ROBBIE Fowler missed an injury-time penalty as Manchester City's UEFA Cup dream was shattered at Eastlands.
A Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thunderbolt had given Boro the lead in the first-half, but Kiki Musampa equalised just a minute after the break.
In a last ditch effort, City boss Stuart Pearce substituted Nicky Weaver on for Claudio Reyna and put David James up front. But although City were awarded a last-gasp spot-kick, Mark Schwarzer saved it and City were thwarted.
It was a devastating blow for Fowler, and for Pearce, whose side's attacking philosophy was the exact opposite of Boro's negativity.
Boro boss Steve McClaren served notice of his intentions an hour before kick-off when he named a team containing two holding midfield men in Doriva and George Boateng, with Stewart Downing relegated to the bench.
In his short managerial career to date, Pearce has done a fine job at not getting involved in major controversies with opposing sides or referees, but the negativity clearly irritated the former England skipper, who engaged in a verbal battle with McClaren as the extent of Boro's ambition surfaced.
Rob Styles delivered his first time-wasting warning after just 13 minutes, although once the midway point of the opening period was reached, next week's FA Cup final referee was kept busy handing out a succession of yellow cards that does not bode well for the fractious duel anticipated at the Millennium Stadium.
Mystifying
Both Arsenal and Manchester United will hope Styles does not adopt the same ultra-picky attitude in six days' time, although quite how Ray Parlour avoided dismissal for a clear foul on Bradley Wright-Phillips - after become the latest of six players to be booked - was totally mystifying.
It was an incident City eventually had cause to regret, although they did only have themselves to blame for being behind at the break.
With attack after attack, the hosts threatened to open up Boro's defence but though the Teessiders creaked, they did not crack.
Reyna threatened danger with two fine cut-backs, one of which Robbie Fowler should have done far better with than flick harmlessly wide.
Typically though, it was Shaun Wright-Phillips who proved the hardest to stop. Franck Queudrue was eventually booked for chopping the England man down, but that was one of the few occasions he managed to get near him.
Unfortunately for City, though Wright-Phillips' finishing has improved markedly, it remains the weakest aspect of his game.
And, after robbing Ray Parlour and brushing off the attentions of two Boro defenders, when the winger suddenly found himself bursting clean through onto Fowler's pass, he lifted a deft chip over Schwarzer but wide of the goal.
Costly
It was the nearest City came to an opener and it proved to be a costly miss as Hasselbaink launched the 30-yard effort which cannoned in off the underside of the bar.
After showing the distinct sign they were running out of ideas as the opening period drew to a close, the Blues then enjoyed a perfect start to the second.
The obdurate visitors defence could normally have been relied on to clear the danger when Barton knocked a harmless enough pass into Musampa's direction.
But the Dutchman, eager to turn his loan from Atletico Madrid into a permanent move, burst onto the ball, shrugged off Stuart Parnaby and Ugo Ehiogu, then drove a low shot under Schwarzer.
It brought the capacity crowd to a near frenzy, and also hastened the introduction of Downing, although Szilard Nemeth's slow walk to the touchline was from sheer disappointment rather than any attempt to halt City's momentum.
Parlour's lucky escape followed shortly afterwards, much to the disgust of Pearce, who was not alone in noting Styles' total lack of consistency.
Fowler and Barton both wasted decent free-kick chances as Boro ran down the clock but all the drama was still to come. And one of the most predatory strikers the Premiership has seen failed the ultimate test.
What did you make of the game? Have your say.
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We may not have got into europe this time but we now have a team that can go forward under Stu
As a UNITED supporter all I have to say is ..HHHHAAAAAAA HAAAAAAA
ho ho ho ho ho ho
Typical!! But, I've still got a smile on my face. You couldn't write it. God, being a City fan is hard but I love it. Remember, today may have been one step back, but this season has been five steps forwards.
Get rid of ex Liverpool dead wood that never perform for City! Can you think of one who did?? And whilst were're at it, we don't want any more, Mr Pearson, either playing or managing...
well done city first of all sign musampa, free transfer striker who can score goals. for god sake fowler i know its the last minute and pressure and everything but look what sp has done for us and you. well played city maybe europe next season. SIGN MUSAMPA AND A GOOD STRIKER, COMMON CITY FOR NEXT SEASON! well done pearce !
Unlucky lads. A great effort just to BE in with the chance of UEFA cup football but alas, luck was not with us.
Although, rumours are flying that if the scousers are allowed in the champions' league next season [granted, IF they beat Milan first] then would we get their UEFA cup place?
