Middlesbrough 1-1 West Ham: Mido leads Boro fightback

Gianfranco Zola was doing his best to be the bubbly, effervescent character he was in his playing days, but he looked knackered.

Scoring goals came easily to Zola the player, but this management lark is taking its toll on the little Italian.

Two months in and Zola admitted: "Sometimes I think it is more tiring to be on the bench than it is on the pitch.

"When I was a player I thought management looked so easy. I thought it was much easier than this.

"I have been in the job for a couple of months now and, yes, it has been tough. But I'm enjoying it.

"I've got a great group of players and my staff is fantastic. I am learning things all the time, and it is getting better and better in many aspects of the job. I'm pleased with how it's gone."

That's some statement considering that Hammers on Saturday were earning their first point in five games.

Four consecutive defeats meant the trip to the North-East was a test of nerve, and of Zola's managerial nous. There were mixed results. West Ham were cruising for an hour, with Craig Bellamy at his best and Jack Collison impressing.

Hayden Mullins even scored, first mis-kicking a chance but then volleying home for his first league goal for two years. Judging by Boro's early showing the points were wrapped up.

But Boro chief Gareth Southgate made substitutions that changed the game.

On came power house striker Mido. More important was the introduction of Julio Arca, who took over the midfield and drove the home side forward.

Zola might have been expected to spot this and throw on Lee Bowyer as a spoiler earlier than he did.

And he paid the price when he watched Mido crash home a free-kick through the disintegrating defensive wall to earn the home side a point.

Boro had a legitimate goal from Justin Hoyte ruled offside while young keeper Ross Turnbull, improving with every game, made an excellent double save from Collison and Bowyer at the death.

Zola added: "It was a huge point for us because it was a difficult game to come here. After four defeats, playing away from home against a team that had won its last match was a test of our mental strength."

Boro striker Mido is desperate to cement his place in the starting line-up and has vowed to give Southgate nightmares over his team selection.

The Egyptian, who made a big impact when he came on with 23minutes remaining, said: "All I can do is make the manager's life difficult. If everyone is playing well it's not going to get any easier for him.

"I knew I was only ever going to get about half an hour in this game so in my head I was telling myself I had to make the most of those minutes.

"I have to prove to the manager that I should be in the team and the only way I can do that is by playing well and scoring goals when I'm on the pitch.

"Tuncay has been brilliant for us in the last few games and has made a big difference since he came back from injury. Afonso Alves is also a good player and doing well and whenever I've played I think I've done OK too.

"The manager has to choose two from the three of us and it's not an easy task. It will always be a difficult decision for him but as players all we can do is push ourselves forward.

"All I can do is make sure I'm one of the two."

Middlesbrough : Turnbull 8, Wheater 5 (Hoyte 46, 6), Riggott 7, Pogatetz 7, Taylor 7, Aliadiere 6, O'Neil 6, Digard 5 (Arca 56, 8), Downing 7, Tuncay 6, Alves 5 (Mido 67, 7). Goal: Mido 83.

West Ham : Green 6, Neill 6, Collins 7, Upson 7, Ilunga 7, Faubert 6, Collison 7, Mullins 7, Boa Morte 6(Bowyer 84), Bellamy 7, Sears 7 (Etherington 73). Goal: Mullins 21.

Referee : Andre Marriner
Attendance : 25,164

YOU THE MANAGER MAN OF THE MATCH (Worth an extra two Fantasy League points) Ross Turnbull (M'BROUGH) 8 Superb save at the end earned Boro a vital home point.

VILLAIN OF THE MATCH Didier Digard (M'BROUGH) 5 Signed for £4m, but looks like a poor man's Lee Cattermole.

ANORAK Emanuel Pogatetz leads Boro's defending with 21 interceptions per match this season

NEXT THREE GAMES
BORO Sunday: Aston Villa (a) Prem, Sun, Nov 16: Everton (a) Prem, Sat, Nov 22: Bolton (h) Prem

WEST HAM Saturday: Everton (h) Prem, Sat, Nov 15: Portsmouth (h) Prem, Sun, Nov 23: Sunderland (a) Prem