Middlesbrough 2, Newcastle United 2

Aug 27 2007 by Paul Gilder, The Journal

AS the drama unfolded, his presence almost went unnoticed, but as he leapt into the air with his fists clenched and his excitement obvious, he could remain anonymous no longer.

Mike Ashley’s commitment to Newcastle United was again called into question over the weekend.

To see the club’s overjoyed owner jumping around in a delirious state at the Riverside Stadium quashed such talk.

Wearing a black-and-white shirt bearing Alan Smith’s name and number, a billionaire renowned as a recluse celebrated with as much gusto as anyone as Charles N’Zogbia and Mark Viduka scored against Middlesbrough.

That this was the first fixture he had watched in person since wresting power from Freddie Shepherd demonstrates that Ashley’s judgement is good. He could not have picked a better game with which to start.

The ultimate emotion might have been disappointment as the home team twice came from behind to share the points, but the game itself could not have been more gripping. Should Sam Allardyce’s side continue to contest such fascinating fixtures, his attendance will become a regular feature.

Steve Gibson had given his opposite number permission to wear club colours in the directors’ box and, although Ashley’s antics will have been difficult to stomach at times, the Boro chairman had the last laugh.

Twice the Teessiders equalised to deprive their opponents both maximum points and local bragging rights.

Mido’s leveller was his first on home soil, Julio Arca’s was dramatic and decisive and ensured spoils were shared. The Argentinian’s effort provided a suitable end to a memorable match in which a draw was fair. Viduka’s breathtaking strike against his former club appeared to have sealed it, but Boro did not deserve to lose.

Viduka’s first return to the Riverside ensured a fixture that has failed to captivate in recent times generated an atmosphere to befit such an occasion and the game followed suit. Booed and barracked by the home fans each time he touched the ball, the Australian had a cold determination in his eyes as he went head-to-head with Jonathan Woodgate, a one-time team-mate whose unexpected return was a gamble Gareth Southgate felt he had to take. For 77 minutes it worked. Then Viduka struck.

While the Boro boss felt the need to change his defence before the match, his opposite number had no choice during it. Allardyce lost Stephen Carr inside six minutes and Peter Ramage – the Irishman’s replacement – soon followed. Given all that occurred it was understandable that the Magpies boss felt as though his team had lost.

Newcastle promised much, taking a deserved lead in the 22nd minute. The goal was an exquisite one, the surprise not that it was N’Zogbia who supplied it, but that the Frenchman used his right foot to do so. As he cut inside on the left foot he favours, N’Zogbia appeared to have lingered too long and travelled too far. Perhaps that was what George Boateng was thinking as the home captain allowed his opponent the time and space to shoot. It proved an unwise decision, a bending ball flashing past Schwarzer’s grasp to leave Boateng open-mouthed and Newcastle ahead.

It had been an excellent opening for the visitors yet, within six minutes, the scores were level, the contest back on. It was little surprise that Fabio Rochemback was the architect. The Brazilian was Middlesbrough’s best player, although the space he was allowed alarmed.

Rochemback’s exceptional pass was perfect for Mido, who refused to let Steven Taylor’s growing reputation deter him in his efforts. Having resisted the defender’s attempts to dispossess him an attacker who had scored on his Boro debut six days earlier repeated the feat. He skipped around the exposed Steve Harper before slotting into an unguarded net. Having been subjected to some disgusting chants from the visiting supporters, the Egyptian took great satisfaction from his strike.

In four eventful minutes, a resurgent home team could have gone from 1-0 down to 3-1 up. But for Harper’s brilliance – the Magpies goalkeeper denying Rochemback and Arca with fine one-handed saves – Newcastle would have trailed at the interval. Having taken time to find their stride, Boro were rampant, their football flowing, their threat increased beyond measure.

The match had developed into a stirring affair and the second half started as the first had ended, although Ramage’s involvement was shortlived as the unfortunate defender went off on a stretcher, his face twisted in pain and his knee in a brace.

His final contribution had been to help Harper block a close-range Rochemback effort as Boro pressed for the lead. Yet Newcastle were not alone in their misfortune, Aliadiere was also carried off – Taylor’s outstretched arm having floored the Frenchman during an aerial encounter. It was an incident that prompted Tunçay’s introduction. With Michael Owen having replaced Martins in the Magpies attack, two teams with fresh impetus went for broke.

It had always felt inevitable that a striker keen to silence his critics would make his mark against his former club and so it proved.

With 13 minutes remaining, N’Zogbia put his right foot to good use once more to pick Viduka out. Under intense pressure from Woodgate, there seemed little danger. Yet, having used his thigh to control and his strength to escape, a player who had made space in an expert fashion drilled the ball past Schwarzer.

The script predictable, the clock ticking down, it seemed it would be decisive. Yet Boro had other ideas and a dramatic denouement ensued. Within three minutes, Boro were back on terms.

The goal stemmed from Newcastle’s failure to clear their lines – perhaps understandable given the defensive disruptions to befall the visitors. With 10 minutes remaining, David Rozehnal’s header fell to Arca on the 18-yard line. The South American drilled the ball past Harper to level the scores, this time for good, and provide a fitting end to what had been a thrilling encounter.