Date:
Venue:
Competition: English Premier League.
Score:
Scorers:
Attendance: 34,723.
Teams:
Referee: Mr R. Styles (Waterlooville, Hampshire).
The fates
again conspired against Leeds United to deny Terry Venables'
side a precious victory at
Even Gareth Southgate pleaded Smith's innocence after what was a clear case of
two players attempting to get a foot to a loose ball, but referee Rob Styles
was quick to the draw with his card waving. Sadly, the statistics will show
that Alan Smith collected the eighth red card of his career at the Riverside
and those that should know better were once again analysing
his temperament. His first booking was also covered in confusion when, only
seconds after kicking the ball away at a throw in, he sent Joseph-Desire Job
crashing to the ground in an attempted tackle. But the referee claimed he was
booked for the earlier incident. But he was faultless for the second yellow and
the youngster's reputation was clearly going before him. Certain referees were
clearly relishing the prospect of adding to his list of shame.
Alan Smith
wasn't on his own in seeing red either with Boro's
Franck Queudrue also collecting two bookings, the
second for a sprawling challenge on Lee Bowyer in the final minute. Styles'
poor handling of what was a robust clash finally culminated in a mass brawl on
the final whistle after Boro's George Boateng was accused of spitting at Jonathan Woodgate and Nick Barmby. The
usually restrained Lucas Radebe was so incensed about
the incident that he had to be pulled away from Boateng
and the melee continued down the tunnel and outside the dressing rooms.
It was sad
that such an entertaining clash would be remembered for the unsavoury
scenes because there was some tremendous football on show in what was a really
pulsating encounter. Much of the enterprising football was played by the hosts
and some of the cross-field balls from Franck Queudrue,
Gareth Southgate and Geremi were a joy to watch.
Steve McClaren was developing a cultured side at Boro and they would surely be a threat to most sides that
year with their quick-fire passing and switching of play. But Leeds, who were
battered in the opening period, deserve plenty of credit for sticking to their
task and after taking the lead for a second time they would have held on had it
not been for the red card.
The draw
was no less than Boro deserved, though, because they
had shown more enterprise throughout and had dominated in terms of possession.
Terry Venables opted to change things around again
with a three-man midfield with Alan Smith and Harry Kewell
dropping back when Boro were on the attack. Mark Viduka earned a recall while Venables
also opted to experiment with Teddy Lucic in place of
the unfortunate Ian Harte, who wasn't even on the
bench. It was somewhat ironic then that Teddy Lucic
was forced into learning, like his predecessor, that
defending on the United left can be an exposed occupation and he had a
tremendous game. Alongside Teddy Lucic, Lucas Radebe and Jonathan Woodgate,
with an England-class performance, were also top class while the United midfield worked hard on defensive duties during a
backs-against-the-wall display in the first half.
United
never got to grips with the rampaging Boro side in
the opening forty-five minutes and Mark Viduka's
fourth goal of the season, after just eleven minutes, was the only time they
escaped the onslaught. Boro had started like a house
on fire, but when Mark Viduka was scythed down by Ugo Ehiogu on United's
first break, the big Aussie duly converting the spot-kick. The goal was against
the run of play and it was no surprise when Boro equalised, courtesy of Joseph-Desire Job in the
twenty-fifth minute, after a sweeping move involving the outstanding Geremi. Boro continued to take
charge of proceedings and should have really gone in at half-time with another
goal after Joseph-Desire Job, George Boateng and
Massimo Maccerone all fluffed good opportunities.
But Terry Venables fine-tuned his
But
Match Action:
Mark Viduka slots in the penalty Lee Bowyer celebrates his goal
pursued by Harry Kewell Alan Smith congratulates
Lee
Bowyer
Alan Smith enforces Lee Bowyer’s salute to the
fans Lee Bowyer in an
aerial tussle with Jonathan Greening
Joseph-Desire Job gets Boro’s
first equalizer
Gareth Southgate slides in the second equaliser Head
bandaged Harry Kewell accelerates past George Boateng
Nick Barmby had a great tussle with Geremi,
seen here making a couple of timely tackles
Gareth
while Alan Smith looks towards the referee and gets his second yellow card
and a sending off
Alan Smith looks surprised at his sending off and holds his head in disbelief Harry Kewell goes
past George Boateng but is brought down Massimo Maccarone tries to get between Jonathan Woodgate
and Danny Mills Game flashpoint as Danny Mills starts a melee George Boateng is
restrained by Lucas Radebe after spitting at Nick Barmby Players: Mark Viduka (Penalty)
and Lee Bowyer scored for United Joseph-Desire Job
and Gareth Harry Kewell’s shot resulted
in the first goal Teddy Lucic, Lucas Radebe and Jonathan Woodgate were a strong backline Ian Harte was not
even on the bench Alan
Smith sent off Nick Barmby was spat at
Mark
Schwarzer was in goal
Stuart Parnaby and
Franck Queudrue were the Boro
full-backs Future United loanee, Ugo Ehiogu,
and Gareth
central defenders Geremi,
George Boateng, Joseph-Desire Job and Jonathan
Greening were in the Alen
Boksic and Massimo Maccorone
were the starting Boro strikers Szilard
Nemeth came on as a substitute Middlesbrough’s
unused substitutes were Mark Crossley, Colin Cooper,
Carlos Marinelli and ex-Leeds star Noel Whelan Juninho
was not available
