Source: SKY_Sports
They sink it's all over
Middlesbrough 0-0 FulhamSoccer Saturday analysis[LNB] A lack of kitchen sink could well mean Middlesbrough are sunk.[LNB]That was the verdict of Soccer Saturday's Matt Le Tissier as he saw Gareth Southgate's side held at home by Fulham in a draw that keeps them in the bottom three.[LNB]Boro are now three points adrift from safety after failing to find the back of the net for the 15th time in 33 Premier League outings this season.[LNB]And while old boy Mark Schwarzer did his bit in the Fulham goal, Le Tissier felt a lack of passion means the relegation writing is on the wall at The Riverside.[LNB]"There weren't many positives to be honest," he told Soccer Saturday. [LNB]"I think Fulham finished the stronger and in the end looked the team likeliest to win it in the last 15 minutes.[LNB]"Normally in these situations, when a team looks desperate, in the last 10 minutes they are the ones chasing it, but Middlesbrough looked out on their feet. [LNB]"It was Fulham who, having almost settled for a point, realised how tired Middlesbrough were in the last 10 minutes and then waded forward and almost nicked the points.[LNB]Passion"What surprised me was in the last 10 minutes Fulham were attacking. When Middlesbrough got the ball you would expect their players to get up the pitch, but there was just a little jog here and there, filing back into position: there was no fire, no passion to get that winning goal.[LNB]"There was no kitchen sink at all and in fairness, that's why I think Middlesbrough will stay in the bottom three. But with a bit more adventure in the second half, Fulham could've won that game comfortably."[LNB]Only Wigan have scored fewer home goals than Boro, who now face the daunting prospect of back-to-back battles with Manchester United and Arsenal.[LNB]And even though those two also have the Champions League on their mind and Boro have been known to spring a surprise on the big boys, Le Tissier believes failure to beat Fulham could be fatal to their Premier League existence.[LNB]"They'll be even further adrift (after the next two games) I would guess," he said.[LNB]"It's going to take a monumental overturn in performance to actually get them out of trouble. [LNB]"And with those two games coming up, they could well find themselves needing snookers by the time they get to play an easier team."[LNB]