In any event, many thanks to Psycho and the rest of the lads for giving us something to shout about right until the final whistle. CTID!
I feel absolutely GUTTED, but lets not forget where we were 9 games ago when 36 hours before the Spurs game Klulas walked out and left Pearcey to pick up the pieces of the rubbish left over and the fact that we were still within a shout of european football this late into the campaign kept everyone happy and confident that the good times for City maybe just around the corner.
We didn't need this game to tell us how boring Boro are, they are negative even when they are at HOME (as Spurs boss Jol said last week), and if it is not one useless scouse misfit costing us deer then it is the other one, THANKS ROBBIE for missing the easiest kick the game knows, a penalty!!.
Surely it would have been better giving the ball to anybody in the crowd or either of Kiki, SWP, BWP or JAMES!!!! to blast us into europe, as at least they would have scored from 12 yards out, we are desperately in need of strikers for next season to partner BWP and Miller up front, but forget Fowler as a premier player anymore he is a disgrace.
For all those who are going to lambast me for daring to have a "go" at someone other than Jordan, Sib or Macken then ask yourself one question, did we buy Fowler to score goals or to play as a midfielder????....we bought him for goals and his delivery in that aspect is disgraceful, for someone of his standing in the game and of supposedly one of the best "finishers" this country had seen since Jimmy Greaves he is an embarassment to himself and more so the club...I hope he is one of a handful of experienced players to be shown the door by Pearce for next seasons assault on Europe.
Newsflash as well guys, Des Walker is being lined up to be SP's number 2, I am not sure what to expect of that, as I would have liked someone to point out the difference between a good striker and a crap one to Pearce, then we would never have to put up with Macken, Sib or Fowler playing for us again, and to think we let someone like Anelka leave for nothing in January and it was a penalty that was the difference between being in the UEFA Cup and not being.....I wonder what Nico had have done with that "gift".
Oh Dear - as i predicted - 1-0 down and then we equalise and it finishes 1-1 (i was going to put some money on it - but the odds were so poor). 8th Place is still pretty good compared to where we were... but lets listen to SP now - he has been saying we can only attract good players if we are in Europe - so its the same old bunch of average players that let KK down - for next season. It wasn't just Fowlers fault - Thatcher had a great chance saved, Sibs too - BWP invisible! SWP back to his old poor finishing (the finishing he produces for England) Fowler has let us down time and again though - he knows he missed a hell of a lot of easy chances this season. David James up front? what was that all about? he gave away foul after foul!! I know all the usual culprits will say 'stop moaning'! We were at home, it was SPs first game in charge! Last home game of the season - B#8m more, a european place and a place higher in the prem and a victory against Middlesboro for first time in 11 games, massive expectation was at stake but as usual Howler has his B#60m property empire to wory about so this is nothing for him.... Oh well lets see what the summer brings - we deff need 2-3 strikers - And to those ppl that think we are going to finish this high next season - you are having a laugh - the honeymoon period is over for SP, the managers curse begins so he better get it right in summer (transfers, players released etc). Lets hope he doesn't do a KK next season. (leaves with a year left of his contract). At least Malcolm Glazier is providing us with some amusement - although i guess most of you rags are dissapointed about it! Back to my exams now (tomorrow) (guarenteed fail now - Thanks Fowler). I don't know why i'm feling deflated - i predicted this all week....
Robbie, Robbie, Robbie.
Why oh, why, oh why?
It's moments like that, that make this club Manchester City.
Better than twelve months ago though.
So throwing away that win at home to WBA in December denied City European football, and kept up an underserving side.
funny old game.
They all gave all they could. One chance all match for Boro - 12 for City! It the way it goes. Here are my season ratings: James 7, Dunne 9, Distin 8, Thatcher 6, Mills 5, Sun 7, Onohua 7, Reyna 7, Bosvelt 6, Barton 6, Musampa 7, SWP 8, Macken 4, Fowler 6, Sibierski 5, BWP 4 (One for the future), Macca 1, Jordan 7, Croft 6. Pearce says he will try to bring in 2 new faces... to be honest we need at least five just to give the team some strenght in depth. Sinclair, De veert, Macca, bosvelt, macken out so we need at least 7-8 new faces?? Kluivert?
