• Date: Sat 07 February 2009
  • Venue: City of Manchester Stadium
  • Ref: Marriner, A
  • Attendance: 40,588

Manchester City vs Middlesbrough

Team Lineups

Manchester City

Shay Given
Pablo Zabaleta
Wayne Bridge
Nedum Onuoha
Micah Richards
Vincent Kompany
Shaun Wright-Phillips
Stephen Ireland
Nigel de Jong
Craig Bellamy
Robson de Souza Robinho (Felipe Caicedo, 83)

Middlesbrough

Brad Jones
Emanuel Pogatetz
Matthew Bates
David Wheater
Robert Huth
Chris Riggott (Justin Hoyte, 68)
Didier Digard (Gary O'Neil, 60)
Adam Johnson, A (Sanli Tuncay, 74)
Stewart Downing
Martins Afonso Alves
Marlon King


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

Boro will feel they should have got something out of the game, but Bellamy's loan strike proves to be enough to gain a crucial victory.

87

Almost a second goal for City, as sub Caicedo cuts inside on the edge of the area and fires in a shot, but Jones gathers well.

85

Boro look like a beaten team now and the pressure will be mounting on Southgate, as the poor run continues.

83
Substitution
 

City's first change of the game as Robinho makes way for Felipe Caicedo.

81

Pablo Zabaleta is the latest to try his luck from long range but again the strike is wide of the target.

80
Yellow Card
 

Gary O'Neil becomes the first player to be booked in the game.

78

A bit of a talking point in the City area, as Alves goes over under a challenge from Nedum Onuoha. Referee Andre Marriner says no penalty after half-hearted appeals from Boro.

74
Substitution
 

The third and final change from Boro and it is an attacking switch this time. Sanli Tuncay enters the fray to replace Adam Johnson.

72

Boro try to get Marlon King away, but City step up and play the former Watford man offside.

70

Another good chance for Alves and the striker is denied again by the feet of Given. Boro's Brazilian star should have had at least two goals today and he may be left to rue those missed chances.

67
Substitution
 

Another change from Gareth Southgate, as Justin Hoyte comes on for Chris Riggott.

66

Shaun Wright-Phillips breaks away brilliantly down the right-hand side, but his shot from an angle is blocked by the sliding Huth.

64

Confidence is building amongst the City players, this time Wayne Bridge tries his luck from the edge of the area but its over the bar.

60
Substitution
 

Boro make their first change of the afternoon, with Gary O'Neil coming on for Didier Digard.

58

Robinho has certainly perked up since City took the lead and he is starting to cause Boro some problems.

56

Bellamy is hunting a second and strikes goalwards, but the striker's shot is blocked well by Chris Riggott.

54

Boro have responded pretty well to going behind and win a corner, but they can't make anything from Downing's centre.

51
Goal
 

MAN CITY 1-0 MIDDLESBROUGH. Craig BELLAMY cuts inside from the right and fires a left-foot shot into the far corner of the net beyond Jones.

48

Boro have conceded more second-half goals (27) than any other club in the top flight, so maybe that's an indication that there will be goals here.

Second half
 

The second half is underway - no changes for either side but it surely won't be long before Mark hughes changes things if it remains this way.

Half time
 

Half-Time: MAN CITY 0-0 MIDDLESBROUGH. Both sides have had good chances and will feel they should have scored.

43

Stewart Downing tries his luck after a quick free-kick finds him in space, but the England star's shot for the edge of the box drifts past the left-hand post.

40

This game has really livened up now and this time its Boro going close. Alves breaks away from the City defence but is denied in a one-on-one situation, as Given blocks with his foot.

37

Craig Bellamy is just inches away from breaking the deadlock, but he can't quite reach an excellent ball across the area by Ireland.

35

Ooohh, City almost break the deadlock as Stephen Ireland's header beats Jones but hits the bar and Boro are able to clear.

30

A great save from Brad Jones keeps the scoreline blank, denying Craig Bellamy after Shaun Wright-Phillips had his shot blocked by Robert Huth.

27

Brad Jones is called into action now as he makes a superb save to deny Craig Bellamy's shot, as the game finally kicks into life.

24

A quick break from Boro and they almost take the lead against the run of play, but Shay Given pulls of a fine save to deny Afonso Alves. He probably should have scored.

19

Adam Johnson tries to create an opening goal after a dull start to this game, but the winger's effort from outside the box goes harmlessly over the bar.

15

Boro look comfortable when the ball is pumped into their box, this time Huth powers away a header from Ireland's corner.

11

This time City swing in a set piece, but although Vincent Kompany gets on the end of the corner, his shot is wide of the target.

7

Its been a disappointing start from both sides, you sense a few nerves around Eastlands. Boro win the first corner, but it amounts to nothing.

3

Bradley Jones does well to save from Craig Bellamy, the Welshman showing his pace against the Boro defence.

2

It's a sunny but very cold day in Manchester.

1
Kickoff
 

The game is underway with City on the attack straight away.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

It's almost time for kick-off at Eastlands, can Boro upset the odds and get a result against City?