Boro revival continues at Everton (From The Northern Echo)

Boro revival continues at Everton

10:51am Monday 17th November 2008 in

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Everton 1 Middlesbrough 1

AFTER failing to score for the whole of last season, Gary O’Neil grabbed his second goal in three games as Boro took a deserved point at Goodison Park.

It extends their unbeaten run to six games and it means last month’s 5-0 home defeat to Chelsea seems like a world away.

And it could have been consecutive away victories but for ‘Yak’s back’.

Former Riverside favourite Yakubu netted a second-half equaliser when Mikel Arteta’s free-kick flew in off the big striker’s shoulder.

But Gareth Southgate was delighted to continue the form that consolidated his side’s place in the Premier League top ten.

“That’s eight out of 12 games unbeaten, in fact we’ve had five in row without losing which is the best form of anyone in the League. We’re showing a lot of resilience on our travels which is very pleasing,” he said.

“It was a tough physical game and you’ve got to stand up and be counted which we did time and time again.

“There were times when we maybe played too much football and could have been punished.

“Everton showed that they have quality all over the pitch and we were guilty of not keeping it simple. But I’m’ satisfied with a point.’’ With Jeremie Aliadiere withdrawing through illness, the Boro manager reshuffled his side; handing Julio Arca his first start of the campaign to partner Didier Digard in the centre of midfield.

O’Neil switched to the right flank with Stewart Downing in his usual left-wing berth.

And the pair linked up to deadly effect on eight minutes with Downing, unselfishly playing in the former Portsmouth schemer to crash home past Tim Howard.

Despite Everton creating a flurry of half chances to pull level, Boro’s defensive unit remained impressively solid.

With his squad for this week’s Germany fixture seeing Fabio Capello prefering players with no Premier League experience to the likes of David Wheater and Ross Turnbull, the young Boro keeper again showed why he’s so highly-regarded on Teesside.

Louis Saha’s flick-on header eluded Emanuel Pogatetz and fell to Yakubu who seemed certain to score but Turnbull smothered his shot from 12 yards.

And throughout the first half, the Bishop Auckland-born goalkeeper confidently commanded his area to thwart the Toffees’ best efforts.

If he maintains this type of form it can only be a matter of time before Capello calls.

But the home side nearly levelled when Lescott’s floated cross struck Turnbull’s lefthand upright with the keeper beaten. The rebound fell to Fellaini who crashed his shot against Pogatetz; the big skipper happy to see the ball spin away to safety.

As Everton struggled to create a clear opening, Boro continued to look dangerous on the break.

Everton enjoyed some good spells of possession but much of their best work was restricted to neat passing on the left flank that Boro were happy to contain.

Tuncay showed his usual artistry, but Alves turned in another flat performance. His failure to make anything of Tuncay’s 30 yard pass one of several chances wasted by the Brazilian striker.

Just before the break, Everton had two great chances to level.

First, Leon Osman crashed in a goal-bound shot that Chris Riggott headed for a corner.

And from Arteta’s dead ball, Cahill should have equalised but he headed wide of the near post.

In the second half the visitors continued to use their pace to catch Everton on the break; Downing, Tuncay and Arca all poured forward in one sweeping move but the Argentine blazed his shot over from the edge of the area.

Wheater replaced the injured Riggott who will be hoping his knee strain doesn’t result in another long absence.

Everton looked increasingly dangerous and a superb rightwing cross from Gary Neville was met by a flying Saha header that flew just wide.

David Moyes’ side finally grabbed a deserved leveller when Yakubu – taunted all afternoon by the travelling supporters, connected with Arteta’s in-swinging free-kick. The former Boro striker seemed to hit the ball with his back but was nevertheless delighted to have ended his nine-game goal drought.

Both sides could have grabbed a late winner. Digard’s low shot beat Howard but struck the post with the Everton keeper grateful to gather up the rebound. And Yakubu had a chance to double his tally but pulled his shot wide from just inside the area.