Blues salvaged a point on Saturday. Andy Munro describes the action.

It’s getting to the stage when we’re beginning to wonder if the team are frightened to play at home, yet the dwindling home support can only be praised for their understanding. More turgid stuff was served up against struggling Boro but the only criticism displayed was a few half-hearted boos at half time. Indeed , such was the apathy that the Tilton can’t even be bothered to sing about their dislike for a certain Hong Kong hairdresser.

Mind you, a fixture against a team who had lost their last few away games but now with a new manager was a typical Blues disaster waiting to happen. Lee Cee had suggested that Blues should set out their stall early but unfortunately the stall wouldn’t have graced a jumble sale as they spluttered and stuttered, completely lacking any semblance of fluency. This wasn’t surprising as Blues must be the first side in footballing history to play 4-4=2 without fielding any wingers. Unfortunately two marauding full backs are just that – they ain’t wingers! Having said that Hancox must have been a candidate for man of the match for his great crossing and a defensive ‘never say die’ attitude.

The good news was that Ziggy won plenty in the air but the bad news was that nobody was tuned into his particular and unique wavelength. There’s a lot to like about Jesse Linguard but a Ravel Morrison he is not. Aaron Mclean continues to make Cameron Jerome look Messi-like in terms of ability to read a game and to run intelligently. Middlesbrough predictably took the lead with Caddis possibly culpable but I wouldn’t blame the defence with an inept midfield in front of them.

If only Reilly could pass as well as he could tackle and as far as our Polish international was concerned , he should be renamed DUDka. Lee Clark then, at last, brought on Burke who made a massive difference earning a slightly dubious penalty which our new penalty king, Caddis, smashed home past the smarmy, timewasting Given. you can take the player out of the Villa but never the Villa out of the player.

The scene was set for a Blues siege on the Boro’ goal but instead we switched off again. So it was no surprise when the away side took the lead following some sloppy work from the otherwise  impressive Randolph. Doom and gloom descended on all Bluenoses but the introduction of Ollie Lee for Dudka and the final throwing on of Bartley brought just rewards for a game we didn’t deserve to win but certainly didn’t deserve to lose. A great Bartley header from a corner did the trick as Bartley showed the hunger of a footballing famine victim whilst Ziggy and Co show the hunger of footballing anorexics.

What’s the answer? One thing that’s certain is that it’s not the tactics of a certain Lee Clark.