By David Ornstein
BBC.co.uk
Middlesbrough produced an inspired attacking display to beat West Ham in
their FA Cup fifth-round replay and set up a trip to Everton in the last
eight. The hosts made a fine start and took the lead when Stewart Downing
curled a stunning free-kick into the top corner. The Hammers were rugged in
possession and Tuncay Sanli volleyed in a second after James Tomkins failed
to clear. David di Michele wasted an opening for West Ham but Boro could
have extended their lead and were worthy winners. The Hammers have now gone
five matches without a win but this defeat enables them to now focus solely
on their Premier League campaign. Manager Gianfranco Zola will be concerned
at how easily his team's defence was penetrated time and again, although as
the match wore on they showed impressive glimpses going forward.
Middlesbrough's victory brings to an end a five-match winless run in all
competitions and they are into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for the
fourth season running.
Boro had failed to score in five of their last seven games but they looked
dangerous from the outset and Gareth Southgate's attack-minded formation
paid dividends. The Boro manager named Downing and Gary O'Neil on the left
and right wings respectively and recalled Jeremie Aliadiere and Tuncay up
front.
West Ham's 4-4-2 formation, with Freddie Sears starting his first match in
over three months and Radoslav Kovac making his debut in central midfield,
simply encouraged the hosts to flood forward. And when Kovac felled Tuncay
on the Middlesbrough right, 25 yards from goal, Downing stepped up to send a
magnificent effort past Robert Green via the angle of post and crossbar.
Boro went in search of a second and Downing zipped a shot narrowly wide
after Matthew Upson's suicidal cross-field pass was intercepted. O'Neill
then sent a fizzing aerial ball forward and James Tomkins succeeded only in
hooking his clearance to the on-rushing Tuncay, who fired convincingly past
Green. Backed by a healthy travelling support, which was bussed up to
Teesside by the club, West Ham eventually tested Boro goalkeeper Brad Jones
when Kovac shot low following Herita Ilunga's burst into the penalty area.
Attempting to stay true to their manager's philosophy, West Ham showed their
ability to put together fluid passages of play and Hoyte was forced to make
a vital interception as Kovac primed himself to convert Carlton Cole's
centre. Boro came close to extending their advantage before half-time as
O'Neil's deep cross from the right was played back by Downing, only for
Tuncay to blast high over the bar. With West Ham desperate to work their way
back into the match and Boro hungry for more goals, the second period got
off to a pulsating start. Aliadiere saw an effort deflected narrowly wide
and Green caught well to prevent O'Neil scoring after a slick exchange
between Aliadiere and Tuncay. At the other, Sears and Mark Noble came close
to breaking through Boro's impressive defensive wall and, having introduced
Jack Collison and Di Michele, West Ham continued to probe.
The visitors might have been level on the hour mark had Scott Parker's
left-footed drive from Di Michele's throughball not squirmed just wide of
the post. Parker's influence began to grow but, with Boro all too willing to
get forward when in possession, West Ham could ill afford to neglect
defensive duties. Green foiled Aliadiere expertly when the Frenchman was
played through by O'Neil, Matthew Bates saw a long-range drive tipped over
and Tuncay's deflected shot ran marginally wide. But those misses proved
insignificant and Boro now travel to Goodison Park with a place in the
semi-finals and a trip to Wembley at stake.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate:"There was a good feel about the
ground tonight and everybody has gone away with a good feeling. "It's
important because football is about dreams and we're keeping the dreams of
our supporters alive. "We've got a tough a touch draw in the next round but
FA Cup quarter-finals away from home are not a bad thing from my experience.
"It's something to look forward to, it keeps some enjoyment in the season
and gives us some confidence for the league."
