Middlesbrough took a nervy step towards the Premiership with a point in an
enthralling battle against a spirited Wolves side at the Riverside Stadium.
The fact that Mark McGhee's men had nothing left to play for meant little as
they started the brighter and could well have been ahead.
A lone goal from Hamilton Ricard, in the 12th minute, was all that Bryan
Robson's men could muster and it leaves them a single point ahead of both
Sunderland and Charlton with one game remaining.
But how the visitors shocked the sell-out crowd with a superb opening which
could have rewarded them with more than a 10th minute strike from defensive
midfielder Mark Atkins.
Earlier, former Sunderland striker Don Goodman wasted two great openings, in
the seventh and eighth minutes, which should have given Mark McGhee's men the
perfect early lift.
Boro's defence was so shaky early on the ball was like a hot potato and it
came as no surprise when Atkins put his team ahead.
A fine Lee Naylor cross was headed beyond the edge of the home box for the
onrushing Atkins to fire an unstoppable drive in off the base of Mark
Schwarzer's left hand upright from 30 yards.
The home side were stung into immediate retaliation and within 90 seconds were
level when Colombian Ricard fired through Stowell's legs after Maddison had
headed back a Curtis Fleming cross.
The home side largely dominated the remainder of the first half although
Robbie Keane was always a threat down the Wolves left.
Both Paul Gascoigne and Paul Merson went close as the home pressure gradually
grew with the home defence finally coming to grips with Wolves' attack.
Only a superb flying save by Stowell in the Wolves goal stopped a Keith Curle
deflection from a thunderous Paul Merson drive giving Boro a 47th minute lead.
And then Beck saw the same defender - Curle - clear a fine far post header off
the line as the home pressure built by the minute.
The visitors attacked at every opportunity and in the 57th minute Goodman saw
a deflected effort fly narrowly wide.
The tension was almost unbearable for the Middlesbrough fans as they saw their
side fritter away chance after chance before Fleming had the ball in the net, in
the 65th minute, only for the effort to be chalked off for a push on Keane.
The Wolves star seemed to twist as he fell and had to be carried from the
field on a stretcher.
Even the normally accurate boots of Merson failed the home cause in the 82nd
minute after he found himself free on the edge of the Wanderers box.
Sunday promises to be a day for bitten nails and much tension although Boro
still remain favourites to join Forest with a victory in the home game against
Oxford giving them guaranteed promotion.
Teams
Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Maddison (Kinder 65), Fleming, Vickers,
Festa, Townsend, Mustoe, Gascoigne, Beck, Merson, Ricard.
Subs Not Used: Blackmore, Campbell.
Booked: Beck.
Goals: Ricard 12.
Wolverhampton: Stowell, Muscat, Naylor, Atkins, Emblen, Curle,
Goodman, Simpson, Paatelainen, Keane (Froggatt 65), Osborn.
Subs Not Used: Bull, Ferguson.
Goals: Atkins 10.
Att: 29,878
Ref: M C Bailey (Impington).
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