Middlesbrough 3-3 Tottenham
A serious-looking injury to James Morrison threatened to mar a richly entertaining draw between Middlesbrough and Tottenham at the Riverside Stadium.
The young winger required lengthy treatment on the pitch by medics after being knocked unconscious by an accidental 85th-minute kick in the head by Robbie Keane in the visitors' box.
However, by the time Morrison had been carried off on a stretcher and reached the dressing room he had regained consciousness.
Spurs had come back from the brink of defeat to snatch a point thanks to an 83rd-minute header from Egyptian striker Mido.
Boro, who had led at half-time courtesy of a double from Nigerian striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu, looked set for victory when Franck Queudrue crashed a 69th-minute header home off the underside of Paul Robinson's crossbar.
But it was Spurs left rueing the best chance of victory with Jermain Defoe springing the Boro offside trap in the 88th minute only to shoot straight at advancing keeper Mark Schwarzer.
The early stages indicated little of the drama which was to follow with what passed for decent action spoiled by the constant interruptions of referee Howard Webb.
Three men had been booked in a first 20 minutes devoid of chances before Boro entered into the festive spirit and gifted the visitors their opener.
A deep 25th-minute cross from the left by Young-Pyo Lee was fumbled by keeper Schwarzer under pressure from Mido.
Keane pounced to poke the loose ball just inside Schwarzer's right-hand post and give his side the lead with their first shot of the match.
But Boro were level four minutes later after a brilliant finish by Yakubu eight yards from goal in the Spurs box.
The Nigerian pounced after Southgate flicked on a Queudrue cross to crash a first-time volley past Robinson into the bottom corner of the net.
Viduka tried his luck five minutes later with a fierce long-range effort from the right flank which Robinson did well to hold.
Boro grabbed the lead two minutes from the break when Morrison cut in from the right and launched a scorching effort which deflected off Yakubu and flew into the net.
After a quiet start to the second period it was no surprise to see Spurs striker Defoe starting to warm up on the sidelines.
But before the England striker could make an impact Yakubu came agonising close to sealing his hat-trick with a 56th-minute header.
The Nigerian got on the end of Morrison's deep right-wing cross only to see his powerful effort brilliantly tipped over by Robinson.
Ehiogu came close from Queudrue's resulting corner but could not connect properly when the ball fell to him in the box.
Moments after Defoe's introduction in place of Reid Spurs found themselves with a clear chance to equalise at the other end.
Keane's right-wing cross was palmed by Schwarzer into the path of Mido but the Egyptian striker swivelled and fired his effort way over.
Spurs were level in the 63rd minute after Jermaine Jenas took advantage of his side's second free-kick in succession on the edge of the Boro box.
The midfielder curled a delicious right-foot shot around the wall and past Schwarzer into the bottom corner of the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
Morrison forced a save from Robinson straight after the re-start as the game increased its intensity and had referee Webb working overtime.
Boro regained their lead in the 69th minute when Queudrue connected with Fabio Rochemback's corner and his header hit the crossbar and bounced down just over the line.
Spurs equalised once again in the 83rd minute from a Mido header before Morrison required the attention of medics during a worrying period late in the game.
Defoe then charged clear after the restart only to shoot straight at Schwarzer as a tumultuous affair rightly ended with honours even.
Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren revealed the injury sustained by winger James Morrison during the 3-3 draw with Tottenham is not as bad as was first feared.
Morrison required lengthy attention on the pitch from medics after being knocked unconscious in an accidental collision with Robbie Keane in the Spurs penalty area.
But McClaren said Morrison regained consciousness in the dressing room prior to the final whistle and is not expected to require hospital treatment.
McClaren said: 'When we first went into the dressing room he had a smile on his face and a black eye, and it is not as bad as we thought.
'It looked very serious on the field and well done to the medics and physios for getting on and dealing with it quickly.
'It is concussion so we will have to assess it over the next 24 hours and see how bad it was.'
McClaren admitted his frustration after once again seeing his side's fine attacking display eroded by individual mistakes which cost them dear at the back.
McClaren added: 'We keep shooting ourselves in the foot because individuals not doing their jobs has cost us.
'We are not far away and if we can eradicate them and start keeping clean sheets then we will win matches because we are scoring goals.
'It is very frustrating and I am very angry with the outcome that possibly our performances are not deserving.'
Tottenham boss Martin Jol is likely to be without striker Jermain Defoe for the festive programme after the striker limped off with an injured ankle.
Defoe appeared as a second-half substitute and almost made the difference after racing clear to fire a late effort at Mark Schwarzer.
But moments later he hobbled off the pitch and now faces an anxious wait to find out the extent of his injury.
Jol admitted: 'Jermain will probably be out for two weeks.'
The Spurs manager also faces the loss in the new year of Mido to the African Nations Cup so it comes as little surprise he is urging his midfielders to continue improving their scoring records.
Jol said: 'Jermaine Jenas scored like he scored against Manchester United and that is what we need - more goals from midfield other than scoring from the strikers.
'If we are a bit cleverer we can win these sorts of games. Last year we could not do it and I think we have improved in certain areas and it showed.'
Jol was particularly pleased with his side's fighting qualities in twice hitting back from a goal behind to grab a point.
He added: 'This is the sixth time this season we have had to come back from behind and today we did that twice, and Jermain Defoe could have nicked it late on.
'I think we have got a great team spirit, physical strength and character but still it is disappointing to concede three goals.
'On the other hand if you score three then hopefully next time it will be four or five.
