M'boro 09/10 - Boro failed to kill the game

Coventry...........2
Morrison 78
Best 90+5

M'boro...............2
St Ledger 40
Williams 40+3

TWO up at half-time, Boro failed to kill the game off and had to settle for a point at the Ricoh Arena

A superb second-half comeback from Coventry City ruined Middlesbrough's hopes of returning to winning ways.

Gareth Southgate made four changes to team that were stuffed 5-0 by West Brom last week and he looked to be on track for the win after goals from Sean St Ledger and Rhys Williams.

But the Sky Blues fought back, first through Clinton Morrison and then through Leon Best, who turned the ball home deep into injury time.

Boro nearly made a great start after Coventry's Stephen Wright misjudged a first minute long ball.

Marvin Emnes broke through and almost knocked his shot past Keiren Westwood, but the keeper managed to block with his legs.

The Sky Blues sprung to life after the near-miss and should have taken the lead in the sixth minute when Morrison crossed to the unmarked Michael McIndoe, but the winger headed wide from six yards.

Coventry were dogged in midfield and their hard work almost produced a 28th minute opening.

Tough tackling in the middle saw the ball finally played to Morrison, who fought off two challenges to shoot from range but his effort went wide.

But a nightmare five minutes for the Sky Blues put Southgate's mate in control.

A superb corner from Adam Johnson in the 40th minute found St Ledger and the on-loan defender rose above his marker to head past Westwood.

Then in injury time, Gary O'Neil's cross was not cleared and eventually fell to Australian Williams, who fired home.

Coventry switched to a 4-3-3 and brought on Aron Gunnarsson and Patrick van Aanholt at the second half to try and salvage something from the game.

They came close through McIndoe and Wright and finally made the breakthrough in the 75th minute when Best's knock down allowed Morrison to spin his marker and fire into the net.

The home side pushed on, desperate for the leveller, and just as time seemed to be running out, a bouncing cross made it to the unmarked Best at the back post and his outstretched boot turned home the ball to earn his side the point.

BORO: Jones, Hoyte, Bennett (Grounds 64), Wheater, St Ledger, O'Neil, Johnson (Yeates 74), Arca, Williams, Aliadiere, Emnes (Lita 53). Subs not used: Coyne, Folan, Hines, McMahon.

COVENTRY: Westwood, Clarke, Hall (van Anholt 46), Wright, Turner (Ward, 77), Osbourne (Gunnarson 46), Cork, Clingan, Morrison, Best, McIndoe. Subs not used: Konstantopolis, Eastwood, Cranie, Cain

Ref: Graham Horwood (Bedfordshire)

M'fc Sg - Eid Mubarak

I would like to wish to all Boro Muslim fans around the world.

HAPPY EID MUBARAK 1430h!

Ariff Ahmad
Founder
MFC Official Singapore Suppoter's Club

on behalf of MFC Official Singapore Suppoter's Club members

M'boro 09/10 - Battered!

M'boro...............0

West Brom........5
Brunt17,31
Mulumbu 42
Bednar 82
Thomas 89

WEST Brom extended their unbeaten run when battering Boro in a top of the table

FORMER Boro boy Chris Brunt returned to haunt his old club with a deadly first-half double to set five-star Albion on their way to a comfortable victory at promotion rivals Middlesbrough.

Sean St Ledger was handed his first start and home debut as he replaced Seb Hines in a starting line-up which had no Gary O'Neil or Caleb Folan. The latter started on the bench just a couple of days after signing on loan from Hull City. O'Neil was missing with hamstring problems.

Middlesbrough Coyne; McMahon, Wheater (Capt.), St Ledger, Grounds, Yeates, Williams, Arca (Digard 57), A Johnson, Emnes (Lita 66), Aliadiere (Folan 31). Unused subs: Jones (gk); Hoyte, Hines, Bennett.

West Bromwich Albion Carson; Martis, Thomas, Zuiverloon, Olsson, Mattock (Barnett 73), Brunt (Wood 81), Dorrans, Moore (Koren 64), Mulumbu, Bednar. Unused subs: Kiely (gk); Cox, Reid, Teixeira.

Referee Mr T Kettle. Berkshire.

Bookings
Middlesbrough Williams 16, foul; Arca 29, foul.

West Bromwich Albion Thomas 28, diving; Olsson 52, dissent; Mattock 62, dissent; Dorrans 66, foul; Martis 86, dissent.7

Attendance 22,725 (1,153 from West Brom)

Conditions Warm, overcast and breezy.

Website Boro Man of the Match Rhys Williams

Ariff Ahmad - Embarrassment complete.

M'boro 09/10 - "Tiger " Folan

REPUBLIC of Ireland international striker Caleb Folan has pledged to give his all for the Boro cause after joining from Hull City on a three-month loan deal.

The tall, powerful 26-year-old believes he has qualities that can add something to the skillset currently available to Gareth Southgate and he's hoping to play his part in a promotion push.

"It's a great club, a massive club and a Premier League club at that," said the Leeds-born Republic of Ireland international.