Boro managed to defeat Birmingham City by two goals to nil and showed a solid performance. Goals came through Wheater and Downing in the first half. Egyptian striker Mido played from the start and did well throughout the game till he got substituted three minutes before the final whistle. Mido didn't get any clear chances to score but he won things in the air and made a few good flick ons.

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First half:

2nd min. Mido tried to squeeze a shot but it came off his marker and was sent behind for a corner.

5th min. Pressure from Birmingham, they won a couple of corner kicks but they came to nothing in the end.

9th min. Rochemback tried a shot but it was deflected off for a corner.

11th min. BORO TAKE THE LEAD! Central defender Wheater headed home after a corner kick from the left wing for Boro. The ball was deflected and blocked a couple of times and a cross was delievered into the box to find the central defender who headed it home to give Boro the deserved early lead.

13th min. Freekick outside the box for Boro after a foul on Boating. Downing tried to place the ball over the defensive wall into the bakck of the net but the geaolkeeper showed safe hands there.

15th min. Alliadiare advanced woth the ball from the left wing and fired a low shot that want into the arms of the goalkeeper.

22th min. Alliadiare tred a shot from the edge of the box but it was parried away fora corner.

23rd min. Lonfg ball to Mido but he was offside.

28th min. Boro's goalkeeper Schwarzer did well to stop a shot from the edg eof the box aimed at his goal.

31st min. Freekick in a good position for Boro after a foul on Alliadiare. Rochemback whipped the cross in bu the ball was headed away.

35th min. SECOND GOAL FOR BORO! A good cross from the left wing into the box, Boating laid the ball superbly with his head to the free and onside Downing who fired it home with his left to make the score 2-0.

45th min. End of the first half

48th min. Yellow card for Mido by Rob Styles, the referee that showed him a controversial red card versus Chelsea!

50th min. Downing tried to find Mido in the box wioth the cross, the Egyptian conreolled the ball on his chest and tried a volley but it sailed over. He was in offside position though.

52nd min. Rochemback found Arca in the clear inside the box and made a cross to him but the later headed the ball just wide.

53rd min. Through pass to Alliadiare but he diceded to shoot from tight angle instead of crossing to Mido and the shot was saved.

58th min. Good cross from Mido into the box, but the ball was cleared.

60th min. Freekick for a foul on Mido.

63rd min. Fast counter attack for Birmingham, Kapo struck the ball from the edge of the box after a good run, the ball was deflected off Woodgate and went out.

65th min. Low pass to Mido in the box, he found Alliadiare with a backheel pass and the latter almost scored but his shot was deflected for a corner.

67th min. Pressure from Boro and Mido won a corner kick after some nice work in the left flank.

70th min. Powerful shot by Alliadiare but Birmingham's keeper made a fingertip save and turned it behind for a corner.

76th min. Good dribblijg from Mido in the left flank, he cwas brought down and won a freekick.

80th min. Powerful low shot by Birmingham's McSheffery but it went just wide.

81st min. Lee Cattermole came on to replace Rochemback.

83rd min. Alliadiare out, Tuncay in.

87th min. Mido out, Dong Lee in.

89th min. Downing got the ball behind the defence, he passed on the floor to Lee but thelatter couldn;t score i n the empty net and hit the side netting instead..

90th mni . Final whistle.

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