City's heart was beyond doubt & all Blues can be proud of the team's positive performance. So, we didn't qualify for UEFA this time - 8th place is still a great achievement for the club, considering our league position only a few short weeks ago. Next season, with SP's motivational input all season, who knows! Hold your heads up high.
buy ashton(camara?) and crouch , keep musampa, sell fowler, sincman, macken, bye to macmanaman and bosvelt. Then we will have a well balanced squad with plenty of opportunities for our young talents........ CTID!
I would have scored. 100%
To Neil Allen:
Why do you want to show Robbie the door? Ok, he missed the penalty but without him we wouldn't have been fighting for Europe! Robbie is nearly back to his best and you want to kick him out because of one penalty? You're a disgrace for all the other supporters of this team! Buy a playmaker this summer and Robbie will score twenty next season! mark my words!
its all part of being a manchester fan isnt it?why was david james upfront instead of macken?nicky weaver made a fantastic save when he came on . will their be changes in the coaching staff?what players will be signing?will city do well next season?most of these questions will be asked by man city fans the most important would be about the coaching staff and new signings so i hope we will find out soon .
Really enjoyed it today. Best atmos at City I've seen. James is tem times better than Macken up front. Boro are such a nothing club with that horrible ex-rag in charge, but look at some of the points we've thrown away with rubbish performances under Keegan and it's impossible to blame Fowler for his miss. Not a bad penalty to be fair and Schwarzer has got a decent record of saving from the spot.
USA, USA, USA, USA... etc.
Crestfallen at the missed penalty, but a great closing period to the season under Stuart nonetheless. Just imagine how many points we'd have had if Kevin Keegan was still in charge. Sick at the sight of the Boro bores celebrating at the end, yes, but remember that McClaren was just a penalty kick away from being totally and utterly humiliated following his smug, arrogant attitude before the game. We'll trounce them next season, they're non-entities. This is our highest Premiership finish ever, we have one of the longest unbeaten runs in the league at the moment, our gates are higher than at any time since I became a fan 14 years ago, we have a young, promising nucleas of players, some experienced pros, a level-headed, extremely promising new boss, play solid AND entertaining football, have won more league matches than lost in the top flight this season, and in the long term are looking very good indeed. I guarantee we'll finish above those deadbeats Boro next season, and that we'll be in the top six or seven, provided we keep Shaun Wright Phillips. Well done to all the players (even Fowler, we can't forget his season-long sterling service because of an admittedly very costly penalty miss), Stuart Pearce, Kevin Keegan for the good bits he was involved in this season, and last but not least ourselves, the fans. ROLL ON NEXT SEASON, I CAN'T WAIT. CTID
It could still pan out that City get Liverpools EUFA spot!
does anyone know if liverpool win ac milan that their would be an extra u.e..f.a cup place
European hogwash!, If we cant beat Boro at home what chance do we have in Europe.
Come on Stuart, it's time to kick some ass and maybe clear some dead wood out at Eastlands....roll on next season
GET USED TO IT FOLKS ! ! SP is not the answer , he has no answrer tactically and whilst it is not his fault that Fowler can't score a penalty his response to the ituation sums up his ideas ! DJ up front , no Macken , persisting with Fowlwer and sibby , GET USED TO SECOND BEST BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE GOT !!! !!!!!!!!!! . He's only interested in the old boys network and hasn'tt got the bottle for a shakeup!!! !!!!
Today was another bad day for football. Middlesborough are a totally anonymous team for anyone apart from their own supporters whereas City appeal to people beyond their fan base and would win neutrals over in Europe because the ordinary fan can identify with characters like Pearce. West Brom stayed up when everyone would have preferred Palace under Dowie. And however much I enjoy United suffering on the pitch I think it's a bad day for football when a deluded pensioner like Glazer gets control of a club in a way that infuriates honest supporters. And then there's the prospect of Liverpool not getting a chance to defend a title they might win. Slag me off if you want but as a fan of football as well as City I think this week has been the pits.
Good game, shame Robbie was so unlucky. Next season it'll be ours, providing Pearce keeps it going as it is. Musampa's getting better as he plays and he's definately needed next season. As for people moaning about Fowler... he's got 10 premiership goals this season - the same as Drogba, Phillips and only a couple short of Gudjohnsen and Crouch. He's impressed recently and the miss was just very unlucky.
Never mind Robbie.You've done great for us this season and will be better next.SP must be fed up seeing games decided on penalties,but thanks without you we would have ended up lower down the table.I here if Liverpool win The Champions legue and qualify for next year, City get their Uefa spot.Its been a great finish to the season ,well done the City Boys.Lets have a great one next season.CTID