Middlesbrough 2 Hull City 2
Nov 29 2010 The Journal
MIDDLESBROUGH manager Tony Mowbray remains upbeat after his side twice came from behind in a blizzard to snatch a precious point in a chilly draw with Hull.
The Teessiders remain on relegation thin ice as what was only their first point in three games left them in the Championship drop zone. But the boss insists the spirited show in a wintry whiteout hinted at brighter days to come.
Boro dominated only to twice fall behind after blunders in the first half but Leroy Lita pegged back the opener with a thundering header then Scott McDonald levelled as he nodded home 30 seconds after the restart.
And they had chances to win a game played in difficult conditions with heavy snow flurries that obscured the pitch markings, reduced visibility and made any semblance of fluid play or close control impossible.
“We did well to come from behind twice in very difficult conditions,” said manager Mowbray.
“I was delighted with that. It showed how much we wanted it. We had the best of the game I thought and it was a bit frustrating that we conceded the goals that we did.”
Mowbray admitted the game was shaped by a slippy surface that made Boro’s passing game all but impossible.
Snowfalls during the game raised fears it would be abandoned. “I can’t remember playing in snow like that,” said Mowbray.
“It is not ideal when the ball doesn’t roll, especially for some players who like the ball at their feet and especially because we like to pass it around when possible. It was very hard to do that.”
The conditions played a part in Hull’s opener as a low shot from Robert Koren took an awkward bounce off a penalty area drift and slithered through the dive of keeper Jason Steele.
The keeper slipped as he tried to scramble across to reach Hull’s second goal, a header from Anthony Gerrard, and although he got a finger-tip to it wasn’t enough to claw it away. But Mowbray refused to point the finger at the Newton Aycliffe-born shot-stopper.
“He won’t be getting any criticism from me,” said Mowbray. “He’s been brilliant for us.”
Boro had early chances and Marvin Emnes missed an opportunity as he raced clear but blazed over.
Hull took the lead on 20 minutes as a long clearance by Mannone was touched on by Harper for Koren to collect 25 yards out and his low shot nicked David Wheater before skidding goalwards, bouncing and somehow squeezing past Steele.
Boro levelled on 29 minutes as Tony McMahon miscontrolled a ball to the right flank but recovered to prevent it going out then swung in a cross to the near post for Leroy Lita to power home a close range header. Hull should have scored soon after as sluggish Emnes was robbed just outside the box and Rosenior sent a ball squirting across the face of goal for ex-Boro man Nick Barmby at the far post but he somehow spooned his shot high over from eight yards out.
Hull were back in front on 41 minutes as Hull won a free-kick and when Koren floated the ball in Gerrard’s header looped into the near top corner despite Steele’s despairing swipe.
But Boro levelled from kick-off in the second half as Lita whipped in a cross for Scott McDonald to head home.
MIDDLESBROUGH: Steele, McMahon, Bates, Wheater, Bennett, Robson, Tavares (Kink 65), Bailey, Emnes, Lita, McDonald (Boyd 85). Subs (not used): Ripley, Park, Arca, Hoyte, Smallwood.
Goals: Lita 29, McDonald 46.
HULL CITY: Mannone, Rosenior, Zayatte, Gerrard, Dawson, Stewart (Simpson 70), Koren, Ashbee (McShane 32), Harper, Barmby (Solano 80), Garcia. Subs (not used): Duke, Kilbane, Bostock, Devitt.
Goals: Koren 20, Gerrard 41.
Referee: Phil Crossley (Kent) Attendance: 15,075
