Match Report
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Match Report
The air is damp with a fine drizzle here at Riverside Stadium where Middlesbrough play host to Oxford United. A crowd of 7,999 fill this 10,000 capacity stadium.
The pitch is in poor condition.
Middlesbrough are playing in a 3-4-3 formation while Oxford United appear to be shaped for 4-3-3.
Today's match is refereed by Eoin Keane.
The pitch is in poor condition.
Middlesbrough are playing in a 3-4-3 formation while Oxford United appear to be shaped for 4-3-3.
Today's match is refereed by Eoin Keane.
0.00
0-0The whistle blows and Oxford United get the match underway!
2.37
0-0Ricardo Quaresma flicks a high pass forward to Florin Nanu who brings the ball under control. Florin Nanu knocks in a cross ball but it is too close to Michael Patterson who gathers it comfortably.
3.25
0-0Kemal Fox flicks a high pass forward. Stanley Gower collects the pass. Stanley Gower runs deep into the other half of the pitch. Stanley Gower whips in a cross ball towards Anthony Merson. Anthony Merson makes a convincing header. The ball clips the outside of the post and goes out!
8.07
0-0Malcolm Todd clumsily knocks into Gavin James. Malcolm Todd is warned by the referee! Gavin James hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
9.36
0-0Nicola Scarlato kicks a strong pass forward to Gavin James. Gavin James whips in a cross ball towards Anthony Merson. Anthony Merson beats his man to it with a header. The keeper is more than a match for it. Good keeping!
12.44
Stanley Gower controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Anthony Merson. Anthony Merson knocks in a cross ball but it is too close to Franck Michel who gathers it comfortably.
18.08
Billy Goldberg controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Alberto Smithe. Alberto Smithe sees the keeper off his line and tries a speculative shot on goal but it flies just off target!
21.23
1-0Billy Goldberg flicks a high ball forward to Jurek Joswiak who takes it down. Jurek Joswiak lofts in a cross ball towards Florin Nanu. Florin Nanu gets a glancing touch on the cross ball. It's in!! A beautiful goal for Florin Nanu!
26.10
Billy Goldberg knocks the ball to his team mate, Jurek Joswiak. Jurek Joswiak tries a spectacular long range effort. It smacks hard against the advertising boards behind the goal. Just wide!
44.38
Jon Rufus sees Sylvain Middleton in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Sylvain Middleton controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Gavin James. Gavin James knocks in a poor cross ball which is cleared easily by Malcolm Todd.
45.00
Damien Duberry flicks a high pass forward. Ricardo Quaresma collects the pass. Ricardo Quaresma makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Florin Nanu. Florin Nanu plays a one-two with Alberto Smithe and advances towards the goal... Florin Nanu takes a shot at goal but it misses the target by a large margin!
45.00
The whistle blows and the first half comes to an end!
Both teams emerge for the second half. Middlesbrough appear unchanged since the first half. Oxford United also appear unchanged since the first half. The Oxford United players look more motivated than they were before.
45.00
Middlesbrough start the second half!
47.03
Stanley Gower flicks a high pass forward. Quim Quaresma collects the pass. Quim Quaresma shoots from 25 yards but it's well over the bar!
48.47
Jon Rufus knocks the ball forward to Nicola Scarlato. Nicola Scarlato knocks the ball forward to Anthony Merson. Anthony Merson lofts in a cross ball towards Gavin James. Gavin James whips the ball goalwards with his head. Franck Michel manages to gather it.
53.16
Seeing a gap ahead, Damien Cottee plays the ball forward to Florin Nanu. Florin Nanu shoots from long range but it flies just off target!
55.02
Richard Simonsen flicks a high pass forward. Stanley Gower collects the pass. Stanley Gower flicks a high pass forward. Quim Quaresma collects the pass. Quim Quaresma controls the ball perfectly and tries a long range shot on goal. The ball clips the inside of the post and flies into the back of the net!! Goal for Oxford United!
59.30
Sylvain Middleton controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Gavin James. Gavin James whips in a cross ball towards Anthony Merson. Anthony Merson powers a header at goal but it slams into the crowd!
60.35
Stanley Gower threads a neat ball through to Gavin James. Gavin James shoots from long range but Franck Michel reads it well. Fabulous stop!
63.02
Billy Goldberg knocks the ball to his team mate, Jurek Joswiak. Jurek Joswiak knocks in a poor cross ball which is cleared easily by Kemal Fox.