'We have a winning mentality now and we are getting better and better. Our target now is to keep winning and get into Europe.'
The young winger required lengthy treatment on the pitch by medics after being knocked unconscious by an accidental 85th-minute kick in the head by Robbie Keane in the visitors' box.
However, by the time Morrison had been carried off on a stretcher and reached the dressing room he had regained consciousness.
Spurs had come back from the brink of defeat to snatch a point thanks to an 83rd-minute header from Egyptian striker Mido.
Boro, who had led at half-time courtesy of a double from Nigerian striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu, looked set for victory when Franck Queudrue crashed a 69th-minute header home off the underside of Paul Robinson's crossbar.
But it was Spurs left rueing the best chance of victory with Jermain Defoe springing the Boro offside trap in the 88th minute only to shoot straight at advancing keeper Mark Schwarzer.
The early stages indicated little of the drama which was to follow with what passed for decent action spoiled by the constant interruptions of referee Howard Webb.
Three men had been booked in a first 20 minutes devoid of chances before Boro entered into the festive spirit and gifted the visitors their opener.
A deep 25th-minute cross from the left by Young-Pyo Lee was fumbled by keeper Schwarzer under pressure from Mido.
Keane pounced to poke the loose ball just inside Schwarzer's right-hand post and give his side the lead with their first shot of the match.
But Boro were level four minutes later after a brilliant finish by Yakubu eight yards from goal in the Spurs box.
The Nigerian pounced after Southgate flicked on a Queudrue cross to crash a first-time volley past Robinson into the bottom corner of the net.
Viduka tried his luck five minutes later with a fierce long-range effort from the right flank which Robinson did well to hold.
Boro grabbed the lead two minutes from the break when Morrison cut in from the right and launched a scorching effort which deflected off Yakubu and flew into the net.
After a quiet start to the second period it was no surprise to see Spurs striker Defoe starting to warm up on the sidelines.
But before the England striker could make an impact Yakubu came agonising close to sealing his hat-trick with a 56th-minute header.
The Nigerian got on the end of Morrison's deep right-wing cross only to see his powerful effort brilliantly tipped over by Robinson.
Ehiogu came close from Queudrue's resulting corner but could not connect properly when the ball fell to him in the box.
Moments after Defoe's introduction in place of Reid Spurs found themselves with a clear chance to equalise at the other end.
Keane's right-wing cross was palmed by Schwarzer into the path of Mido but the Egyptian striker swivelled and fired his effort way over.
Spurs were level in the 63rd minute after Jermaine Jenas took advantage of his side's second free-kick in succession on the edge of the Boro box.
The midfielder curled a delicious right-foot shot around the wall and past Schwarzer into the bottom corner of the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
Morrison forced a save from Robinson straight after the re-start as the game increased its intensity and had referee Webb working overtime.
Boro regained their lead in the 69th minute when Queudrue connected with Fabio Rochemback's corner and his header hit the crossbar and bounced down just over the line.
Spurs equalised once again in the 83rd minute from a Mido header before Morrison required the attention of medics during a worrying period late in the game.
Defoe then charged clear after the restart only to shoot straight at Schwarzer as a tumultuous affair rightly ended with honours even.
Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren revealed the injury sustained by winger James Morrison during the 3-3 draw with Tottenham is not as bad as was first feared.
Morrison required lengthy attention on the pitch from medics after being knocked unconscious in an accidental collision with Robbie Keane in the Spurs penalty area.
But McClaren said Morrison regained consciousness in the dressing room prior to the final whistle and is not expected to require hospital treatment.
McClaren said: 'When we first went into the dressing room he had a smile on his face and a black eye, and it is not as bad as we thought.
'It looked very serious on the field and well done to the medics and physios for getting on and dealing with it quickly.
'It is concussion so we will have to assess it over the next 24 hours and see how bad it was.'
McClaren admitted his frustration after once again seeing his side's fine attacking display eroded by individual mistakes which cost them dear at the back.
McClaren added: 'We keep shooting ourselves in the foot because individuals not doing their jobs has cost us.
'We are not far away and if we can eradicate them and start keeping clean sheets then we will win matches because we are scoring goals.
'It is very frustrating and I am very angry with the outcome that possibly our performances are not deserving.'
Tottenham boss Martin Jol is likely to be without striker Jermain Defoe for the festive programme after the striker limped off with an injured ankle.
Defoe appeared as a second-half substitute and almost made the difference after racing clear to fire a late effort at Mark Schwarzer.
But moments later he hobbled off the pitch and now faces an anxious wait to find out the extent of his injury.
Jol admitted: 'Jermain will probably be out for two weeks.'
The Spurs manager also faces the loss in the new year of Mido to the African Nations Cup so it comes as little surprise he is urging his midfielders to continue improving their scoring records.
Jol said: 'Jermaine Jenas scored like he scored against Manchester United and that is what we need - more goals from midfield other than scoring from the strikers.
'If we are a bit cleverer we can win these sorts of games. Last year we could not do it and I think we have improved in certain areas and it showed.'
Jol was particularly pleased with his side's fighting qualities in twice hitting back from a goal behind to grab a point.
He added: 'This is the sixth time this season we have had to come back from behind and today we did that twice, and Jermain Defoe could have nicked it late on.
'I think we have got a great team spirit, physical strength and character but still it is disappointing to concede three goals.
'On the other hand if you score three then hopefully next time it will be four or five.
'We have a winning mentality now and we are getting better and better. Our target now is to keep winning and get into Europe.'
posted by dgarden at 8:56 am
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