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Middlesbrough FA Cup match report by Sweden Stag

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Middlesbrough FA Cup match report by Sweden Stag

Postby Sweden Stag » Tue Jan 11, 2022 5:36 pm

STAGS UNLUCKILY BEATEN BY MIDDLESBROUGH IN A VERY GOOD ADVERT FOR THE FA CUP

Stags 2 Middlesbrough 3

Goals, Stags: Hawkins 66, Oates 85. Middlesbrough: Ikpeazu 4, Boyd-Munce 14, Hewitt og 90+5.

Attendance: 7297 (about 1500 from Middlesbrough)

The Stags put up a superb performance, especially in the second half, against Championship side Middlesbrough in the third round of the FA Cup last Saturday in front of a packed One Call Stadium and loads of overseas TV viewers, including the Stagsnet previewer. Only an unlucky own-goal with almost the last action of the game sealed the tie in Middlesbrough favour as the Stags had deserved extra-time. What had happened if the game had gone to extra time?

If the Stags were lucky to reach extra time at this stage last campaign at Cheltenham, they were unlucky this time.

After a bright few opening minutes by the Stags, Middlesbrough took the lead in spectacular fashion. Centre-forward Uche Ikpeazu, formerly of Wycombe, proved too strong for two Stags players, Hawkins and McLaughlin respectively, before unleashing a fantastic shot from distance into the top corner, leaving Bishop with no chance at all. No goalie could have stopped that cracker of a goal. This as early as in the fourth minute.

Ten minutes later, Middlesbrough extended their lead. But that goal was a sloppy one. A throw-in was not dealt with. Joe Gibson got to the by-line and past McLaughlin far too easily before passing to new recruit (signed from Birmingham on day before the game) Caolan Boyd-Munce, who unmarked shot low into the net. Again, Bishop had no chance.

A key moment in the first half came around the half-hour mark. And the moment was due to Nathan Bishop. First, he tipped a deflected shot from Coburn around the post. A great save, the shot was destined to cross the line. Moments later, Ikpeazu was denied by Bishop at point-blank range. These two saves kept the Stags in the game and had Middlesbrough converted any of these chances, it could have been game over.

But the Stags grew into the game in the latter stages of the first half, and with luck, could have scored. Maris had a couple of chances, then a brilliant cross from O’Toole only just evaded Oates.
Middlesbrough deservedly ahead at half-time. But a superb Stags second half was to come.

That was proved early on in the second half as the Stags had a couple of chances to reduce the deficit. Maris headed over, Oates had a shot blocked in good position, Quinn had a shot blocked as well, and Ollie Clarke flicked a shot over the bar. A Stags goal was coming, and should it come?

Finally, on 66 minutes, One Call erupted. Quinn chipped a brilliant cross into the left and that one reached Hawkins. He won the aerial duel with Sol Bamba, rising above him and chested down and into Lumley’s net from about ten yards.

Danny Johnson came on and had a half chance on 73 minutes when his shot was blocked for a corner by a Boro defender.

A key moment of the second half came on 80 minutes. Oates, a handful for the Boro defence all the game, held off his man, teed up Law, who fired goalwards. The Boro keeper Lumley partially saved it, but made a mess of it, rating 5 goalkeeping and before Lumley could retrieve it, Johnson reacted quickest and put the ball into the empty net. But the linesman did rating 5 officiating by wrongly raising the offside flag. The Boro players had a very lucky escape in that situation inasmuch as when Law shot, Johnson was NOT offside. A howler big style by the officials.

But the Stags were not to be denied for much longer. Jason Law slid a magnificent ball from just inside the Boro half perfectly into the path of Oates. He took it well, around the keeper and slid it into the net for a calm, clinical and brilliant finish. One Call Stadium exploded in noise from the Stags fans.

Should the game, a good FA Cup advert on a heavy pitch, head into extra time? It was not to be. Fresh legs from Boro sub Isaiah Jones got him away from Hawkins to the byline and slid the ball into the six-yard box. O’Toole tried to clear it for a corner, but it hit Elliot Hewitt and into the net. There was nothing Bishop could do about it. And Hewitt could do nothing about it as well. Just bad luck.

Full time brought a standing ovation from the Stags fans. Well deserved after a brilliant second half performance.

Man of the match: Rhys Oates / Nathan Bishop (couldn’t separate them)

Report by: Svante Bernhard aka Sweden Stag in front of TV cameras in Sweden

Line-up with ratings:

Bishop 8 Two very good saves in the first half kept the Stags in the game. No chance with the goals.
Hewitt 6 Unlucky with the own-goal. Booked in the first half.
Hawkins 6 Had it tough in the defence but had a great header for Mansfield’s first goal.
O’Toole 7 Unlucky with the third goal. Good defending.
McLaughlin 5 Not at his best and involved in both Middlesbrough first-half goals.
Stirk 7 Decent game before going off injured.
O Clarke 6.5 Started poorly but became better the longer the game went on.
Quinn 8 Brilliant game and put in some wonderful crosses
Maris 7 Had a couple of chances but was unable to make them count
Oates 8 More than a handful for the Boro defence, took his goal superbly
Bowery 6.5 A couple of good passes to Quinn

Sub line-up:

Lapslie (for McLaughlin, 61) – Didn’t get into the game
Johnson (for O. Clarke, 61) – Unlucky with the disallowed goal. Good to see him back
Law (for Stirk, 72) – Very impressive 20 minutes, worthy of an 8 rating. Assist for the Oates goal.

Subs not used: Štěch, Louie Turner, Burke, Nartey, Ward, Charsley.

Middlesbrough line-up: Lumley, Peltier, Wood, Bamba, Gibson (Crooks, 58), McNair, Howson, Boyd-Muce (Tavernier, 58), Kokolo (Dijksteel, 77), Coburn (Hernández, 62), Ikpeazu (Jones, 77). Subs not used: Daniels, Malley, Sykes.

Referee: Keith Stroud 5. Disappointing. The officials got the one big decision totally wrong by disallowing Johnson’s goal.
Stockholm, July 4, 2008, 15.00 GMT. Good news came, K.H. gone. March 1, 2012. Ground purchased.
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