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola: "Middlesbrough were very good and,
honestly, they deserved to win. "It's a pity because so far in the FA Cup we
have done well and we had many supporters here. "We wanted to give them more
satisfaction, which they deserved. It hasn't been the case and we're very
happy about that. "We've slowed down a little bit but it's understandable
and normal at this stage of the season. We are very determined to start
again and setting up another run."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
Middlesbrough: Jones, Hoyte, Wheater, Huth, Pogatetz, O'Neil, Bates, Arca
(Walker 88), Downing, Sanli (Adam Johnson 81), Aliadiere (Emnes 67).
Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Taylor, Alves, McMahon.
Booked: O'Neil.
Goals: Downing 5, Sanli 20.
West Ham: Green, Neill, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami, Parker, Noble
(Collison 56), Kovac (Tristan 69), Cole, Sears (Di Michele 57).
Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Lopez, Nsereko, Spector.
Booked: Behrami.
Att: 15,602
Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Middlesbrough's Stewart Downing
with 8.48 (on 90 minutes).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Middlesbrough 2 West Ham United 0
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 25th February 2009
By: Staff Writer
There were very few positives for Gianfranco Zola to take out of tonight's
visit to the Riverside Stadium as the Hammers were sent tumbling out of the
FA Cup.
It was a case of deja vu for United as they once again found themselves 2-0
down within the opening twenty minutes - for the second time in four days.
Goals from Stewart Downing and Tuncay gave Middlesbrough - who prior to
tonight were without a win against a Premier League team since last November
- what proved to be an insurmountable lead and it is they, not West Ham, who
go on to face Everton at Goodison Park in the quarter finals.
Gianfranco Zola and Steve Clarke made several changes to the team beaten 2-1
at Bolton last weekend to fairly disastrous effect. In order to accomodate
debutant Radoslav Kovac - who had a poor start to his spell with West Ham
and was guilty of giving away an unnecessary foul that led to the home
side's opening goal - Scott Parker and Mark Noble were asked to play in
unfamiliar territory, and the Hammers subsequently failed to provide any
real threat.
Middlesbrough - who were just seven minutes away from a win at Upton Park in
the first tie before Herita Ilunga's header took the game to a replay -
stuck to the same game plan that had proved so successful 10 days earlier,
and once again the Hammers failed to respond.
Given very little space on the ball by a 'Boro side that closed down all
over the pitch Zola's side once again seemed intent on playing a narrow game
that played straight into the home side's hands; it is unlikely that the
relegation-threatened Wearsiders will enjoy many easier games between now
and the end of the season.
On the few occasions that the Hammers managed to move the ball wide some
threat was provided, but with most of the team out-of-sorts a comback was
unlikely with 'Boro the only team threatening to score once their early
two-goal lead had been established.
A miserable night for the Hammers began with Middlesbrough taking the lead
after just four minutes when Stewart Downing scored with an almost identical
free kick to that which Matt Taylor beat Green with at the Reebok Stadium.
The free kick came from an unnecessary challenge by recent signing Kovac on
the edge of the box; overall the experienced Czech looked well off the pace
for most of his 70 minutes on the pitch.
Once again, as per at Bolton, the goal failed to evoke a resonse from West
Ham and having gone close through Downing (again) and former Hammers loanee
Jeremie Aliadiere it was no surprise when 'Boro's lead was doubled after 20
minutes when Tuncay pounced on a James Tomkins error to volley past Green
with an unconvincing yet accurate strike.
United's only decent chance of the opening half fell to Kovac, but the Czech
international's well struck shot was expertly dealt with by Brad Jones. It
was to be a similar story in the second period, with Scott Parker's
well-struck shot on the hour mark being the closest the Irons got to
snatching a goal back - and the only real chance they mustered after the
break.
West Ham's miserable run without a win now stretches to five games, in stark
contrast to the superb form that immediately preceeded it.
However the major worry for Zola and Clarke tonight is that the performances
appear to be getting worse rather than better - and the games get no easier,
with a resurgent Manchester City (featuring former Hammer Craig Bellamy) up
next for United.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Boro through to Cup quarters
First-half double sees Southgate's men into last eight
By Chris Harvey Last updated: 25th February 2009
SSN
Middlesbrough put their Premier League woes behind them as they eased
through to the last eight of the FA Cup at the expense of West Ham. Boro
have not won in the league since November - a run which has seen them drop
into the bottom three - but they showed few signs of a lack of confidence as
they swept the Hammers aside.
