Source: Telegraph
Stewart Downing fires Middlesbrough into FA Cup last eight
Not even the Middlesbrough killjoys would have been complaining about the noise levels on Wednesday night because their supporters finally had something to shout about that would not upset the spoilsports. Thanks to cracking goals from Stewart Downing and Tuncay Sanli to set up an quarter-final at Everton a week on Sunday, Boro fans were celebrating loudly and proudly - just days after being left gobsmacked when warned to keep the noise down by club officials. They were told cut out din because of complaints that "persistent standing and the constant banging and noise" was "driving some fans mad" ahead of last weekend's 0-0 draw with Wigan but on this occasion their celebrations could have taken the roof off without complaint. Downing, who scored in the 1-1 draw at Upton Park, again put Boro ahead in the fourth minute with a brilliant 25-yard free-kick, curling the ball beyond the wall and leaving England colleague Robert Green flailing as the ball soared into his top left-hand corner. Downing's first goal at the Riverside this season also ensured a miserable introduction to English football for debutant Radoslav Kovac after the Czech Republic felled Tuncay Sanli. Boro tails were up and Julio Arca tested Green before Matthew Upson carelessly offered Downing the chance to double the lead when his misplaced pass across the defence was intercepted by his fellow international who sidestepped Lucas Neill before driving an angled shot narrowly wide of Green's post. Downing's sizzling effort showed why Boro chairman Steve Gibson turned down Tottenham's £14.5-million bid for the home-grown winger who will be fundamental to their hopes of avoiding relegation. So too the invigorated Tuncay who doubled the lead in the 19th minute when he took advantage of further loose defending by James Tomkins whose attempt to hook clear Gary O'Neil's cross saw the ball fall to the Turk who volleyed past Green from 20 yards. It was Tuncay's first goal since the 2-1 defeat at Hull on December 6 and his fifth of a disappointing season. Gianfranco Zola's team attempted to hit back and Kovac, on loan from Spartak Moscow, almost made amends for his earlier lapse but his powerfully struck low shot was smartly saved by Brad Jones. But back came Boro and Tuncay thumped a shot over after the unmarked Downing invited him to take aim when he laid O'Neil's deep cross into his path as the West Ham defence were again left and sixes and sevens. Their defensive disintegration was played out right in front of 4,000 supporters tempted to Teesside by their club's offer of free transport and they made their dissatisfaction known by booing their side off at the interval. Watched by Everton manager David Moyes, the second half began as the first half ended as Jeremie Aliadiere turned Tomkins but saw his shot deflected just wide. That was enough for Zola to ring the changes and Jack Collison and David Di Michele were sent on and the latter quickly sent Scott Parker clear but his left-footed shot missed the target by inches. Green had to dash off his line to deny Aliadiere after he raced on to O'Neil's through-ball and then Brad Jones saved smartly to thwart Di Michele before Matthew Bates saw a long-range effort tipped over and Tuncay had a shot deflected wide in an unsurprisingly open contest. Zola twice won the competition during his Chelsea days in 1997 and 2000 but its fair to say that the Italian's love affair with the FA Cup is now over - for this season at least. As for Boro, this is the fourth season running they have reached the last eight and Gareth Southgate's relegation-threatened side can take heart from arguably their most impressive performance this season - in front of its lowest home audience this term - when Liverpool head to the North-East on Saturday.FA Cup quarter-final drawCoventry v ChelseaFulham v Manchester UnitedArsenal or Burnley v Sheffield United or HullEverton v MiddlesbroughTies to be played on the weekend of March 7-8.