The day Middlesbrough mauled Sir Alex Ferguson’s team
- James M.
- Apr 10, 2017
- 4 min read
Whenever the Premier League schedules are announced, Manchester United fans look forward to the fixtures against Liverpool and Manchester City, two of our “dearest foes.”
Seasons ago, Man United fans would as well memorize the fixtures against Middlesbrough FC and Blackburn Rovers, as these two outfits had emerged as our bogey teams.
The 2005/06 season was no different as Steve McClaren guided an average Middlesbrough team to victory against a Ferguson-led Manchester United at Riverside.
Some people point to the fact that Steve McClaren was once an assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, and therefore he understood some of the Scottish Knight’s tactics.
All in all, the mauling that Middlesbrough dished to Man United was of disastrous proportions and it would later serve as the final blow to the already deteriorating relationship between Sir Alex Ferguson and Roy Keane, the then captain of The Reds.
As a climax to the shaky and worsening relationship between Sir Alex and Keane, the latter made very nasty post-match comments on MUTV about Rio Ferdinand, John O’Shea, Kieran Richardson, Alan Smith and Darren Fletcher.
These instances were just reflective of a gruesome picture for Man United during the 2005/06 season as Manchester United got humiliated in Europe after they failed to progress to the knockout round of the UEFA Champions League.
What even made matters worse was the fact that this was happening for the first time since the 1993/4 season.
As if to inflict more pain, George Best, one of Man United’s best players ever, died during the 2005/6 season and Old Trafford was plunged into an endless mood of mourning.
In a match that was supposed to be used as a celebratory clash for the fact that Ronaldo’s consolation made Man United become the first Premier League outfit ever in history to score 1000 goals, we were roundly condemned to a well-deserved loss.
On a day when Edwin van der Sar was celebrating his thirty-fifth birthday, he had to collect the ball four times from the net.
That was in absolute contrast to what the Dutchman would have wished for a birthday present.
A woeful display from Sir Alex Ferguson’s lads at Riverside was comprehensively punished by a seemingly irresistible Middlesbrough, with Gaizka Mendieta, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Yakubu Ayegbeni all steering their efforts past a hapless Edwin van der Sar.
It was Man United’s worst loss in the Premier League since the 5-0 hammering by Chelsea during the 1998/99 season.
It seemed a spell had been cast on Man United as some of the key players committed a catalogue of blunders that resulted in shipping in more goals; Edwin van der Sar was at fault as he gifted Gaizka Mendieta after he let the Spaniard’s effort slip through, Rio Ferdinand was in his uncharacteristic nature as he allowed Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink through for the Dutchman to score the second past his compatriot, and Kieran Richardson was calamitous after he fouled Stuart Parnaby in the area to earn a penalty for Boro which was converted by Yakubu Ayegbeni to the delight of Steve McClaren and haters alike.
It was a battering that was capped by Mendieta’s second before Ronaldo grabbed a worthless consolation.
The outcome of the match served as the final blow to Man United’s title hopes as Chelsea had gained an insurmountable gap that was aided by our ignominious defeat at the hands of other teams in the Premier League in previous fixtures.
The results of the match and the blatant criticism of teammates by Roy Keane would eventually send shockwaves beyond the football fan-base for the reason that prior to the match against Manchester United, and in the entire season, Boro had only won a single game at home in the Premier League!
Rumour had it that Steve McClaren was to get the sack after the Man United game for the reason that it would have been another routine whipping for the manager that would condemn him in the extreme end of the Premier League standings.
Matters were even worse for Middlesbrough as they lacked their regular pairing of Gareth Southgate and Ugo Ehiogu at the central of the defence.
Not factored in by Man United was the fact that McClaren’s three-man defence would act as a catalyst for Boro’s win as it freed the likes of Pogatetz to cause mayhem on the flanks, and consequently led to the assaults that consistently fed the strikers.
We were in for a rude shock as to what was to unfold right before our eyes.
The lethargic approach employed by our back four saw Mendieta score for Middlesbrough after just two minutes, partly aided by Edwin van der Sar’s lack of keenness as he casually dealt with the shot that glided past his fingers.
The Spaniard almost added a second goal after being set up by George Boateng only for him to see his ferocious drive go over the bar.
While John O’Shea should have equalized for United on the other side with an easy chance, it was Middlesbrough instead who added a second to pile more misery for Fergie and his boys.
Rio Ferdinand had misjudged a long ball that had bounced in the danger area in what should have been an easy decision for the Englishman, to let Hasselbaink through and slot his effort past Edwin van der Sar.
With barely half an hour, Middlesbrough had scored twice against Manchester United!
Sir Alex Ferguson promptly reshuffled the defence after seeing how Middlesbrough were running rings on us on the basis of a 3-5-2 formation that gave more width to Middlesbrough’s flanks.
As the match progressed, Mark Schwarzer thwarted the various efforts by Ruud van Nistelrooy to keep Boro in command.
However, any thoughts of a comeback were quickly punctured before halftime as Parnaby was fouled by Richardson to earn Middlesbrough a penalty.
We had hopes that Edwin van der Sar would have saved Yakubu’s effort but it was all in vain as the Nigerian calmly converted.
After the restart, both Wayne Rooney and Ruud van Nistelrooy had numerous chances to reduce the deficit but they found a three-man defence led by Chris Riggott in inspired form.
Mendieta would later add a fourth after Yakubu fed him.
Not even a last-minute Ronaldo’s header would dampen our moods.
On Saturday, it’s payback time for Middlesbrough!
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