A superb Stewart Downing free-kick fired the home side ahead as he curled a
left-footer beyond the dive of Robert Green to give Boro a fifth-minute
lead. And the returning Tuncay doubled the lead on 20 minutes as he caught
out James Tomkins to fire home from the edge of the box. The Hammers rarely
troubled Brad Jones in the Boro goal and it was the hosts who came close to
extending their advantage on several occasions. Now Gareth Southgate will be
hoping his charges can transfer their Cup form to the Premier League,
starting with Liverpool's visit to the Riverside on Saturday. Southgate had
insisted before the game that, contrary to the message apparently sent out
by an "unfortunately-worded" letter to some of the Riverside regulars, that
he wanted them to make as much noise as possible. But with 20 minutes of the
game gone, the Teessiders had rediscovered their killer touch to put the
Hammers firmly on the back foot. Record signing Afonso Alves was left on the
bench as Southgate instead turned to Tuncay and Jeremie Aliadiere in attack,
but it was Downing who produced a top-drawer finish to get his side off to
the perfect start. The England international curled home a stunning
free-kick to leave Robert Green grasping at thin air and edge his side
closer to the last eight. Downing might have doubled his tally with 16
minutes gone when he ran on to Matthew Upson's criminally careless pass
in-field, but he dragged his shot wide of the far post. However, the second
goal arrived just four minutes later when central defender Tomkins, in his
desperation to cut out Gary O'Neil's long ball to Aliadiere, succeeded only
in hooking it into the path of Tuncay. The Turkey international, who had not
scored since the first week of December, still had plenty to do, but he
controlled his volley superbly to beat the stranded Green. West Ham
responded briefly with midfielder Radoslav Kovac forcing a smart 23rd-minute
save from Jones but with Downing, Aliadiere and Tuncay giving the hosts the
kind of cutting edge they have lacked so often this season, it was they who
continued to dominate. They might have all but ended the tie as a contest
five minutes before the break when Downing cushioned O'Neil's raking cross
into Tuncay's path, but the striker lashed his left-footed shot high over
the bar. Boro could have strengthened their position further within three
minutes of the restart when Justin Hoyte picked out Aliadiere inside the
penalty area and he turned smartly to fire in a shot which flew just wide
with the help of a crucial deflection off Tomkins. Substitute David Di
Michele, who had mishit a volley within seconds of his arrival, turned
provider on the hour to hand Scott Parker a gilt-edged chance to drag his
side back into the game, but he pushed his shot agonisingly wide of the post
with just Jones to beat. But Green too had to be on his toes to keep
Aliadiere out seven minutes later after Hoyte and O'Neil had combined to
play him in. Matthew Bates and Tuncay both went close as time ran down, but
the win had already been assured.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Boro 2 West Ham 0
The Sun
From STEVE BRENNER at the Riverside Stadium
Published: Today
GARETH SOUTHGATE must wish he could play in the FA Cup every week.
Southgate's struggling Middlesbrough have not won in the Premier League
since early November.
But put them in the oldest competition in the world and just watch them go.
Stewart Downing hit a cracking free-kick to help bubbling Boro book a place
in the quarter-finals. The England winger curled home after just five
minutes against Gianfranco Zola's wretched West Ham. And Turkish star Tuncay
added a second to seal a last-eight tie away to Everton. Zola's Hammers
never looked interested. The little Italian, a two-time winner in his
glorious playing career, would have been dreaming of Wembley yet again — but
he must wait to make it a hat-trick. The Boro faithful had been told to keep
the noise down — yet you just could not shut them up last night. And who can
blame them?
