goal in 301 minutes.[LNB] Robson then smashed his second spot kick high to goalkeeper Carl Ikeme's left on the half-time whistle when Kaspars Gorkss clumsily upended Boro's busy striker Leroy Lita.[LNB] Prior to the goals there was little to talk about, although on loan striker Jay Simpson shaved a post midway through the first period for the visitors, while captain Mikele Leigertwood shot straight at goalkeeper Danny Coyne shortly after.[LNB] The best the hosts could offer was when returning frontman Chris Killen scooped over from four yards from skipper Gary O'Neil's free-kick, while Aliadiere was given the freedom of the Riverside a minute before the first penalty only shoot meekly wide.[LNB] The second half was every bit as poor as the first half with little to get supporters excited in the spectacle.[LNB] It took 20 minutes before an opportunity was presented to the watching fans. It came from the visitors when substitute Adel Taarabt had Boro goalkeeper Danny Coyne stretching to tip around the post, while home side's best offering came when Lita stung the fingertips of Ikeme.[LNB] Rangers skipper Mikele Leigertwood almost pulled a goal back, and should have done, when he was found unmarked. Fortunately for the home side his effort hit the post and was scrambled to safety.[LNB] Simpson had a chance to score late on while former Boro loan man Marcus Bent had the ball in the net only for it to be ruled out for offside.[LNB] Gary O'Neil had an opportunity to put a gloss on the proceedings at the death but Ikeme was equal to it.[LNB] The victory sets up a crunch contest with Dave Jones Bluebirds at the Cardiff City Stadium next weekend.[LNB]
