Wednesday, February 27, 2008

IT'S MIDDLEBROUGH vs CITY in the FA CUP QUARTER FINAL NEXT WEEK

It took 3 and a half hours of football to separate and 2 games of low quality and thrills before Championship Sheffield United succumbed to Middlesbrough at Riverside Stadium in an F.A. Cup 5th Round replay.

It perhaps summed up the football on show that it took a scrappy, freakshow of a goal for Boro to triumph during extra-time in the 114th minute. A shot was blocked then ricocheted off a Blades defender, struck the top of a post and was bouncing out before keeper Paddy Kenny swung out an arm to catch the ball only to succeed in pushing it in for an own goal.

Middlesbrough, of course, re now home to Cardiff in the quarter-finals, the winners go to Wembley for a semi-final. For Boro, ex-City loan player Gary O'Neill still looks good, Stewart Downing will cause problems and they have some pace but Cardiff wouldn't have seen much to over worry them. Boro favourites but City, if they play to their best, are more than capable of springing an upset.

It's going to be some day in the North East on Sunday week - C'MON CITY!!