Football: Eriksson makes Downing call
Middlesbrough 1 Blackburn Rovers
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.THE RIVERSIDE STADIUM is in the middle of a regeneration zone. With every home game, the piles of tarmac and mud grow higher as the earth- movers rip out the past in preparation for the future.
On the pitch, Stewart Downing helped Middlesbrough record their first League win of 2005 with Franck Queudrue's third goal in a fortnight. Downing found the Frenchman bursting into the box to score.
Shortly after the final whistle, Sven Goran Eriksson announced that Downing would be given an England chance on Wednesday. "He'll do well because I think England are struggling on the left of midfield - Wayne Bridge is not a midfielder, he's a defender," said Queudrue. "Stewy's got two good feet - he hit the post with his right just before I scored - so he's not just a winger. He comes inside and goes outside so the defenders don't know how to take him."
His manager, Steve McClaren, the England assistant, said: "He's done consistently well over five or six months now, and we're crying out for a left-sided midfielder."
At 20, Downing is one of the older heads at injury-ravaged Middlesbrough, and surely one of the wiser ones given the reckless way Ray Parlour was dismissed in the 89th minute for kicking the ball away. Four local lads younger than Downing were also involved on Saturday, including the 19- year-old winger James Morrison.
"You can't beat wingers in the modern game," said McClaren. "Someone who can take the ball and beat players is a rarity."
Blackburn had a header from Paul Dickov and a penalty call from the same player to show for their efforts. "We need someone to come in and grab that shirt and say `it's mine' by the level of their performances," said their manager Mark Hughes. The only zone Blackburn are looking at is relegation.
Goal: Queudrue (35) 1-0.
Middlesbrough (4-4-2): Schwarzer; Parnaby, Southgate, Reiziger, Queudrue; Morrison (Bates, 89), Parlour, Zenden, Downing; Job (Doriva, 73), Christie (Graham, 69). Substitutes not used: Nash (gk), McMahon.
Blackburn Rovers (4-1-4-1): Friedel; Neill, Todd, Nelsen, Matteo; Mokoena (Johnson, 60); Emerton, Savage, Thompson (Reid, 78), Pedersen; Dickov. Substitutes not used: Enckelman (gk), Johansson, Flitcroft.
Referee: M Riley (West Yorkshire)
Booked: Middlesbrough: Parlour. Blackburn: Mokoena, Matteo.
Sent-off: Parlour (89).
Man of the match: Downing.
Attendance: 30,564.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments