Habib Beye Watch - Middlesborough

We recently sang a song about whether Habib would score a goal again but we had no idea it would have an immediate impact! A magnificent St James' Park crowd were almost brought to their knees as a cruel ricochet between Harper and Habib saw the ball trickle into the net for an own goal. Beye looked devastated but then in stoic style simply strode towards the halfway line, ready for the kick off.

The remainder of Beye's performance was as passionate as the fans. He worked Middlesbrough in defence and attack and we regularly looked up to see Habib already passed halfway as Harper doled out the ball.

Habib's actions were mirrored by his team mates as we attacked more in this game than the last 12 in total. Jonas got his customary kicking as he attacked and probed. There may have been little end product from the Argentinian but people forget how long he carries the ball for, both taking time and pulling the opposition out of position.

It seemed like a lifetime later when S.Taylor headed in magnificently from the first of many great Guthrie corners. The fact that it was about 4 minutes only served to highlight the involvement of the fans. Time flies when you're having fun, this must have been something else then.

The game flowed from end to end and as the ref warmed to us we began to dominate. Boro looked lively and had a number of attacks but we looked just as dangerous. Guthrie settled well into midfield and there was some genuine interplay between them and the front line. Mark Viduka was magnificent as almost everything stuck to him. His only failing was that of not scoring and he went closer than most with a great turn and shot in the box which grazed the post.

Chances came and went as the game entered a predictably stale phase. Recognising that a change was needed and that Jonas was spent, Big Al put McLovenkrands on which gave us back a shape we'd started to lose. Only another lifetime later and the masterstroke was complete. Martins came on for a game but toothless Owen and within 40 seconds had slipped a loose ball into the back of the net. The pressure cooker lid came off and the black and white sauce spilled all over the place!

Boro looked shot from this point but history has told us not to count our chickens. It was never safe at 2 -1 but the pattern of the game continued with both sides attacking where possible. Damian Duff had a good game at full back and continued to steer the ball clear despite often being out numbered. Further attacks came and went until Nolan broke passed the front line and slotted a great ball in between full back and centre half for McLovenkrands to drill home...brilliantly.

The night was complete. A sea of black and white jumped for joy as 2600 red faces looked on.

Our best performance in months was not a moment too soon. It may have only papered over the cracks, Viduka's fitness is a worry, there's form issues all over the pitch and our defence is still frail but we overcame all that and maybe even got the rub of the green after Beye's misfortune.

It's not job done but it's certainly a platform. It's in our hands now, it wasn't a few days ago. Fact is, if we win two games we stay up. If we win one more we've got a chance, if we fail to win we're in trouble. Fulham will be tough but it's up to us... United.

Habib Beye Watch update

SkySports = 6
SkySports Player rater = 6.5
The Mirror = 6
The Sun = 6