BORO BITE THE DUST

 

(Image taken from Manutd.com)

We'd already beaten Middlesborough 1-0 in a scrabbly encounter at Old Trafford in the Premiership. The messy nature of that win in itself, wasn't a good omen when it came to getting three points out of the Riverside later on in the season. Since then though, we had risen to the top of the league and despite some stumbles, were closing in on the title. Boro meanwhile, were stuck in the relegation zone. So a win shouldn't be so hard to come by after all. Well for United it was back to 4-4-2. Foster in goal, Vidic and Evans at centre back. Park right mid, Giggsy(captain) and Scholesey in centre mid, Rooney of all people at left mid. Berbatov and Macheda up front.

The early stages of the game was certainly even, with Boro working to shut our attack down on multiple occasions, the best example of that was Matthew Bates's tackle which even the United players were applauding. Boro were also giving us problems at the other end. However in the 25th minute Vidic set up Giggsy who volleyed in our opener. That took the wind out of Boro's sails and we really should have gone two up before half time. The fact that we didn't, well fine. We were leading with a lot of our big names rested given that we're in the middle of a Champions League tie. So nothing to complain about and if we could just cruise through the second half we'd be sorted.

Well we certainly weren't cruising at the start of the second half. Boro's goal could only take so much battering and as a string of 51st minute passes ripped their defence apart, Park was left with an empty goal to shoot into. Now the home side were going glug-glug and Fergie was able to bring on some fresh faces. Boro had probably their only series chance of the match late on but the ball went well over the bar. At the other end, a third United goal looked a possiblity but Boro were able to keep us out...just! Not one of the highlights of the season but the sort of game you need to win to secure a Premiership title all the same. Chalk up another one.

Elsewhere, Liverpool faced Newcastle at Anfield. Liverpool opened the scoring through Yossi Bennayoun and Dirk Kuyt. The Geordies were lucky that it wasn't more before half time, their defence proving to be full of holes. Liverpool just cruised their way through the second half and Geordie indiscipline led to their finishing the match with ten men, much to caretaker boss Alan Shearer's displeasure. Lucas grabbed a third Liverpool goal to seal the game. That leaves United still top of the Premiership, three points ahead of the Scousers with a game in hand. Four games to go for United, three for the Scousers. Surely we can't throw it away now.

North of the border, Aberdeen faced Celtic at Pittodrie in the SPL. Maguire opened the scoring for the Dons but any hopes of another amazing victory over the SPL leaders were put on hold when Gary Caldwell equalised just before half time. The Celts then dominated the second half, the Dons having only one real chance in the latter stages. In the meantime Scott McDonald grabbed two goals to leave the Reds empty handed on the occasion. Well I suppose the Bhoys would have been hungry for a victory given that the Dons mugged them the last time they came to Pittodrie but still, this wasn't exactly the best way to open the final part of the season.

Elsewhere, Dundee United faced Hibs at Easter Road. Warren Feeney opened the scoring for the Tangerines but Hibs then levelled through Steven Fletcher before half time. So far, the away side had a slight edge in terms of chances but it wasn't much. That changed in the second half with Hibs completely at the mercy of the visitors. And yet they were seemingly unable to hit the net. That was untill David Goodwillie hit the winner late on. That leaves Aberdeen 5th in the SPL and now four points behind Dundee United and a Europa League place with only four games left to go. The Dons really need to put on a charge now and the opposition won't make it easy.

Back south of the border and down a level, the Championship season was being wrapped up. The first team to secure promotion to the Premiership was Wolves, who finished ten points clear of the playoffs and seven points clear of any competition. It'll be the team's first season in the Premiership since 03/04 with Mick McCarthy now in charge. Following them up are another Midlands side, Birmingham. Alex McLeish is still the gaffer there but the Blues had to wait for glory as the promotion race went down to the wire. The former Aberdeen captain will be glad for another shot at Premiership managment though after just one season out of the top flight.

The other promotion spot is up for grabs in the playoffs. The semi finals start upnext weekend. Sheffield United face Preston with the first leg at Deepdale. Given that the Blades barely missed out on automatic promotion, they're the safe bet of going through here. Reading face Burnley with the first leg at Turf Moor. The Royals still had a slim chance of automatic promotion going into the final day so chances are, they'll make it through to the final as well. So that would set up a Sheffield United vs Reading final at Wembley. Well the Blades have certainly had the better regular season form overall so they're the safe bet to be welcomed back into the Premiership this time around.

Going down another couple of levels and let's see how how my old local team of Brentford got on in L2! Well even in the early stages of the season, Sam was telling me that they were playing better than Arsenal at that point in the campaign. The season goes on and it becomes increasingly obvious that they were on their way back up to the third tier. Sure enough, their last defeat of the season was back in March. They won their last five games. And now, under the management of former player Andy Scott, they have not only secured their first L1 season since 06/07, but they've done so by scooping the L2 title, six points ahead of all competition.

As for my current local team Exeter City, well what can I say about them? They'd joined the Bees in L2 after winning the Blue Square Premier playoffs last season. Early stages of the season? Lower mid table. A just-promoted team couldn't complain about that. Then I keep checking the L2 table, City are gradulally moving upwards. By the second half of the season they were solidly in the playoff mixer. By February/March my grandfather said that a contact of his on the Grecians board said that the club was looking for automatic promotion. "No way in hell" was my response. Double promotions are seriously rare in this reality and yet by the time an Easter Bees vs Grecians game came around, that was what was very much on the cards. Last day of the season, all bets were still off but now City fans are saying "Paul Tisdale has done it again". I don't know how but City have secured their first season in the third tier of English football since 93/94 when it was called the Second Division. 2nd in the table, only one point clear of the playoff spots. Fantasy stuff!

(Image taken from This is Exeter)

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