Hammers provided free coach travel to Teesside, meaning almost 4,000 made
the trip to the Riverside. But it was the home fans making all the racket as
Southgate's boys showed they have some fight in them after all. Boro have
not had anything to shout about recently. And boss Southgate said: "The
energy and enthusiasm in the first half has to be the standard we set. "We
were a bit too open at times but it was great to see the lads and the fans
enjoying their football once again. "Stewart's goal was class and this gives
everyone renewed optimism. Football is about dreams and that's why we take
the FA Cup seriously."
Hammers left demoralised. This was one of the poorest displays since Zola
took charge. It was a good tussle at Upton Park 12 days ago, which set up
this replay, with shot-shy Middlesbrough actually looking dangerous. And
they carried on where they left off by dominating from start to finish.
Downing got the goal in the first game and he was at it again last night.
Debutant Czech international Radoslav Kovac gave away a free-kick 25 yards
out and Downing stepped up to bend an absolute beauty past Robert Green into
the top-right corner. It was Downing's first goal at home since the end of
last season. And not before time. You could see the confidence flowing back.
Julio Arca shot straight at Green while Matt Upson's sloppy pass let in
Downing but he screwed wide. Zola was fuming. And the Italian was made to
feel even worse on 20 minutes when Tuncay increased the lead. Gary O'Neil's
long, raking pass was headed by James Tomkins straight to the recalled Turk
who lashed home. Boro were in complete control and nearly made it 3-0 before
the break. O'Neil's awesome right-wing cross was knocked back by Downing
into the path of Tuncay who fizzed one over.
The Hammers' best chance came on the hour — Scott Parker firing wide. Zola
moaned: "I wasn't pleased with them at half-time. "It's not easy when
someone puts the ball in the top corner but with the second goal I had
something to say. "It's not a very good time for us but it won't last long."
Boro must make sure their form lasts long enough to avoid relegation or else
their Cup exploits will mean zilch.
DREAM TEAM STAR MAN – Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough)
Middlesbrough: Jones 6, Hoyte 6, Wheater 7, Huth 6, Pogatetz 6, O'Neil 7,
Bates 7, Arca 6, Downing 8, Tuncay 7, Aliadiere 7. Subs: Walker (for Arca)
6, Johnson (for Tuncay) 6, Emnes (for Aliadiere) 6. Booked: O'Neil.
West Ham: Green 7, Neill 6, Tomkins 6, Upson 6, Ilunga 6, Behrami 6, Parker
6, Noble 5, Kovac 5, Cole 6, Sears 5. Subs: Di Michele (for Sears) 6,
Collison (for Noble) 6, Tristan (for Kovac) 6. Booked: Behrami
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Middlesbrough enjoy night of light relief
Middlesbrough 2 West Ham United 0
The times
George Caulkin
Just when their despairing supporters must have expected it least, belief
returned to Teesside. After a victory over West Ham United that was
remarkable for its dominance, Middlesbrough will play Everton in the FA Cup
quarter-finals. It was some performance.
This has become a strenuous, demanding season for Gareth Southgate and his
team and while their position in the Barclays Premier League table remains a
source of deep concern, last night brought them delight. Nobody at the
Riverside Stadium will wish to be reminded of 1997, the year that
Middlesbrough reached the Cup Final and were relegated, but if this sort of
commitment can be replicated, despair will be avoided.
This was no fluke. Early goals from Stewart Downing and Tuncay Sanli
separated the teams, but in terms of fluency there was a yawning gulf. Just
as West Ham were vapid until defeat was beyond doubt, so Middlesbrough
offered moments of stellar quality. It should provide them with confidence
before pivotal league fixtures against Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.
"It gives everybody renewed optimism," Southgate said. "In terms of the
season, it keeps people's dreams alive and football is all about dreams.
There's no priority for us, but that energy and enthusiasm has to be the
standard we set now."
Five unremarkable minutes had elapsed when Radoslav Kovac felled Tuncay as
they tussled for possession and while the position was promising for
Middlesbrough — 25 yards out and towards the right edge of the penalty area
— there had been little evidence in recent weeks that anything tangible
would follow.