65.50
Kemal Fox catches Alberto Smithe on the ankles. The referee calls over Kemal Fox and warns him to calm down! Alberto Smithe stretches but gets up unharmed.
67.07
Stanley Gower deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Quim Quaresma. Quim Quaresma shoots from 25 yards. The ball comes in low, but Franck Michel comfortably smothers it!
71.02
Kemal Fox barges into Jurek Joswiak. Kemal Fox is given another warning by the referee! Jurek Joswiak hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
72.57
Nicola Scarlato changes direction and makes an attacking run forward. Nicola Scarlato lofts in a cross ball towards Gavin James. Gavin James makes a deft header but is denied by Franck Michel. Excellent save.
75.36
1-1Stanley Gower takes a short throw-in bringing Nicola Scarlato into play. Nicola Scarlato knocks the ball to his team mate, Gavin James. Gavin James lofts in a cross ball towards Quim Quaresma. Quim Quaresma makes a deft header. The ball is well placed but Malcolm Todd blocks the shot and clears the ball up field!
77.57
1-1Oxford United have made 3 substitutions with Tonino Gattuso replacing Richard Simonsen, Paolo Stroppa replacing Gavin James and Steven Sturridge replacing Sylvain Middleton .
78.61
Robert Montague knocks the ball forward to Alberto Smithe. Alberto Smithe knocks in a cross ball but it is too close to Michael Patterson who gathers it comfortably.
83.07
Malcolm Todd hacks Quim Quaresma from behind! The referee calls over Malcolm Todd again and warns him to calm down! Quim Quaresma runs off the knock.
84.12
Kemal Fox threads a neat ball through to Steven Sturridge. Steven Sturridge hits a low pass to Quim Quaresma. Quim Quaresma cuts inside the box! Some silky footwork from Quim Quaresma provides him some room. He curls a shot at goal but it misses the target by a large margin!
85.37
Damien Cottee darts forward. Damien Cottee knocks in a cross ball towards Alberto Smithe. Alberto Smithe gets a glancing touch on the cross ball but Tonino Gattuso is between the ball and the goal. Well blocked!
90.00
Full-time is reached with the referee blowing his whistle!
Match Statistics
Goals
1
1
Shots on Target
2
7
Shots off Target
4
4
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
2
2
Yellow Cards
0
0
Red Cards
0
0
Possession
41.3%
58.7%
Play Area
25.3%
44%
30.7%
Scorers
| Florin Nanu 21 | Quim Quaresma 55 |
Man of the Match
| The man of the match was awarded to Stanley Gower of Oxford United |
Match Ratings
| 1. | Franck Michel (GK) | 8 | |
| 2. | Damien Duberry (DEF) | 6 | |
| 3. | Malcolm Todd (DEF) | 6 | |
| 4. | Gavin Liddell (DEF) | 6 | |
| 5. | Damien Cottee (MID) | 7 | |
| 6. | Ricardo Quaresma (MID) | 6 | |
| 7. | Billy Goldberg (MID) | 7 | |
| 8. | Robert Montague (MID) | 6 | |
| 9. | Alberto Smithe (ATT) | 6 | |
| 10. | Florin Nanu (ATT) |  | 8 |
| 11. | Jurek Joswiak (ATT) | 7 | |
| 12. | Nicola Carlo Stellone (ATT) | 0 | |
| 13. | Sol Rodgers (GK) | 0 | |
| 14. | Morris Draper (DEF) | 0 | |
| 1. | Michael Patterson (GK) | 6 | |
| 2. | Richard Simonsen (DEF) | 6 | |
| 3. | Jon Rufus (DEF) | 6 | |
| 4. | Kemal Fox (DEF) | 6 | |
| 5. | Ugo Rufus (DEF) | 6 | |
| 6. | Nicola Scarlato (MID) | 7 | |
| 7. | Stanley Gower (MID) | 9 | |
| 8. | Sylvain Middleton (MID) | 6 | |
| 9. | Gavin James (ATT) | 7 | |
| 10. | Quim Quaresma (ATT) | | 9 |
| 11. | Anthony Merson (ATT) | 6 | |
| 12. | Tonino Gattuso (GK) | 6 | |
| 13. | Paolo Stroppa (MID) | 6 | |
| 14. | Steven Sturridge (MID) | 6 | |