OMEN
02-08-2009, 02:10 PM
Shay Given produced four astonishing saves to ensure his Manchester City debut ended in victory over an ailing Middlesbrough side whose winless streak was extended to 13 games.
Craig Bellamy was the matchwinner, driving home a left-footed shot six minutes after the break.
But, on a day when Mark Hughes' new-look Blues flexed their muscle with a performance of authority, Given had equal claim on the man-of-the-match prize.
Boro did not create many chances. But they did manage four good ones, all of them falling to Afonso Alves.
Yet on each occasion, Given kept him out, almost single-handedly guaranteeing three Barclays Premier League points for his new club from a match they might undeservedly have ended with none.
Manager Mark Hughes identified a goalkeeper and a burly striker as his targets for the final week of the transfer window.
As it turned out, he got one but not the other as Blackburn resisted his overtures for Roque Santa Cruz.
But Given looked a snip at £6million even before he produced three marvellous saves towards the end of the first half to deny Alves.
All of them could have gone in, on each occasion Given was second favourite. But the Republic of Ireland star thwarted the Brazilian striker with his right hand, then his left and finally with his feet to keep Boro at bay and remind Newcastle exactly what they have lost during this troubled season.
Even at 32, few can argue with Given's contention that his best years are still ahead of him; precisely the standard of player City need if they are to make the top six a reality.
If Given had not produced his heroics, it would have been tough luck on the hosts, who dominated possession and carved out a series of chances of their own, only to be frustrated by a combination of Brad Jones' agility and the crossbar.
Bellamy was particularly aggrieved, twice seeing chances turned away by the Australian before failing to slide home a low Stephen Ireland cross begging for a finish.
Given has pledged to have one last go at persuading Ireland to reverse his decision not to play for the Republic of Ireland. And it is easy to see why.
Although Shaun Wright-Phillips probed intelligently and Robinho threatened sporadically, Ireland was City's main hope.
And it was his burst forward that Wayne Bridge picked out with a left-wing cross shortly before the interval.
Ireland flung himself at the ball but could only watch in agony as it crashed against the crossbar, Jones completely beaten.
Boro might have been reasonably pleased with their efforts but all that changed six minutes after the restart when Nigel de Jong played what seemed to be a routine pass to Bellamy on the right-hand edge of the box.
Emanuel Pogatetz moved across to cover but the visitors skipper did not get close enough.
Bellamy skipped past the Austrian's lunge before unleashing a precise left-footed shot that nestled in the bottom corner.
The goal allowed City to play with a confidence Boro could not match. The visitors' current form is an obvious drawback but the gulf in quality was vast.
Bellamy, Bridge, Wright-Phillips and Robinho, all new arrivals in the last six months, came close to increasing City's lead.
Then Given, who has been at Eastlands a mere six days, came to the Blues' rescue again with yet another one-handed save to repel Alves, who had wriggled free of Vincent Kompany.
Boro's last hope of a leveller disappeared when referee Andre Marriner waved away Marlon King's appeals for a penalty when his last-minute cross struck Bridge on the elbow.
Boro chairman Steve Gibson could only look down from the directors' box in resigned disbelief.
Of all chairmen, he is least likely to produce any knee-jerk reactions to address short-term concerns.
But as each game goes by, fears must increase that the form reversal manager Gareth Southgate is sure will come may not materialise, leaving Boro marooned in the bottom three.
RTE
Craig Bellamy was the matchwinner, driving home a left-footed shot six minutes after the break.
But, on a day when Mark Hughes' new-look Blues flexed their muscle with a performance of authority, Given had equal claim on the man-of-the-match prize.
Boro did not create many chances. But they did manage four good ones, all of them falling to Afonso Alves.
Yet on each occasion, Given kept him out, almost single-handedly guaranteeing three Barclays Premier League points for his new club from a match they might undeservedly have ended with none.
Manager Mark Hughes identified a goalkeeper and a burly striker as his targets for the final week of the transfer window.
As it turned out, he got one but not the other as Blackburn resisted his overtures for Roque Santa Cruz.
But Given looked a snip at £6million even before he produced three marvellous saves towards the end of the first half to deny Alves.
All of them could have gone in, on each occasion Given was second favourite. But the Republic of Ireland star thwarted the Brazilian striker with his right hand, then his left and finally with his feet to keep Boro at bay and remind Newcastle exactly what they have lost during this troubled season.
Even at 32, few can argue with Given's contention that his best years are still ahead of him; precisely the standard of player City need if they are to make the top six a reality.
If Given had not produced his heroics, it would have been tough luck on the hosts, who dominated possession and carved out a series of chances of their own, only to be frustrated by a combination of Brad Jones' agility and the crossbar.
Bellamy was particularly aggrieved, twice seeing chances turned away by the Australian before failing to slide home a low Stephen Ireland cross begging for a finish.
Given has pledged to have one last go at persuading Ireland to reverse his decision not to play for the Republic of Ireland. And it is easy to see why.
Although Shaun Wright-Phillips probed intelligently and Robinho threatened sporadically, Ireland was City's main hope.
And it was his burst forward that Wayne Bridge picked out with a left-wing cross shortly before the interval.
Ireland flung himself at the ball but could only watch in agony as it crashed against the crossbar, Jones completely beaten.
Boro might have been reasonably pleased with their efforts but all that changed six minutes after the restart when Nigel de Jong played what seemed to be a routine pass to Bellamy on the right-hand edge of the box.
Emanuel Pogatetz moved across to cover but the visitors skipper did not get close enough.
Bellamy skipped past the Austrian's lunge before unleashing a precise left-footed shot that nestled in the bottom corner.
The goal allowed City to play with a confidence Boro could not match. The visitors' current form is an obvious drawback but the gulf in quality was vast.
Bellamy, Bridge, Wright-Phillips and Robinho, all new arrivals in the last six months, came close to increasing City's lead.
Then Given, who has been at Eastlands a mere six days, came to the Blues' rescue again with yet another one-handed save to repel Alves, who had wriggled free of Vincent Kompany.
Boro's last hope of a leveller disappeared when referee Andre Marriner waved away Marlon King's appeals for a penalty when his last-minute cross struck Bridge on the elbow.
Boro chairman Steve Gibson could only look down from the directors' box in resigned disbelief.
Of all chairmen, he is least likely to produce any knee-jerk reactions to address short-term concerns.
But as each game goes by, fears must increase that the form reversal manager Gareth Southgate is sure will come may not materialise, leaving Boro marooned in the bottom three.
RTE