What succour there was, however, Downing provided. The England winger had
mustered his first, tardy goal of the season at Upton Park on Valentine's
Day, a nod towards romance that somehow lingered. His free kick was
blissfully struck, a left-foot caress that curled into the top right corner
of the net; Downing sprinted towards the dugout to share his jubilation with
Southgate.
By the twentieth minute, the advantage had been doubled. A long, piercing
through-ball from Gary O'Neil was hooked away by James Tomkins, but the
clearance was desperate and the result unhappy. Tuncay, the Turkey forward,
who had been dropped for the previous three games, met the ball on the
volley on the fringes of the box to fire it in low and with attitude.
It was shades of the autumn for Middlesbrough, a reminder of the glinting
football that had been nurtured assiduously by Southgate. It was not a
scenario that West Ham could have envisaged, although their response let
down 3,000 of their supporters, whose journey to the North East had been
funded by the club.
The jeers with which they greeted half-time were eloquent. Aside from a
grass-trimming effort from Kovac, which Brad Jones had grasped with comfort,
they had offered nothing. Gianfranco Zola, the manager, had made four
changes from the side that had lost away to Bolton Wanderers last weekend,
but that was not sufficient to explain the listlessness.
"I am very sorry and disappointed for our supporters, who were fantastic
again and came up here in great numbers," the Italian said. "I know how
special this cup is and what it is like to win this competition and that is
something I wanted my players to experience. It's not a very good time for
us — we haven't won for three games — but it won't last for long. We're
determined to get back to winning ways."
- Cardiff City stretched their unbeaten run to 13 games last night but had
to settle for a goalless draw at home to QPR. Michael Chopra had the home
side's best chance but was denied by Radek Cerny, the QPR goalkeeper.
Cardiff moved back up to fourth place in the Coca-Cola Championship and are
nine points off an automatic promotion spot, but have three games in hand on
Wolverhampton Wanderers, the leaders.
Middlesbrough (4-4-2): B Jones - J Hoyte, D Wheater, R Huth, E Pogatetz - G
O'Neil, M Bates, J Arca (sub: J Walker, 88min), S Downing - J Aliadière
(sub: M Emnes, 67), Tuncay Sanli (sub: A Johnson, 82). Substitutes not used:
R Turnbull, A Taylor, Afonso Alves, A McMahon. Booked: O'Neil.
West Ham United (4-3-1-2): R Green - L Neill, M Upson, J Tomkins, H Ilunga -
V Behrami, R Kovac (sub: D Tristán, 69), S Parker - M Noble (sub: J
Collison, 57) - C Cole, F Sears (sub: D Di Michele, 57). Substitutes not
used: J Lastuvka, W López, Savio, J Spector. Booked: Behrami.
Referee: S Bennett.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Fortune smiles on Tuncay as Boro end goal drought
Middlesbrough 2 West Ham United 0
By Michael Walker
Independent
Thursday, 26 February 2009
Buses from London transported 4,000 West Ham United fans to Teesside last
night, but it was Middlesbrough goals that came along in London bus fashion.
Boom boom.
Boro fans have not seen a goal here since 10 January but two appeared from
nowhere in the first twenty minutes and the goals, from Stewart Downing and
Tuncay Sanli, meant that Boro made it to their fourth consecutive FA Cup
quarter-final. They go to Everton on Sunday week.
The desperate hope of manager Gareth Southgate will be that confidence taken
will be injected into suffering Premier League form. Boro host Liverpool on
Saturday having not scored in the league for five matches.
Southgate praised his side's "energy and enthusiasm" and said the win "keeps
people's dreams alive – and football is about dreams." Recently here it has
felt more like a sleepwalk. The low attendance – 15,602 – reflected
declining local faith.
