Football: Ince exacts sweet revenge
Middlesbrough 1 Liverpool
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.ALEX FERGUSON called him a "good time Charlie"; perhaps now he should be rechristened "pay-back time Incey". Although the Riverside was not quite the unassailable manor that the guv'nor might have wished it to be, Paul Ince exacted the same gleeful revenge on Liverpool, who spurned him in the summer, as he did with last season's late equaliser against Manchester United, who tossed him aside in 1995.
Middlesbrough, after a disappointing opener which saw them beaten at home by Bradford, have now won their last three games and Ince has played in all three. In the previous two he suffered cramp with 10 minutes remaining, but on Saturday he made his presence felt throughout.
"Incey was outstanding," said his manager Bryan Robson. "He was nice and controlled throughout." Although his tongue still appears barbed - witness the berating Phil Stamp received after six minutes when he let the ball dribble out - and his tackles still have bite - witness the first- half clattering Redknapp received in retribution for his part in Paul Gascoigne's departure after 20 minutes of ineffective play - Ince was cast as peacemaker during an unseemly scrap on the half hour, in which one head-stamp was seen, one punch was thrown, and two names were taken.
Michael Owen on a white charger is coming over the horizon, but won't reach the camp in time for tonight's encounter at Leeds and, although Titi Camara regularly had the Riverside crowd biting their nails at his power and skill, Robbie Fowler was the prime culprit for the lack of finishing bemoaned by the Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier. He squandered a good chance in the sixth minute, when he wrong-sided Pallister, and pulled wide a dream strike from the edge of the area in the 88th minute, when he should have done better.
Ince would also have added some certainty to a defence where Sami Hyypia's hashed clearances gave Middlesbrough unwanted hope at the dog-end of the first half. It was his inconclusive challenge on Hamilton Ricard, plus the confusing tactic of both Christian Ziege and Keith O'Neill working the left flank, that resulted in Brian Deane scoring the game's only goal from a Ziege cross.
Goal: Deane (49) 1-0.
Middlesbrough (5-3-2): Schwarzer; Stamp (Mustoe, 84), Festa, Pallister, Vickers, Ziege; Gascoigne (O'Neill, 19), Ince, Townsend; Deane, Ricard (Campbell, 88). Substitutes not used: Roberts (gk), Maddison.
Liverpool (5-3-2): Westerveld; Heggem, Matteo, Hyypia, Carragher, Staunton (Meijer, 81); Berger (Thompson, 65), Redknapp, Gerrard; Camara, Fowler. Substitutes not used: Friedel (gk), Song, Traore.
Referee: S Dunn (Bristol).
Bookings: Middlesbrough: Stamp, Townsend, O'Neill. Liverpool: Fowler, Camara, Gerrard.
Man of the match: Ziege.
Attendance: 34,783.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments