Middlesbrough Off To A Flyer

Article by e-Middlesbrough correspondent Stephen Davison

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There is nothing quite like the first day of the season. Most fans are like a kid at Christmas, the anticipation of knowing that your back to the match and your weekends are back to normal.

I love the walk to the ground on opening weekend, fans talking openly about what to expect, who we have signed, why we are going to win the league. If you walk and listen, you can pick up a vibe and many different opinions, and none of those opinions have been tarnished by a bad result or a poor performance. If your team starts the season poorly then you can hear widespread condemnation of the team from the fans but you don't get that first game, it’s a blank canvas of hope.

Walking to the Riverside this season was the same as every other in my many years of supporting my local team. Common sense disappears from my thought process when the season starts. The day before the season starts and the run up to the season I have an opinion and a reality of what to expect. Come the first game of the season, on my walk to the ground, I believe we will win the league, always have and always will.

This season feels different and is different. The club have had to cut their cloth accordingly and it has taken years to get back to a ground zero from where it can start to rebuild and hopefully bring back an element of success. Lots of money was reinvested under Gordon Strachan’s ill fated stint in charge but since then, it has been predominately cut after cut.

This year, the manager has been entrusted with spending what money is available and building a team capable of challenging for promotion. Mr Gibson has eeked out every penny in order to arm Aitor Karanka with the funds he deems he needs to bring success. There will be no place to hide if the team fail as this is now very much seen as Aitors team. The fans embraced the Football Leagues 'Wall of Colour' idea.

The ground was a sea of red and not just from the many empty seats. The Generation Red Family Zone was fit to burst which is fantastic. The club have been the ground breakers for this scheme and have won awards in recognition of their hard work. Many clubs have been to the Riverside with a view to following the model in order to get more families to the ground, and more importantly getting the youth hooked on football thus ensuring support for many years to come. The prices for the GRFZ is second to none, it is a fantastic initiative and makes football affordable for large families who otherwise may not be able to afford to go.

The starting line up is much changed from the one that finished last season at Yeovil and will be much changed again when we play Huddersfield away on 13 September in the first league game after the transfer window closes. For now though it was Mejias in goal, Hines out of position at right back, Friend at left back and Ayala and Gibson at centre half. Leadbitter and Whitehead lined up in the engine room. Adam Reach's impressive pre season form earned him a place on the left, Adomah on the right and Tomlin behind new front man Kike. New signings Nsue and Husband had to be content with slots on the bench. A crowd of just under 18500 were present for the opener and made a good amount of noise prior to kick off. This at first glance doesn't appear to be a big crowd, especially in light of the fact that the ground holds 35000+, but with crowds dwindling over the years, it was good to see nearly 20000. Hopefully that can continue and grow as this season goes on.

Ben Gibson's season lasted little over 15 seconds, he turned awkwardly when challenging for the ball and damaged his hamstring, he had to be replaced by Chelsea starlet Omeruo, who had been deemed unfit to start.

The pace of the game was not particularly fast for the first 20 minutes or so but Boro looked fluid and controlled possession. The Boro never looked in any danger from a Birmingham team that looked to lack any real quality or idea. The Blues appeared content to sit behind the ball and show little going forward. As the teams settled, Boro took the game by the scruff of the neck. Tomlin and Kike started to link up impressively and the movement between the 2 was very impressive. George Friend went on the first of many mazy runs down the left, one of which led to him beating a few defenders and getting into a shooting position, but having ran the length of the field and getting into the box, the shooting opportunity fell on his right foot and he screwed it well wide.

Adomah and Reach started to get themselves more involved from wide and Leadbitter supported with the impressive Whitehead sniffing out what little dangers there were. On 33 minutes the Boro won a corner which was delivered from the right by Grant Leadbitter. Daniel Ayala found himself with a free header from a little over 6 yards out, he powered the header beyond the keeper and despite a last ditch attempt on the line by a Blues defender, he couldn't stop it crossing the line, 1-0 and the Boro were off to a flyer.

The goal settled what few nerves there were and the team started to play with a freedom. Again Kike and Tomlin linked and they always looked dangerous. Half time came about and the Boro led 1-0, the goal did little to improve Birmingham and they still appeared happy to only offer stubborn resistance in the hope of conceding no more.

The reds were quickly into their stride in the second half. Adomah was put through by Tomlin and chose to shoot and not roll in Kike, Randolph in the Brum goal made the first of many good saves. Shortly after, a Birmingham cross was taken in the penalty area by Mejias who rolled the ball out to Kike. He set off on a lung bursting run from his own box and as the Birmingham defence squared up to him some 30 yards from their goal, Kike rolled in Adomah who had run on his outside to support, again Adomah was one on one with Randolph and again the keeper come out on top.

With Boro now dominant, it didn't take long for the 2nd goal to arrive. A good run from Reach on the left led to a cross which was cleared to the edge of the box, Tomlin controlled and hit a shot into the ground which Randolph again saved, but the rebound fell to the debutant Kike who made no mistake from 9 yards, putting the ball into the bottom left hand corner, 2-0. His celebration endeared him further to his new adoring public as he marked a very impressive debut with a goal.

Emilio Nsue was brought on to replace Adomah and make his debut for the club. He settled quickly into the game and delivered 2 crosses from the right within his fist 5 minutes.

Now in total control, what little danger did materialise was quickly sniffed out by Kenneth Omeruo who was nothing short of fantastic. His reading of the game far exceeds his years and I am sure that he is going to be a very big player for his parent club in time. For now, Boro fans should just enjoy having such a quality player to watch and make the most of him whilst he is here.

At the mid way point in the second half, Boro won a free kick about 40 yards from goal, nothing appeared on and no one expected what happened next. Leadbitter looked ready to dink the ball into the box but instead played a grounded quick pass to Tomlin who had peeled off his marker who in turn played the ball first time to his right and found Kike 12 yards out, the movement and speed was fantastic but yet again, with the goal there for the taking, the impressive Randolph kept the score down. Aitor Karanka looked frustrated at what was obviously a training ground routine never ended in another goal.

Luke Williams replaced Tomlin late on and the No10 quite rightly was given a standing ovation by the Riverside faithful for what was quite simply an awesome performance. Williams wasted little time getting into the game and beat a man and turned sharply 20 yards out before unleashing another shot that yet again Randolph saved. Had it not been for the Blues shot stopper, the score could quite easily have been doubled.

Full time and an opening day 2-0 win was just what was hoped for and needed. A clean sheet with the team looking dangerous only fuelled the early optimism of what many fans hope and feel could be a successful season. The Boro just don't win opening day fixtures, our record is awful. The last time we won an opening day fixture was in the Premier League when we beat Spurs.....we got relegated that year.

Damia Abella is expected to sign on Monday to eventually solve the right back problem and another piece to the jigsaw. The Adam Clayton saga has taken yet another twist with the admission from the club that he failed to turn up for a medical. Brighton are still in the hunt when it seemed to be a done deal and he was ready to sign. Either way his transfer from the Terriers will happen this week, we will all have to wait and see where he turns up. Additionally, the manager still wants another forward or 2 and there is talk of an 'exciting wide man' that is expected to sign before the end of the transfer window. All in all, things are looking very good on Teesside. Competition for places is something we haven't seen for a few years, competition is healthy and hopefully this will prove to be the case and the team will improve as a result.

For now, it’s not the time to get too excited, even though I am. It is only one game, but you can only beat what is in front of you. Oldham away in the cup and then the yearly visit to Elland Road follow. Hopefully by next weekend we will be 2 from 2 in the league and getting more excited by the week.

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