Anxious fans make for anxious players, as Downing for one has admitted, but
the talisman of a young team showed no nerves in stepping up to curl a
beautiful fifth-minute free-kick over the wall and into the top corner
beyond the outstretched, blameless hands of Robert Green. It was Downing's
first goal of the season here. Boosted by that, Boro then were given some
much-needed luck.
Tuncay is another to lose his way, but selected ahead of the dropped Afonso
Alves, the Turk seized on an ungainly 19th-minute clearance by James Tomkins
and volleyed with optimism. The shot was not wholly convincing but it
clipped Tomkins which took the ball away from Green.
Despite the consolation of 70 minutes remaining, West Ham were already
toast. Scott Parker and Czech debutant Radoslav Kovac tried to generate some
attacks but Brad Jones made a single save before the interval and after it
the visitors could not create any sort of momentum.
Gianfranco Zola made early substitutions but only David Di Michele made any
sort of impact and before the end those bussed-up fans were singing: "We
should have watched on the telly."
Zola agreed. "I'm very disappointed for our supporters," he said. "It was
certainly not our best performance."
Middlesbrough (4-4-2) Jones; Hoyte, Wheater, Huth, Pogatetz; O'Neil, Bates,
Arca (Walker, 88), Downing; Tuncay (Johnson, 82), Aliadière (Emnes, 68).
Substitutes not used: Turnbull, Taylor, McMahon, Alves.
West Ham United (4-4-2) Green; Neill, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga; Behrami, Kovac
(Tristan, 69), Parker, Noble (Collison, 57); Cole, Sears (Di Michele, 57).
Substitutes not used: Lastuvka, Lopez, Nsereko, Spector.
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Zola admits Cup defeat big personal blow
26.02.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United boss Gianfranco Zola admits their FA Cup defeat at
Middlesbrough was a "big blow". "It's a big blow for me," he said. "I know
how special it is winning this cup and I wanted my players to have that same
pleasure that I had a few years ago. "It certainly wasn't our best
performance, but to be honest, it's the second time in a few days that we
have started with an opposition player putting the ball in the top corner
and after that, straight away conceding a second goal. "That would make it
difficult for anybody, especially confidence-wise. "It wasn't a great
performance, but I believe the players gave everything, which is very
encouraging."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Middlesbrough boss Southgate: Zola admitted Downing unstoppable
26.02.09 | tribalfootball.com
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate was full of praise for Stewart Downing
after his goal scoring performance in last night's FA Cup replay victory
over West Ham. The 24-year-old curled home an unstoppable fifth-minute
free-kick to set Boro on their way to the last eight for the fourth
successive season. Tuncay Sanli's 20th-minute second effectively sealed just
a third win in 18 attempts in all competitions and booked a last-eight trip
to Everton. But Downing's contribution a month after his home-town club had
resisted Tottenham's attempts to prise him away from the Riverside Stadium
thrilled Southgate. "That's why we wanted to keep our best players. Goals
like that win matches, simple," said the manager. "He has got the quality to
do that. He has scored two in three games now, and seeing himself do
something like that proves to himself the quality he has got. "The goal was
top-drawer. (West Ham boss) Gianfranco (Zola) was just saying, you can set
your team up for anything, but when somebody does that, it rocks everybody
on their heels."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Crocked Gabbidon grateful for West Ham support
26.02.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United defender Danny Gabbidon has revealed he has the support of
management. The Wales international hasn't played since December 2007 due
to an abdominal injury and told WHUTV: "The club have been great. I have
been to see a few different people and they have been really good for
organising that and anything I have wanted they have done. I can't fault the
club for the effort they have put in to try and get me back fit. Hopefully I
can get back in and start repaying them.
"I have spoken to the manager a few times. He has been really good with me.
He asks me how I am, what has been going on and when I am going to come
back. He is a really nice man and he says we are waiting for you to come
back.
"It is nice to know the manager is thinking about you. When you have been
out for a while you can think you are the forgotten man. It has not been
like that at all. The manager and Steve Clarke often ask how I am and how
long til I get back. That gives me added motivation to get back as soon as I
can."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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